Living La Vida Holoka


Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

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Warm up on a cold night with this cozy Caramel Apple Hot Toddy! It’s a twist on a classic Hot Toddy made with spiced apple cider and Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup!

This post has been sponsored by Torani Syrups. All opinions are mine alone. #aguiltfreeholiday #torani


Unpopular opinion – wintertime is the best time!  While the majority of people I know complain about the winter, I embrace it.  There are things I love about the spring and summer, but I get so excited for the fall and winter!  From the end of October through the first week of January, there’s a complete sense of joyfulness in the air.  Every snowfall is magical and every freezing, cold night is an excuse to move a little closer together and snuggle! 

This time of year is so full of excitement!  But preparing for the holidays can be stressful.  There are deadlines to meet, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, and relatives to visit.  That’s why I enjoy when everything gets a little quieter at night. It’s the time of day when I can decompress, hang out with my husband, admire the glow of our Christmas tree, and sip something warm and comforting.

A Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist!

 
Last winter, I made myself a Hot Toddy for the very first time.  This classic drink is a warm and cozy beverage to sip on a cold night.  It’s even said that a Hot Toddy can help a common cold!  So what goes into a Hot Toddy?  It’s simple!  You just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice.  

A classic Hot Toddy is soothing on its own, but I recently made a Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist.  The result was a delicious drink that’s full of caramel apple flavor and a hint of cinnamon spice!  This recipe is just as easy to make as a classic Hot Toddy.  But this version has spiced apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup!



Torani syrups are made with simple and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.  I used the Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup to keep this drink as guilt-free as possible.  Not only that, this syrup gives this Hot Toddy just the right amount of sweet, caramel flavor!  It’s the perfect companion to holiday drinks, coffee, and hot cocoa!  The recipe possibilities are endless! 

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Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Serving Size: 2

Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 - .74 oz. pouches spiced apple cider mix
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 4 oz. honey whiskey, or your favorite whiskey
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 4 tbsp. Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup

Instructions

  1. Add water and spiced apple cider mix to a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir the apple cider mix until it's dissolved and the pot has begun to boil.
  3. Add the cinnamon stick (or sticks) to the pot. Remove from heat and allow the cinnamon to steep for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the cinnamon from the pot. Then, stir in the honey, whiskey, lemon juice, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup.
  5. Divide the hot toddy between two glasses. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired, and serve!

Notes

You can substitute bottled apple cider for the spiced apple cider pouches. Use 8 oz. apple cider per serving.

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There’s honey flavored whiskey in this bad boy, but you can use your favorite whiskey in this Hot Toddy recipe. A cinnamon whiskey might be nice! It’s a sweet drink, but not too sweet.  And it tastes just like a caramel apple!  The Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup is so good!  You definitely won’t miss the sugar!  Find it in the coffee and tea aisle at a Walmart near you! 


Did you spend a cozy evening sipping this Caramel Apple Hot Toddy recipe? Share your pics using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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hot toddy, drinks, cocktails, hot beverages

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Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

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This post has been sponsored by Social Native and Quaker Oats.  This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Start your busy morning with a creamy and delicious Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Smoothie made with protein filled oats, chocolaty goodness, and no added sugar!


It’s the second week of September and, chances are, you’re back into the swing of things.  The kids are back to school, you’re back to your daily routine, and the laid back days of summer have become somewhat hectic again.  And while you’re rushing out the door in the morning to get to school, work, or the gym, you might be grabbing a quick breakfast on-the-go to keep you satisfied and fueled to tackle your day.

One of my favorite quick breakfasts to make during busy mornings is a smoothie.  Toss a few ingredients in a blender, pour it in a glass, and go!  It wasn’t until recently, though, that I discovered how much I love making smoothies with oatmeal in them!  It’s just the added boost my smoothies need to get my fill of protein and nutrition.


When I used to work full-time in an Accounts Receivable office, I used to stop at Starbucks on my way to work and get a chocolate smoothie.  Their chocolate smoothies are made with banana, mocha sauce, and protein powder.  It’s one of my favorite smoothie flavor combos! But at $4.25 a smoothie, it can become a pricey little morning habit.  Making your own, however, is a lot easier on your wallet!

