Drinks

We all need a little variety when it comes to eating. What we drink should be varied, too! Here are six yummy drinks to try, including Caramel Cappuccino Shakes and Rumplemayer’s Hot Chocolate. Enjoy!

APPLE CIDER FLOATS

This is from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “You'll want to float away with these apple cider floats!”

Total Time: 10 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 c. caramel sauce

1/2 c. cinnamon-sugar

2 c. apple cider, warmed

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

cinnamon sticks

Whipped cream, for serving

Apple slices

Directions

Pour caramel in a small dish. Dip the top of each mug in the caramel to rim the cup. Then dip the caramel rim in cinnamon-sugar.

Ladle apple cider into each mug then add a scoop of ice cream to each. Top with whipped cream and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.

Drizzle more caramel over the whipped cream and serve immediately.

CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO SHAKE

This is from an old (10+ year old) Weight Watchers email. The points are from 2006.

The recipe begins, “It's hard to believe this luscious shake is nearly fat-free. You can easily double the recipe and share some with the rest of the family.”

POINTS® Value | 4; Servings | 2; Preparation Time | 8 min;Cooking Time | 0 min; Level of Difficulty | Easy

Ingredients

1 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1/4 cup fat-free skim milk

1/2 tsp instant espresso, powder

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup lite whipped topping

2 Tbsp fat-free caramel topping

Instructions

Blend yogurt, milk, espresso powder and cinnamon on high. Pour into two glasses. Top each with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and 1 tablespoon caramel topping.

RUMPLEMAYER’S HOT CHOCOLATE

This is from Molly O’Neill in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “Hot chocolate is traceable to the Aztecs, who regarded the dark and bitter drink as a sacred brew. The hot cocoa that Columbus offered his patrons tasted “bitter, scummy and peppery,” according to Chantal Coady's account in “The Chocolate Companion,” which explains, no doubt, why they disliked it intensely. Sometime later, Cortez offered the same beverage to Charles V and his courtiers and succeeded in capturing their imagination with the addition, Ms. Coady writes, of some sugar and vanilla. This version, adapted from Rumplemayer's, a now-closed New York restaurant once known for its hot chocolate and pastries, falls into the latter camp; it is rich, sweet and smooth. It calls for real semisweet chocolate (we bet a mix of semisweet and bittersweet would be delightful, too) so there's none of the chalky aftertaste hot cocoa often leaves behind. A dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, if you wish, take it over the top.”

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 2 minutes.

This was featured in “Food; Loco for Cocoa,” and can be viewed here.

Ingredients

4 cups milk

6 tablespoons sugar

7 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy cream (optional)

Ground cinnamon, for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Combine the milk, sugar and chocolate in a large saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture comes to a simmer.

Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Ladle the hot chocolate into 4 mugs, top with whipped cream and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon. Serve immediately.

LEEANN'S LUSCIOUS SMOOTHIE

This recipe, as well as the next one (Slim-Down Smoothie), is from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. Both are originally from The Editors of Prevention.

This one begins, “To eliminate processed sugar, reader LeeAnn created a smoothie sweetened with strawberries.”

Servings: 1

1 cup skim milk

1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries

1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil

1 Tbsp sunflower or pumpkin seeds (optional)

Mix milk and frozen strawberries in a blender for 1 minute.

Transfer to a glass and stir in the tablespoon of flaxseed oil, or serve with a tablespoon of sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 256; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 26 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 19 g; Total fat: 14 g; Saturated fat: 1.5 g; Sodium: 106 mg

SLIM-DOWN SMOOTHIE

This one begins, “Wonderfully thick and tasty, this healthy smoothie recipe easily substitutes for milkshakes and ice cream.”

Servings: 1

1 cup frozen berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries

1/2 cup low-fat yogurt (any flavor)

1/2 cup orange juice or other juice

Place the berries, yogurt, and orange juice in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds. Blend for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 185; Protein: 8 g; Carbs: 35 g; Fiber: 3.5 g; Sugar: 26 g; Total fat: 2 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 90 mg

PURPLE POWER BLACKBERRY PEACH SMOOTHIE

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Sweet peaches get a royal purple color and a berry tang from blackberries in this delicious smoothie. Try one for a filling breakfast that feels just a little decadent.”

POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 1; Preparation Time: 8 min; Cooking Time: 0 min; Level of Difficulty; Easy

Ingredients

3/4 cup ice cube(s)

2 medium peach(es), peeled, pitted and quartered

1/4 cup blackberries

1/2 cup fat-free skim milk

Directions

Place ice in a blender container; add peaches, blackberries and milk.

