Rhubarb Slush

3 C chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 C water
1/3 C sugar
1 C apple juice
3/4 C pink lemonade concentrate
1 bottle (2 liters) lemon-lime soda

In a saucepan, combine rhubarb, water and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until rhubarb is tender.

Cool for about 30 minutes. In a food processor or blender, puree mixture, half at a time. Stir in apple juice and lemonade concentrate. Pour into a freezer container; cover and freeze until firm. Let stand at room temperature for 45 minutes before serving. For individual servings, scoop 1/3 C into a glass and fill with soda. To serve a group, place all of the mixture in a large pitcher or punch bowl; add soda and stir. Serve immediately. Makes about 10 servings.

Hot Cocoa Mixes

I adapted these recipes from the Peppermint Cocoa mix in the December 2011 Friend Magazine.  I'm using them for neighbor gifts and also adding marshmallows.

Minty Hot Cocoa
(just add water)


1 C powdered milk
1 C powdered sugar
1/4 C cocoa powder
1-2 drops peppermint oil

Add 8 oz. hot water to 1/2 C mix.

Minty Hot Cocoa
(just add milk)

1 C powdered sugar
1/4 C cocoa powder
1 T coffee creamer
1-2 drops peppermint oil

Add 6 oz. hot milk to 1/4 C mix.

Orange Julius Drink

We enjoyed this with popcorn Sunday (General Conference evening) while Evan and Emily & kids and Alan and Megan & kids were here.

1 6-oz can frozen orange juice
1 c water
1 c milk
1/4 - 1/2 c sugar
1 t vanilla
7 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in blender and process for 30 seconds. Serve immediately. Makes 6 cups.

Hot Citrus Drink

Over the years we've enjoyed this yummy drink on cold winter evenings with popcorn. First is the regular recipe and the second is the half recipe with reduced sugar.

2 c sugar
2 qt water
2 c orange juice (fresh juice is the best, but if you don't have it, use diluted concentrate)
3/4 c lemon juice (again, fresh is best)
1 t vanilla
1 t almond extract

Mix all ingredients in sauce pan and heat through.

Half Recipe with Reduced Sugar

1/2 c sugar
1 qt water
1 c orange juice (or add a second cup for extra orange juice flavor)
1/3 c lemon juice
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 t almond extract

Mix all ingredients in sauce pan and heat through.

Peanut Butter Moo'd - Jamba Juice

This is supposedly a Jamba Juice Recipe. Never heard of it until recently. Who goes to Jamba Juice to get a chocolatey drink? ....well now I would! I'm hooked and I love love love it! First I thought it was a little weird, but ooh, it's grown on me!

1 1/2 c. chocolate soy milk
1 Tbs cocoa
1 heaping Tbs peanut butter
1/2-1 frozen banana (or fresh)
4-5 fresh/frozen strawberries (opt.) (The first time we made it without and it was good, the second time with and it was really good...both are good)
2-3 giant scoops vanilla frozen yogurt
1 c ice

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Try it, it's YUMMY! YUMMY! YUMMY! And...it's practically healthy!

Hot Citrus Drink

Sometimes on Sunday evenings, rather than fixing another big meal (we usually ate earlier after church), mom would pop popcorn and make Hot Citrus Drink.

2 C sugar (or 1 C if you want to be healthier)
2 quarts water (8 C)
2 C orange juice
3/4 C lemon juice
1 t vanilla
1 t almond extract

Heat all ingredients together on the stove.

Fruit Lassi

We fell in love with the Mango and Strawberry Lassis at the Bombay House and at Royal India.  We've tried a couple recipes that called for 3 C yogurt and 1 C fruit and they just weren't right!  Then, I saw a drink recipe in a kids' cook book proportioned this way, and it tasted so much better!

3 1/2 C fruit*
1 C yogurt (full-fat tastes best!)
1/4 C sugar*
1/2 - 1 C milk
ice cubes (8?)

Put all ingredients in a blender except for ice.  Blend.  Add ice, blend.

I use 1/4 C sugar for apricots, a little less sugar for sweeter fruits.