In the past I always made our own homemade hot cocoa mix, which I still love and will always be my favorite, but with most of us now having celiac disease in our family we unfortunately had to make a few changes this year.   The Nesquik in my original recipe says it may contain wheat so we are not able to have it anymore.  I first experimented with my original recipe by just changing out the Nesquik to cocoa powder but so far I have not been able to find the perfect ratio to share with you all.  For my cocoa bar I like the convenience of a mix that is kept on the counter so that we can just add hot water verses having to heat the milk, melt the chocolate, and add the sugar.  With me trying to be dairy free though most the time, I may have better luck giving that option a try with coconut or almond milk.  For everyone else though I like a quick and easy mix!

In the mean time, while I am still trying to figure out my own homemade mix, I was able to find a few gluten free cocoa mix substitutes, both a dairy and a dairy-free option.  I forgot to take a picture of the dairy cocoa mix but here is the dairy-free version.  

HOT COCOA BAR FOR YOUR KITCHEN

When setting up my cocoa bar I like to keep it just the basics for everyday.  Cocoa mix, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and mugs.  A small counter space next to the stove or close by is the perfect spot.  I chose to use my butlers pantry and share it with the coffee station.  I even found the perfect sign for both!

The tea kettle is always kept close by on the stove and whipped cream is kept in the fridge, dairy and dairy-free.  If we are hosting a party I may add a few other fun items to the cocoa bar but I feel like this is great for everyday.

I love this red tea kettle that I found!

This year I am using a half gallon clear canister for the cocoa mix with a 2 tablespoon measuring spoon inside for convenience.  The marshmallows and peppermint sticks are kept in clear jars right next to the cocoa mix.  These peppermint stick packs that I found at Target are perfect and were only a dollar a piece!

Affiliate links (Amazon & Etsy) are included for some of the items below for your convenience.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclosure here.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Dairy Free Cocoa Mix

Tea Kettle

Vegan Marshmallows

Peppermint Sticks

Clear half gallon canister

Red measuring spoon

Cocoa and Coffee sign

Cocoa Mug

Red buffalo check towels

I love how festive this makes my kitchen and the fun family tradition that goes with it!

This lemonade is so cool and refreshing on the hottest of days and perfect for some front porch sitin!

Instructions:

In a medium sauce pan add 1 1/2 cups water and the sugar.  Stir together and bring to a boil over medium heat.   Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile juice your lemons and lime.  The kids love to help with this!

The nine lemons and lime give you about 2 1/4- 2 1/2 cups of juice.  When the sugar water is done simmering turn off the heat and let cool for about 15-20 minutes.  Add your lemon lime mixture to the sugar water and stir.  Pour into a container to let finishing cooling in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.

When you are ready to mix up the lemonade pour the lemon/sugar mixture into a large pitcher.

Add about 7-8 cups of cold water and stir.  Start with 7 cups and add more if needed depending on how sweet you like it.  Enjoy! 

Here is your printable recipe!

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

 

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This is perfect for a hot summer day!

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1½ cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 9 lemons (about 2¼ cups juice)
• 1 lime
• 7-8 cups cold water

Instructions

1. In a medium sauce pan add 1½ cups water and the sugar. Stir together and bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile juice your lemons and lime.
3. When the sugar water is done simmering turn off the heat and let cool for about 15-20 minutes.
4. Add your lemon lime mixture to the sugar water and stir. Pour into a container to let finishing cooling in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
5. When you are ready to mix up the lemonade pour the lemon/sugar mixture into a large pitcher.
6. Add about 7-8 cups of cold water and stir.  Start with 7 cups and add more if needed depending on how sweet you like it.  Enjoy!

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XOXO

JEN

OTHER SUMMER IDEAS YOU MIGHT LIKE….

• Fresh Strawberry Pie
• Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
• Homemade Patriotic Popsicles

FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE

for a hot summer day!!

Like I mentioned above because this drink is red it is perfect for all those summer patriotic barbecues too.  This is quick, easy, and so delicious and refreshing!  What’s not to love, right?!?!  Here is what you need:  Sprite (or other lemon lime soda), sugar, frozen strawberries, lemon juice, juice of 1 lime, and 1-1 1/2 cups crushed ice.  