Blend on high until smooth and ice is completely crushed, about 3 to 4 minutes. Yields 1 serving.

Drinks

Here are six yummy drinks to help you through the day, including Cappuccino Cooler and Apple Cider Floats. Enjoy!

STARBUCK'S FRAPPUCINO

This is from Healing Heart Foundation, and begins, “Make this popular frozen delight at home, without the caffeine buzz(or with it).”

1 1/2 cups strong cold decaffeinated coffee

1/2 cup fat-free or low-fat soy or rice milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon chocolate syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups crushed ice or ice cubes

Combine the coffee, milk, sugar, chocolate syrup and salt in a blender and mix on medium speed for 15 seconds to dissolve sugar. Add the vanilla extract and ice then blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. Stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend. Pour into two 16-ounce glasses.

2 - 16 oz servings, each 191 calories: 1% from fat (0.029 g), 99% from carbohydrates (47.7 g), 1% from protein (0.24 g). Sodium 282 mg, Fiber 0 g.

LEEANN'S LUSCIOUS SMOOTHIE

This recipe, as well as the next one (Slim-Down Smoothie), is from “20 Super Healthy Smoothie Recipes” on the Runner’s World website. Both are originally from The Editors of Prevention.

This one begins, “To eliminate processed sugar, reader LeeAnn created a smoothie sweetened with strawberries.”

Servings: 1

1 cup skim milk

1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries

1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil

1 Tbsp sunflower or pumpkin seeds (optional)

Mix milk and frozen strawberries in a blender for 1 minute.

Transfer to a glass and stir in the tablespoon of flaxseed oil, or serve with a tablespoon of sunflower or pumpkin seeds instead.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 256; Protein: 9 g; Carbs: 26 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 19 g; Total fat: 14 g; Saturated fat: 1.5 g; Sodium: 106 mg

SLIM-DOWN SMOOTHIE

This one begins, “Wonderfully thick and tasty, this healthy smoothie recipe easily substitutes for milkshakes and ice cream.”

Servings: 1

1 cup frozen berries, such as blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries

1/2 cup low-fat yogurt (any flavor)

1/2 cup orange juice or other juice

Place the berries, yogurt, and orange juice in a blender and pulse for 30 seconds. Blend for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 185; Protein: 8 g; Carbs: 35 g; Fiber: 3.5 g; Sugar: 26 g; Total fat: 2 g; Saturated fat: 1 g; Sodium: 90 mg

APPLE CIDER FLOATS

This is from Lauren Miyashiro on Delish. The recipe begins, “You'll want to float away with these apple cider floats!”

Total Time: 10 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Servings: 2

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 c. caramel sauce

1/2 c. cinnamon-sugar

2 c. apple cider, warmed

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

cinnamon sticks

Whipped cream, for serving

Apple slices

Directions

Pour caramel in a small dish. Dip the top of each mug in the caramel to rim the cup. Then dip the caramel rim in cinnamon-sugar.

Ladle apple cider into each mug then add a scoop of ice cream to each. Top with whipped cream and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.

Drizzle more caramel over the whipped cream and serve immediately.

CAPPUCCINO COOLER

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “There's no need to pay the small fortune that your corner coffee bar charges for a frozen concoction when you can make this smoothie. If you like your coffee strong, omit the sugar.”

POINTS® Value: 3; Servings: 1; Preparation Time: 6 min; Cooking Time: 0 min;Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk

1/2 cup fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1/4 cup black coffee, but brewed espresso preferred, cooled to room temperature

1/4 cup ice cube(s), about 3 cubes

1/2 tsp sugar, superfine

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

In a blender, combine all ingredients; puree until smooth.

Pour into a tall, chilled glass; sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if you like.

PURPLE POWER BLACKBERRY PEACH SMOOTHIE

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Sweet peaches get a royal purple color and a berry tang from blackberries in this delicious smoothie. Try one for a filling breakfast that feels just a little decadent.”

POINTS® Value: 2; Servings: 1; Preparation Time: 8 min; Cooking Time: 0 min; Level of Difficulty; Easy

Ingredients

3/4 cup ice cube(s)

2 medium peach(es), peeled, pitted and quartered

1/4 cup blackberries

1/2 cup fat-free skim milk

Directions

Place ice in a blender container; add peaches, blackberries and milk.

Blend on high until smooth and ice is completely crushed, about 3 to 4 minutes. Yields 1 serving.