All of these are non-alcoholic and kid-friendly, but trust me when I say that you’ll enjoy them just as much as the kids do. The best part about these drinks is how EASY they are. You won’t be straining fruit seeds and pulp or making your own fancy syrups. Just 2 or 3 ingredients mixed together, and you’ll have a refreshing beverage to enjoy this summer!

here’s the lineup:
Hibiscus Passionfruit Lemonade
Fresh Pina Colada Frozen Mocktail
Peach Bellini Mocktail
Blushing Arnold Palmer
Orange Dreamsicle Float

HIBISCUS PASSIONFRUIT LEMONADE

INGREDIENTS:

4 ounces iced passion tea (I used this brand)
4 ounces lemonade

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix together equal parts iced passion tea and lemonade and pour over ice.

Note: This brand of tea I used comes in both a concentrate and individual tea bags. I used the concentrate and combined 2 ounces of the tea concentrate with 2 ounces of water.

FRESH PINA COLADA FROZEN MOCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS:

8 ounces frozen pineapple
2/3 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup coconut water

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash or two of extra coconut water to thin and finish blending. Serve immediately.

Note: Coconut milk and water can usually be found in the international foods aisle of your grocery store and sometimes even in the aisle with baking ingredients. You can use regular or low fat coconut milk for this recipe.

PEACH BELLINI MOCKTAIL

INGREDIENTS:

3 ounces peach nectar
3 ounces sparkling apple cider

INSTRUCTIONS:

Chill all ingredients before serving. Mix together equal parts peach nectar and sparkling apple cider and serve immediately.

Note: Peach nectar can be found in the international foods aisle.

BLUSHING ARNOLD PALMER

INGREDIENTS:

5 ounces lemonade
5 ounces iced tea
1 tablespoon grenadine

INSTRUCTIONS:

Mix together all ingredients and pour over ice.

Note: Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup usually found in the liquor or soda aisle near drink mixes and cocktail ingredients.

ORANGE DREAMSICLE FLOAT

INGREDIENTS:

vanilla ice cream
orange soda

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream to a glass and slowly pour the orange soda over top. As the fizz starts to go down, you can add more soda as desired.

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I can’t wait for you to try these and tell me your favorites! If I had to pick just one… I’d say the Hibiscus Passionfruit Lemonade is right at the top! Thanks so much for stopping by today, sweet friends! xoxo Liz

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The post 5 Easy Summer Sips and Mocktails appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

Lately though, unless I’m able to be near a body of water, I try to stay in the A/C as much as possible… it has been smoking hot lately! My favorite way to cool off this summer has been a recipe that I actually shared eons ago, but thought that since I only had about 2 followers back then (and one was probably my sweet mom), it was about time to bring it back to the blog.

Orange Lemon Shake-up

Lemon shake-ups are a staple at fairs and carnivals throughout the summer, and I love making my own version at home with the addition of freshly-squeezed orange juice. The drink is sweet and full of citrus flavor and definitely brings back a feeling of summertime nostalgia as soon as you take that first sip. The shake-ups you buy at the fair are often overloaded with sugar, but when I make them at home, I’m able to control how much sugar goes in. It saves me a few calories and saves the boys from being on a sugar high the rest of the day!

The recipe calls for just 3 ingredients, plus ice and water. Squeeze half a lemon and half an orange into a shaker full of ice, add a little bit of sugar to balance the tart citrus flavor, and fill the shaker up with water. Give it a good shake until the sugar is dissolved, and pour it into a glass! This is a really fun summer activity to do with your kiddos, and my boys love squeezing the juice and shaking everything together. Or if you are having an adult get-together, you could add a splash of vodka or rum for a grown-up version. Even better, serve this drink at your next brunch with some champagne!

This orange lemon shake-up is definitely a summer favorite in our house, and I hope you enjoy it in yours. Pour yourself a big glass over ice, and stay cool this summer!

Orange Lemon Shake-up

 

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A refreshing orange twist on a classic summer drink. Fresh, sweet, and so simple to make!

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Drinks

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

• ½ of one lemon
• ½ of one orange
• 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ice cubes (about 1½ cups)
• ½ cup water

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a 16-ounce shaker, squeeze the juice from the lemon and orange. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and enough ice to fill the shaker ⅔ full (about 1½ cups). Add ½ cup water, and cover the shaker with the lid. Shake until all the sugar is dissolved and the drink is cold, about 30 seconds. Taste and if needed, add 1 additional tablespoon of sugar. Pour into a glass and serve with an orange slice or a sprig of mint for garnish, if desired.

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More Summer Recipes:

Zucchini Bread
Perfect Pasta Salad
Wine Slush
Balsamic Rosemary Steak Kabobs
Apple Pie Bars
Guacamole
Strawberry Peach Salad
No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Smoothie Popsicles

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The post Orange Lemon Shake-up appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

And I have to be honest with you guys… with the book deadline just over a month away, I need all the energy I can get right now! I’m finishing up the last 8 or 9 projects for the book this week, and then I have many, many hours of writing and editing ahead of me. Rather than sitting with my manuscript binging on potato chips or chocolate, it’s probably a much better idea to sip on a sweet smoothie while I work!