Add your ingredients to the blender and then blend it all up until smooth.  

Serve immediately and pour into fun glasses, totally optional, but always a hit!  Makes about 4 servings….or 6 small servings if you pour it into smaller glasses for the kids!   

Strawberry Daiquiri (Mocktail)

 

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So good and refreshing this is perfect for Cinco De Mayo or those patriotic barbecues this summer!

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Drink, Mocktail

Ingredients

• 2 cups Sprite (or other lemon lime soda)
• ½ cup white sugar
• 20 frozen strawberries
• ¼ cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
• juice of one lime
• 1-1½ cups crushed ice

Instructions

1. To your blender add in the Sprite, sugar, frozen strawberries, lemon juice, juice of 1 lime (cut in 4 wedges to make it easier to squeeze and then squeeze it on in), and your crushed ice.
2. Blend it all up until smooth.
3. Pour into fun glasses and serve immediately.

Notes

Serves about 4, or 6 smaller servings.

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To make this smoothie just add in your blender the orange juice, vanilla Greek yogurt, frozen blueberries, spinach, banana, and ice. 

Blend it all up until smooth.  For my blender I always run it though a couple of times to make sure all the ice is well blended.  If your smoothie ever has trouble blending just add a little more liquid to the blender to get it going, in this case add more orange juice.  

Then pour it into glasses and enjoy!  And there you go, a great Forth or July treat, or a yummy healthy smoothie for any time!  Try and stay cool, I know it is supposed to reach 120 degrees here this week.

I would love if you would join my Friday link-up party!

Here is your printable recipe!

Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

This is a great healthy smoothie for Fourth of July or any time!

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt (you can use vanilla coconut yogurt to make it dairy free)
• 1½ cups frozen blueberries
• 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
• 1 banana
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. In a blender add your orange juice, vanilla Greek yogurt, frozen blueberries, spinach, banana, and ice.
2. Blend it all up until smooth. I usually run it through the blender a couple of times to make sure it is all blended.
3. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Notes

The kids and I always just share this amount but I think it makes about 2 (16oz) glasses.

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I love to make a smoothie to go with our lunches, especially during our hot months, and the kids really like them too!  To be honest on most days I like to make my favorite Blueberry Spinach Smoothie.  I prefer one with spinach so we can get the added vegetable and the kids don’t even know it’s there!  I had actually planned on posting that one but in all the times I have made it I realized I never photographed it.  So that one will be coming soon!  With that being said, every once in a while I let the kids choose another flavor.  This Orange, Peach, Mango Smoothie has become one of our favorites on a non-spinach smoothie day.     When making all my smoothies I tend to use Chobani Greek Vanilla yogurt.  I love that in one cup of yogurt you get 20 grams of protein!  To make this dairy free you can use vanilla coconut yogurt instead and it still tastes good.  I used that during all my dairy free nursing days!  My favorite was the So Delicious brand.

Okay so let’s make the smoothie!  In your blender add your orange juice, pineapple juice, vanilla greek yogurt, banana, frozen peaches, frozen mangos, and ice.  If you don’t have pineapple juice it still tastes good to just add all orange juice.  

Blend her up and pour into glasses.  I think this makes about 2 (16oz) size glasses but I always just divide it out between me and the kids.  

I hope this helps cool you down this summer!  Have a great week!

I would love if you would join my Friday link-up party.

Here is your printable recipe.

Orange, Peach, Mango Smoothie

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Smoothie

Ingredients

• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup pineapple juice (you can use 1 cup of orange juice it you don't have pineapple juice)
• 1 cup Chobani Greek vanilla yogurt (to make it dairy free use vanilla coconut yogurt)
• 1 banana
• ¾ cup frozen peaches
• ¾ cup frozen mangos
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. In a blender add your orange juice, pineapple juice, greek vanilla yogurt, banana, frozen peaches, frozen mangos, and ice.
2. Blend it all up until smooth. I don't have the best blender in the world so I will often start and stop the blender a couple of times to make sure it is well blended.
3. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Notes

We love to make smoothies during our hot summer months. It is a yummy way to cool down! **I don't always measure out the frozen fruit. I just eyeball it so the combination has about 1½ cups total frozen fruit.

