Beverages

Welcome the Weekend with a Moscow Mule Cocktail

January 23, 2015 by Kathryn 95 Comments

There’s no better way to celebrate the weekend than with a fun beverage, and this week I decided to try something new for a Friday cocktail. Thanks to a review package from Reed’s Ginger Brew, I was in the mood to get a little spicy, so a delicious and classic Moscow Mule was the perfect choice!

The Moscow Mule is a fairly simple drink with a fun flavour that perfectly blends the spice of ginger with the tanginess of lime. It’s often made with ginger-ale but I far prefer it with ginger beer since the resulting flavour is so much stronger and more complex.

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Keeping the Family Healthy with Tangy Yogurt Fruit Shakes

September 27, 2014 by Kathryn 2 Comments

With both my boys in school for full days this year, we’ve embraced the back-to-school routine pretty happily. My oldest, between extra-curricular activities and playing with friends, is often out of the house more than he is in it during the week. And my youngest, despite some worries on my part, absolutely loves Kindergarten and can’t wait to get there on his school days.

But while everyone is enjoying most of the things the busy fall season has to offer, it does have a downside and that is germs! In fact, I’ve almost come to expect that both my boys will catch some type of cold after starting school, because going from a fairly solitary summer to a class of twenty or more kids just seems to make that inevitable. Sure enough, this year was no exception. I returned from a recent trip to find Zackary with a fever and a hacking cough. The next week, Benjamin had the same symptoms.

My boys are naturally hearty and colds never keep them down for long. This year, though, I’m ready to help them get over those sicknesses even faster thanks to the fabulous products from Orange Naturals. From nutritional supplements to tinctures and homeopathics for specific symptoms, the company has everything I might need to help my boys feel better. [Read more…]

Make This Creamy Salted Caramel Latte Recipe and Other Delicious Drinks with New Pure Via Stevia Liquid Sweetener-Giveaway

September 19, 2014 by Kathryn 170 Comments

As somebody that is fairly health conscious, but also shuns artificial ingredients in my food, I’ve been a fan of Pure Via sweetener since it was first introduced in Canada. This naturally sourced option is made from an extract from the leaves of the Stevia plant and provides low-calorie sweetness that doesn’t cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Pure Via sweetener is available in a granulated form that I love for baking and for sweetening my coffee in the morning. But the granulated version doesn’t dissolve very well in cold beverages, so I was pretty excited when the brand new Pure Via Stevia Liquid sweetener was introduced! The liquid version of my favourite low-calorie sweetener dissolves instantly in both hot and cold liquids and comes in a handy portable bottle with a no-drip lid perfect for a busy mom.

To let people see for themselves how delicious new Pure Via Liquid is, the company developed some fabulous and delicious cold beverage recipes perfect for a hot day. While autumn may be here, Saskatchewan is still enjoying plenty of warm, sunny days so I decided to test out one of the recipes and see how I liked it. And of course, as a confirmed coffee addict, I couldn’t resist whipping up a Creamy Salted Caramel Latte! [Read more…]

Five Sneaky Ways to Make Your Family’s Smoothies Healthier

July 16, 2014 by Kathryn

There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a smoothie, and with so much fresh fruit and ice in each one, they’re a healthy choice too! But I like to find ways to make smoothies even healthier and to make sure my boys drink their smoothies too, I sometimes have to be sneaky about it!

Luckily, there are a few great foods that can be added to smoothies to boost their health, yet don’t affect the taste, so adults and kids alike can get extra nutrition without even knowing it! Here are my top five sneaky ways to make smoothies healthier:

Ground Flax

With some studies finding evidence this tiny seed may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, ground flax is one of my all-time favourite additions to any meal. In fact, I love flax seed whole too but for optimal digestion and to ensure it can’t be tasted in a smoothie, ground flax is the better choice. Just a teaspoon in your drink will add omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant-rich lignans and two essential types of fibre to your diet!

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Cool Off with this Easy Minute Maid Sparkling Peach Punch Recipe

June 22, 2013 by Kathryn 12 Comments

There’s nothing better than sipping a cold, refreshing beverage on a hot summer’s day and once again, Minute Maid has teamed up with the Canadian Living Test Kitchen to create an amazing assortment of cool concoctions to quench your thirst!

I always love trying the newest recipes from Minute Maid and so when I was given the chance to whip up one of these tasty drinks and see what I thought, I couldn’t resist. I was tempted to try making a nice summer Sangria, but my boys love fruity summer drinks as much as I do, so I eventually decided to make the non-alcoholic Sparkling Peach Punch recipe.

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