So let’s talk about this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, shall we? First of all, peanut butter lovers… this one’s for you! This has been my go-to smoothie for months now, and I think it’s because even though I LOVE making super sweet, fruit-filled smoothies like my Strawberry Banana or Tropical versions, sometimes I want something that tastes a little less fruity and a lot more like… I don’t know… a peanut butter cookie. Ha!

There is technically still fruit in this recipe, but the banana adds just a little bit of sweetness in the background while the peanut butter remains the star of the show. You can use any kind of milk you prefer… dairy, almond, soy, etc. And even though this recipe already has a good amount of protein from the Greek yogurt and peanut butter, if you’re looking to add a little extra kick of protein, go ahead and throw a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder into the blender. It’s totally optional though! One last side note… You can use regular creamy peanut butter for this recipe, but lately I’ve been using PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter. Have you guys tried this stuff yet? It gives you the same peanut butter taste with 85% less fat and calories, if I remember correctly. Either way, this smoothie is sure to satisfy all the peanut butter fans out there!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

 

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This quick and easy Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie makes a great healthy breakfast or snack! Peanut butter lovers... this is the smoothie for you!

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup milk (dairy, almond, soy, etc.)
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 1 large banana
• 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder (optional)
• 6 ice cubes

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all the ingredients to a blender and process until completely smooth and combined. Serve immediately.

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More recipes from Liz’s Kitchen:

Tropical Smoothie + Green Tropical Smoothie

Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Smoothie Popsicles + Green Kiwi Smoothie

Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie

Pumpkin Protein Shake

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The post Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

I love, love, love this recipe, you guys! If you’ve been around Love Grows Wild for a few years, you might recognize this post. Back in the blog archives, I made a homemade hot chocolate mix layered in a cute, little mason jar, and the post ended up becoming pretty darn popular, especially around the holidays. A lot of you have tried the recipe and said that it needed some tweaking, so I’ve been re-testing it for a few months now and finally came up with the PERFECT ratio of ingredients. You guys were spot on with your suggestions!

In the old post, I made a tag to go with the recipe (in case you wanted to give it as a gift), but some people used a different size jar than I did or had a specific request for what it said, so I decided to revamp the recipe tag too! This time, I have TWO different tags you can choose from…

• One with the ingredients listed, but not the amount, so you can fill in your own amounts if you want or leave it blank.
• One with only the instructions in case you put your own spin on the ingredients in the recipe.

P.S. I printed my tags on brown kraft paper for the photos, but you could do it on white cardstock or whatever paper you like!

I’ve been drinking this new hot chocolate a lot lately, and it is honestly the creamiest, most delicious hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. Just the right amount of chocolate with no bitterness, perfectly sweet, and so, so creamy… I think you guys are going to love the new recipe!

If you want to make a SINGLE SERVING of hot chocolate, here is the recipe:

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

 

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This homemade hot chocolate mix is super creamy and SO delicious! Make a big batch for the winter or just a single serving.

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Drinks

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons powdered creamer
• 3 tablespoons powdered milk
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1½ tablespoons cocoa powder
• optional: marshmallows, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Add ½ cup of the hot chocolate mix to 1 cup of boiling water in a mug and stir until completely combined. Top with marshmallows, if desired, and enjoy!

NOTES

The ratio of ingredients is 1 part cocoa powder to 2 parts powdered creamer, powdered milk, and powdered sugar. If you want to make a big batch to keep in your pantry, just multiply the ratio of ingredients, mix everything together, and keep the mix in an airtight container. To serve, add ½ cup of the mix to 1 cup of boiling water.

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If you want to GIVE THE MIX AS A GIFT, here is the recipe:

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Gift Idea

 

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This Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is a great gift idea for the holidays! Just layer the ingredients in a mason jar and add our printable recipe tag!

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Drinks

INGREDIENTS

• 6 tablespoons powdered creamer
• 6 tablespoons powdered milk
• 6 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons candy canes, chopped into small pieces
• ½ cup mini marshmallows

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Layer the powdered creamer, powdered milk, powdered sugar and cocoa powder in the bottom of a pint wide-mouth mason jar. Then add the chocolate chips and candy canes and place the mini marshmallows on top to fill the rest of the jar. Add a lid and attach a printable recipe tag (see below).
2. When ready to use, remove the marshmallows from the top of the jar and mix the remaining ingredients together. Add ½ cup of the mix to 1 cup of boiling water in a mug and stir until completely combined. Top with marshmallows and enjoy!

NOTES

If you want to make a larger size, use a quart size wide-mouth mason jar and simply double all the ingredients!

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Keep scrolling to find the printable recipe tags!

CLICK HERE to print the tags with the ingredients listed!

CLICK HERE to print the tags with only the instructions!

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The post Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix appeared first on Love Grows Wild.