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Now I am no doctor, and most of what I have discovered about Apple Cider Vinegar is from personal experience of drinking/using it the last 5 years, but I love when I do look it up and I find that doctors have done research on this wonder product and they find that it actually does have proven health benefits!

New medical research also suggests that apple cider vinegar use can help cure acid reflux, lower blood pressure, improve diabetes, and support weight loss.

The benefits of apple cider vinegar come from it’s powerful healing compounds which include acetic acid, potassium, magnesium, probiotics, and enzymes.

Acetic acid has the ability to kill dangerous “bad” bacteria, and at the same time to foster the growth of beneficial “good” bacteria. Because acetic acid kills unwanted bacteria when it comes into contact with it, it essentially acts as a natural antibiotic. This means apple cider vinegar naturally provides numerous benefits related to skin, digestion, and immunity health without any side effects.

Additionally, apple cider vinegar is a good source of polyphenols. Research supports the role of polyphenols in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and diabetes

Make sure when buying apple cider vinegar you buy it raw and with the “mother” which means it still contains the beneficial compounds including probiotics.

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which is acidic in nature but has a more alkaline effect on the rest of your body.  Balancing your bodies pH can reduce your risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and can dramatically increase your energy. From www.draxe.com.  Here and here are a few other good articles on the health benefits of ACV.  

So I first discovered the idea of using Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV about 5 or 6 years ago when I was having lots of sinus and ear pain.  I turned to good ol’ Google to see if anyone had any tips for how to naturally relieve sinus pain.  I stumbled across so many people talking about this ACV and how for many of them it really helped.  I tried it out and was amazed at how well it helped me too. When taking this you can’t just take any ACV, it needs to be raw organic with the “mother” in it so you can take advantage of all the health benefits.  I use the Bragg brand (affiliate link) and can find it at Whole Foods, Sprouts, or even my local grocery store carries it.  

How I use Apple Cider Vinegar

On a daily basis, usually in the evening, I drink ACV as an overall wellness drink, even if I feel like nothing is wrong, just because of all the health benefits as stated above that come from it.  I heat up a mug of hot water in the microwave and then I add 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar.  If you have never taken ACV before you may want to start off with 1 teaspoon for the first few times while you are ridding your body of toxins.  You can drink the ACV with just water but to make it taste better I add a teaspoon of raw organic honey and also a heaping 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon.  It really actually tastes kind of good with the honey and cinnamon.  For the first couple years of taking this I just used the regular cinnamon in my pantry for cooking.  Along the way I learned that not all cinnamon is as good for health benefits.  After researching this a little I learned that Ceylon cinnamon is better when using it for health benefits.  I could not find it in the stores but I found it here (affiliate link) on Amazon.  ***NOTE- Never take Apple Cider Vinegar by itself as it can actually burn your esophagus.  Always take it with plenty of water.

Another way I use ACV is as a toner.  No more trying every product in the store, and most of them are full of bad chemicals, to try and find something to make my face not break out.  This is the best thing I have ever found for my skin and the best part about it is that it is cheap and all natural!  My face, and sometimes upper back, was always prone to breaking out and this has been a miracle worker for me!  And if it ever does happen to break out it gets rid of it really fast!  This is totally safe to use when pregnant and for my last pregnancy my skin hardly ever broke out.  Now when I wash my face morning and night I use a natural organic face wash, and after that I use my ACV toner.  When the toner dries I rub on face lotion as vinegar can be drying.  To make my toner I use a 4 oz glass bottle.  I think I grabbed it from Whole Foods.  I fill up the bottle just under the half way point with ACV and then I fill up the rest of the bottle with filtered water.  When first starting off maybe just fill up 1/4 – 1/3 of the bottle with ACV  and then the rest filtered water to make sure it is not too drying.  Worried about the smell??  Don’t, it goes away when it dries and it is worth it if it works!