So I decided to try to make my own version of the Starbucks chocolate smoothie.  Instead of mocha sauce, I’m using unsweetened cocoa powder.  And instead of protein powder, there’s almond butter, almond-cashew milk, plus a serving of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats in it. 

Oatmeal not only gives your smoothie a healthy boost of protein, it gives your smoothie a thick and creamy texture, too (no weird texture issues)!  It’s kind of like having a morning milkshake!

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Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 banana, sliced
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond-cashew milk
  • 1/2 cup Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp. creamy almond butter
  • Pinch of stevia
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Place the banana, almond-cashew milk, Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, cocoa powder, almond butter, and stevia in a blender.
  2. Fill the rest with ice and blend until smooth.
  3. Pour into a glass and top with sliced bananas, if desired.

Notes

If you make this the night before and let it sit in the fridge, it sets almost like a pudding! So you can enjoy it with a spoon like guilt-free chocolate pudding!

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Are you wondering how this smoothie tastes compared to the Starbucks chocolate smoothie? From what I can remember (it’s been a while since I’ve had a smoothie from Starbucks), it’s pretty damn close!

I might even be so bold to say that it’s actually better because there’s no added sugar, it’s thicker and creamier, and there’s a whole lot of protein in it! It’s just the chocolaty boost you need to get your morning going!


If you whip up this Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Smoothie, be sure to share it on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

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This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Chill out this summer with a refreshing Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer. This mix of lemonade and iced tea is sweetened with stevia for a low-cal cocktail!


I’ve somehow ended up with an abundance of whiskey.  Party over here!  It’s not necessarily a bad problem to have, but whiskey isn’t my first drink of choice.  We have two bottles of flavored whiskey to use in chocolate pecan pie – my husband’s favorite that I make just for him because I’m not a fan.  On top of that, my parents ended up giving me three more full bottles of whiskey. 

Since then (and it’s been a while), I’ve been trying to come up with different ways to use up my stash instead of just having it sit on a shelf.  There are only so many pies I can make for my boo.  Especially since those summer temps are rising and I’d rather not turn on the oven if I don’t have to.  So there’s the occasional pie and I’ve been using it in barbecue marinades to use when we grill, too.

Then, there’s the obvious solution – drink it!


So here we are in the second week of July and it’s been hot AF.  On one particularly steamy 90 degree day, I decided to put some of our whiskey to good use.  I initially wanted to make whiskey spiked lemonade.  As I pulled the ingredients to make a stevia simple syrup and mix up a lemonade base, I decided to go one better.

Stevia + whiskey + lemonade + tea = Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer!

You know, that classic lemonade and tea drink named after a famous pro golfer.  It’s the best of summer beverages in a glass.  Especially when it’s spiked!


And since I’ve been doing a decent job of cutting out extra sugar lately, I made my simple syrup for this drink with stevia.  That way, when I’m trying to unwind and cool down at the end of a summer day, I won’t feel entirely guilty about guzzling a quart-size mason jar of this whiskey spiked Arnold Palmer.


Sure, you could totally use store bought lemonade and tea, pour some whiskey in, and call it a day.  But then, you have to factor in all of that added sugar.  It’s worth the extra steps.  Not just to cut the sugar, but because it’s doesn’t get any better than homemade lemonade and iced tea!

So I started with whiskey and lemon juice in my shaker (aka a quart mason jar).  Then, I made my simple syrup with stevia and water.  I let that come to a boil and took it off the heat.  Then, I filled the mason jar with ice and poured in the simple syrup. 

After that, I boiled a little more water and steeped an iced tea bag.  I let that cool for a bit, added it to my mason jar, gave it a good shake, and poured it into pint jars.  Garnish with a slice of lemon, some fresh mint, and sip!