I think I’m still in denial that it’s really almost time for the holidays already, but I have to admit… busting out one of my little Christmas trees and seeing the twinkling Christmas lights for the first time this year made me ridiculously happy. Our little farmhouse has changed so much over the last year, and I cannot wait to start decorating it for the holidays! Don’t worry, I promise to wait at least few more weeks to get started… maybe.

Have you guys ever hosted a holiday movie night in your home? Sometimes with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I find that it’s nice to have a low-key night at home instead of another big, fancy cocktail party. And let’s be honest… would you rather wear high heels and an uncomfortable dress all night or be snuggled up on the couch in comfy pajamas? I vote P.J.’s!

So I put together a simple, little menu of treats that you can serve at your movie night, and all of the recipes are kid-friendly, super easy, and very festive for the holidays. Want a little holiday hosting tip? No one likes to spend all night at the kitchen sink doing dishes, so serve your movie treats on Chinet® Cut Crystal®. This line of plates, cups, stemless wine glasses and cutlery looks elegant and stylish, but can be thrown away at the end of the night. Now let’s start with the popcorn…

This salty-sweet version is a mixture of fluffy, freshly-popped popcorn, salty, crunchy pretzels, and sweet chocolate M&M’s all covered in white chocolate. SO delicious! You can usually find bags of only red and green M&M’s around the holidays, or you can be like me and color sort a giant pile of M&M’s until you have enough. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re expecting a lot of guests, and trust me… it will go fast!

White Chocolate Holiday Popcorn Mix

 

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This sweet and salty popcorn mix is easy to make and so addicting! Package some up for an easy gift idea!

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Dessert

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup unpopped popcorn kernels (or about 8 cups popped)
• 12 ounces white chocolate candy melts (I like to use CandiQuik)
• 1 cup pretzels
• ½ cup M&M candies
• sprinkles

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pop the popcorn according to package instructions and remove any unpopped kernels. Place the popcorn and pretzels in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Heat the white chocolate candy melts in the microwave according to package instructions until melted. Stir until smooth and pour over the popcorn and pretzels. Gently stir the popcorn mixture until all the pieces are evenly coated, then pour the mixture out onto a large baking sheet. Spread the popcorn into an even layer and sprinkle the popcorn with sprinkles while the chocolate is still warm. Sprinkle the M&M's evenly on top of the popcorn and allow the chocolate to cool and harden. Gently break any large chunks of popcorn into pieces and store in an airtight container.

NOTES

- I use white chocolate candy melts or candy coating because I find that they are much easier to melt to a smooth consistency and are lighter than white chocolate chips. The melted chocolate chips are dense and heavy and make the popcorn soggy, but the candy melts have a lighter texture that keeps the popcorn crunchy under the chocolate coating.

- I prefer to pop my own popcorn in a large pot on the stove, but you can also use microwave bag popcorn.

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Next up is a recipe for this gorgeous Cranberry Holiday Punch. It is non-alcoholic for the kiddos and only needs 3 ingredients (plus the garnishes). Again, you can easily make as much or as little you need and serve it in either a large punch bowl or a smaller pitcher, but either way, make sure to add some fresh cranberries and mint leaves floating on top! Doesn’t it make a BEAUTIFUL presentation?

Cranberry Holiday Punch

 

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This non-alcoholic Cranberry Holiday Punch is a must for your next holiday party! Serve with cranberries and mint leaves for a beautiful presentation.

Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Drinks

INGREDIENTS

• 1 part cranberry juice, chilled
• 1 part lemonade, chilled
• 1 part ginger ale, chilled
• 
  for garnish:
• fresh cranberries
• fresh mint leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine equal parts cranberry juice, lemonade, and ginger ale in a large pitcher and stir to combine. Add fresh cranberries and mint leaves on top for garnish.

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And last but not least, we have Cookie Cutter Mini Pizzas! We’ve taken care of the treat and beverage departments, but most likely you’ll want something of a little more substance to hold you over during movie night. So why not serve little individual pizzas in fun holiday shapes? You can certainly make your own pizza dough and sauce if you prefer, but especially around the busy holidays, I like to go the semi-homemade route and pick up all the pizza ingredients from the store. Get as creative as you like with toppings and shapes… maybe make a stocking pizza with sausage or a Christmas tree pizza with black olive ornaments… whatever you like! This is a great time to get the kids involved, and they will love decorating their own little pizzas.

Cookie Cutter Mini Pizza

 

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Author: Liz Fourez

Recipe type: Appetizer

INGREDIENTS

• refrigerated pizza crust (or homemade)
• pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• mozzarella cheese, shredded
• pepperoni
• red and green bell pepper, finely diced
• cookie cutters

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Spread the pizza crust on a baking sheet and use cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes. Top the mini pizzas with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and bell peppers and bake according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes.

NOTES

- To easily cut the pizza dough into shapes, press the cookie cutter firmly into the dough, then run a sharp knife along the outside edge of the cookie cutter to separate the dough.

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This post has been sponsored by EVITE® and Chinet® Cut Crystal®, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

The post Holiday Movie Night Recipes appeared first on Love Grows Wild.