What I use Apple Cider Vinegar For

So along the way Apple Cider Vinegar has now become my go-to product for so many things. Here are some of the stuff I have used it for:

1. Sinus pressure- make the drink 2-3 times a day until better.  The AVC will actually thin out the mucus membranes.  It will make your nose start running but that is draining everything out.  You can also just breath in the fumes of the vinegar bottle to help drain your nose.
2. Feel like you are getting a cold/sore throat or have a cold make the drink 2-3 times a day until better.  Often if I take it fast enough when I feel like I am getting sick I will stop it from coming on all together or I will get it really mild.  Or if someone else in the house it sick I will take the drink 2-3 times that day to prevent it.
3. Feel like you are going to throw up?  Sounds strange like it would make it worse but 100% of the time when I have felt like I was going to throw up and I have made the drink in time, my stomach felt better in an hour.  I maybe wasn’t totally well yet but it stopped the stomach ache.  It will also relieve nausea.  This has also worked for my husband.  He actually hates the drink but will take it when he is sick because he KNOWS it works!  He now leaves a bottle at the fire station with him or takes it on wild land fires as a just in case!
4. Feel tired or run down in the afternoon- of course the drink will help, or sometimes I will just pour a little ACV in my ice water and sip it throughout the afternoon.  You have to be able to stand the taste for this.  It always gives me a little pick me up and a little extra energy to make it through the afternoon/ dinner craziness.
5. Makes a good natural deodorant.  Rub on your vinegar toner under your arm pits.  I actually use this every morning under my natural homemade deodorant.  Works great to also take away any smell in case you were not able to shower that morning!
6. Takes away mastitis when nursing.  I got to try this out several times when nursing my 3rd baby.  Rub the toner right on the infected spot several times a day and drink the drink 2-3 times a day until better.  ACV can act as a natural antibiotic.  I also used moist heat and worked on massaging it out all day.  Usually I had it gone that day.
7. ACV is great for your hair and scalp and can act as a natural conditioner.  My scalp got all irritated during my 4th pregnancy and this helped take away the irritation.   I put some vinegar in a squirt bottle, about 1/4 cup, and then filled the rest of the bottle up with water and put it all over my hair and scalp in the shower.  I let it sit for about 5 -10 min and then rinsed it out.  When I was researching this some people said ACV is great for thickening thinning hair.
8. Toe Nail Fungus-  My toe nails were gross for years from my days of dancing and point shoes in high school and I could never get rid of it….until ACV. I just rubbed on the toner on my toes a few times a day and it was gone.  Also if your toe nails are gross after having nail polish on for too long it will make your nails all better.
9. Any kind of skin issues such as acne, skin irritations, eczema, and warts.  Rub on the toner for all of the above.  I use the toner on my face and back morning and night just to keep my skin clear.  For eczema I have used it on my daughter.  It took a few weeks of putting it on twice a day but it did clear it up.  The problem with eczema is that if it is something in your diet or that you are coming in contact with it is going to be difficult to clear it up until you figure out what is causing it.
10. Sun burns.  It will take away a sun burn really fast.  Just rub on your vinegar toner.  I then usually put aloe on top of that once it dries.
11. Helps with ear aches/infections.  I have put my toner on a cotton ball and then I will turn my head to the side and squeeze the toner in my ear.  Just let it sit in your ear for a minute or two before putting your head up.  This has also worked on our dog a couple of times when she had really infected ears.  Just squirt the toner in your dog’s ear and massage it around.  Do this for a few days until it clears up.  Will save you a nice vet bill!
12. Now I am not sure about this last one but with my second pregnancy they found a dermoid cyst on one of my ovaries during one of the ultrasounds.  It was a bout 3cm.  This was way before my ACV days.  I then continued to have to have it monitored every 6 months for about 2-3 years to make sure it was not growing.  I was told that I would probably have to get it removed at some point.  It was not growing but it was not going away.  They finally let me start going a year between ultrasounds.  Fast forward to discovering ACV and my 3rd pregnancy about 3 years later.  They could hardly find it on the ultra sound when I was pregnant with baby #3, I had to tell the tech to look for it.  It was maybe about 1cm at that point?  About 6 months after baby #3 the doctor wanted it checked 1 more time, it could hardly be seen.  With ultra sounds with baby #4 it was totally gone!
13. For this one you don’t even need ACV.  Just any ol’ white vinegar will work.  It does wonders for your dishwasher.  We have hard water where we live and for our first several years of marriage we suffered from all of our dishes and glasses getting that white film all over it, even with using those horrible rinse agents full of chemicals.  Yuck!  The dishwasher baskets would also get full of that white film.  I discovered that vinegar tossed right in the dishwasher before you start it every time will clean that right up.  I literally take my large bottle of vinegar and just toss some right in every night and after about 2 washes all my glasses were clear and looked sparkling clean!  Of coarse white vinegar is also good for any household cleaning, and it worked great when I would clean my Baby Bullet steamer.
14. Natural Bug spray and weed killer.  Just put some white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray your weeds and around your doors to help with bugs.