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Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

Skinny Whiskey Arnold Palmer

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup whiskey
  • 2 lemons, juiced
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tbsp. stevia
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 black tea bag
  • Ice
  • Optional: lemon slices, fresh mint leaves

Instructions

  1. Pour the whiskey and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker or quart mason jar. Fill it with ice and set aside.
  2. In a small pot, add the 1/2 cup of water and stevia to make a simple syrup.
  3. Bring to a boil and stir until the stevia is dissolved. Remove from heat. Once the simple syrup has cooled down a little, pour it into the shaker.
  4. In the same pot, add the cup of water and bring it to a boil.
  5. Once the water boils, remove it from the stove top and steep the tea bag.
  6. When the tea is steeped to your liking, let it cool down for a couple minutes, then pour it into the jar.
  7. Add the top onto the shaker and give it a good shake.
  8. Pour it into glasses or pint-sized mason jar with more ice. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves before serving.
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If you’re not much of a whiskey drinker – or drinker, in general – omit the booze and enjoy a refreshing summer beverage!  You could even go so far as to make the lemonade and tea mixture ahead of time.  Then, add the whiskey and garnishes before serving this seriously refreshing summer sip!

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Peach Lemonade with Fresh Mint

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This Peach Lemonade with Fresh Mint is sure to become your new, favorite summer sip! It’s made with fresh peaches, lemons, mint leaves, and stevia to help sweeten it without added sugar!


I love this time of year in New Jersey!  It’s not too hot yet, so I can fully enjoy sitting outside on our deck or working in our garden.  Some afternoons, I’ll even manage to bring out my stack of notebooks and my laptop and get some work done out in the sun.  One thing’s for sure – it’s the perfect time of year to welcome back some of my favorite warm weather refreshments like iced tea and lemonade.  Bonus points if they’re homemade!

I always have trouble finding drinks to keep me hydrated that don’t have added sugar, but aren’t boring either.  Since I had a bunch of lemons to use up and fresh mint growing like crazy in our yard, I decided to make myself a pitcher of homemade lemonade.  I took it another level by adding fresh peach nectar to it and holy amazing!  This might be my new favorite way to drink lemonade!   


Homemade lemonade is a simple recipe consisting of fresh lemon juice, water, and sugar. But to keep this lemonade recipe low on sugar, I used stevia to sweeten it instead.  Stevia is an herb (that will soon be joining my garden!) that is an amazing substitute for sugar.  It’s zero calories, but a lot sweeter than sugar, so a little goes a very long way! 

I wanted to give this lemonade a boost of flavor, so I added some fresh peach juice to it, plus some fresh mint from our garden.  You can skip the step of making your own peach juice and just use the bottled variety or canned peaches instead.  However, you’ll need to account for the added sugar that will be going into this drink. 

In my opinion, it’s totally worth it to take the extra steps to extract the juice directly from the peaches.  You get this natural, peach flavor that isn’t too sweet, but subtle enough to keep the integrity of homemade lemonade.

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Peach Lemonade with Fresh Mint

Peach Lemonade with Fresh Mint

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Stevia sweetener
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice, about 4-5 large lemons, juiced
  • 4 peaches, peeled and pitted
  • Fresh mint leaves, removed from stem
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the Stevia + 1 cup of water to create a simple syrup. Bring the water to a boil and stir until the stevia has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. In a pitcher, stir the rest of the water and fresh lemon juice together. Set aside.
  3. Add the peaches to a large bowl and use an immersion blender to mash them up into a smooth puree.
  4. Strain the peaches and add the juice to the simple syrup, along with some fresh mint leaves. Bring the simple syrup back up to a boil. Remove from heat and strain.
  5. Add the peach infused simple syrup to the pitcher of lemonade and stir to combine.
  6. Allow to cool. Then, serve in glasses with ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Notes

To easily peel the peaches, cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Then, add the peaches to a pot of boiling water for about a minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in ice water. You should be able to easily remove the skin after that.

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If you find that this lemonade isn’t peachy enough for you, add another peach or two to the mix. Just do me a solid and do not discard that leftover peachy pureed pulp! Once all the juice is strained from it, pop it in the freezer. You can use it later to make homemade fruit leather or a simple peach sorbet.

Also, if you wanted to kick this lemonade up to an extreme adult level, throw in a little bourbon.  I’d recommend a honey bourbon for this!  Oh yeah! 


You won’t believe that there’s not one drop of added sugar in this lemonade! Stevia is magical, so you can’t get your guilt-free sip on all spring and summer long! 

You’ll want to keep this recipe handy during July and August when peach picking it at its peak!  This peach lemonade is definitely going to be my signature summer sip of 2019!

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