So basically when in doubt put some vinegar toner on it, drink it, or spray it and it will probably help!  I am sure there are so many other uses for this wonder product that I haven’t even tried.  I would love to know if you have found any other great uses for it!

I would love if you would join my Friday link-up party!

Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Drink and Toner

 

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Author: A Firemans Wife

Recipe type: Wellness drink and Toner

Ingredients

• Wellness Drink
• Mug of hot water
• 2 teaspoons Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons raw organic honey
• Heaping ⅛ teaspoon Ceylon Cinnamon
• Toner
• Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
• Filtered water

Instructions

1. Wellness Drink
2. Mix ACV, honey, and cinnamon in your mug of hot water and enjoy!
3. Toner
4. Fill your toner bottle a little less than half way with AVC and then fill the rest of the way up with filtered water.

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For your smoothie you will need apple juice, Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt, 1 banana, 2 kiwi, 2 cups packed spinach, and ice (sorry not shown)!  If you plan on making this smoothie a lot I buy my kiwi from Costco so I can get a bunch of them for a better price.

You can start by cutting up your kiwi so they are all ready.  I just cut the ends off of each kiwi, and then I slice off the skin all the way around.  Then I slice my kiwi in little slices so it blends up better.  

In a blender add your apple juice, greek vanilla yogurt, spinach, banana, kiwi, and ice.  I use crushed ice when I have it.  My ice maker broke the other day so I am using store-bought ice here.  

Put your lid on and blend er’ up!  

That is it!  So simple and a great (natural green) St. Patrick’s Day treat!  This makes about the 2 full size (16 oz) glasses you see below.  

**I would love if you would join my new link party!

Kiwi, Spinach Shamrock Smoothie

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

This makes a great St. Patrick's Day Treat!

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Smoothie

Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients

• ½ cup apple juice
• 1 cup Chobani Greek Vanilla Yogurt
• 1 banana
• 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
• 2 kiwi peeled and sliced
• 1 cup ice

Instructions

1. Peel and slice your kiwi.
2. Place your apple juice, greek yogurt, banana, spinach, kiwi, and ice in a blender.
3. Blend until smooth.

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Start with a large bowl, unlike the small glass one I was using, because it will make life so much easier to mix it up.  Add in the powdered milk, Nesquik, powdered sugar, and the coffee mate.  Mix well and that is it for your mix!

I found this great container to store my cocoa mix in at Hobby Lobby the other day.  So much better than the large glass bowl I had been using for years.

When you are ready for some hot cocoa boil your water and then measure roughly 1/3 – 1/2 cup mix per coffee mug.  If it is a larger mug you may want to add a larger amount of mix.  Then add your boiling water to the cocoa mix and stir up.  Then we have a debate around our house what is actually better to top your cocoa with.  I love and only put whip cream on the top of mine, and my husband will only put marshmallows on top of his.  My kids will put a little of both.  So take your pick!

This can also make a great hostess or neighbor gifts around the holidays.  I just printed up little copies of the recipe and added it to a small jar of cocoa mix.  Fun to add in some marshmallows, straws, or candy canes too!

Homemade Hot Cocoa

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Author: A Fireman's Wife

Recipe type: Beverage

Ingredients

• 5 cups powdered milk
• 1½ cups chocolate Nesquik
• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• ¾ cup original Coffee Mate (the powdered stuff)
• Whip cream or marshmallows for topping

Instructions

1. Add powdered milk, Nesquik, powdered sugar, and coffee mate to a large bowl. Mix together well.
2. Boil water.
3. Add ⅓-1/2 cup cocoa mix to a coffee mug (*or more mix if using a really large mug).
4. Fill up coffee mug with boiling water and stir.
5. Top with whip cream or marshmallows.

Notes

*You can add a small piece of candy cane to your hot cocoa if you want more of a peppermint cocoa.

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