It’s time for my next “drink of the month” post! For July, I’ll post a family favorite: orange refresher. It’s a bit similar to blueberry lemonade (another family favorite). This yummy drink has a tangy kick to it because of the orange concentrate, but plenty of sweetness with the honey! The recipe is supposed to make four servings, but, well, I usually have to make more for our family. It doesn’t last long! :)

In your blender (we use a Vitamix) blend together:

1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup water
6-oz. can frozen orange concentrate (ours are always 12-oz cans, so I just use half of one)
1/3 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
8-12 ice cubes

Blend for 30-45 seconds, or until smooth. Enjoy!

Today’s post is a delicious recipe. A recipe that uses up leftover tomatoes from your garden. Or you can just buy extra tomatoes if you want to make your own fresh tomato sauce!

To start, you’ll need a powerful blender (I use our Vitamix) and about 6 medium tomatoes.           I used 7 or 8. :)

Wash the tomatoes, cut them into quarters, and dump them into your blender.

Add the following ingredients on top:

1 small onion, peeled and halved
1 small carrot, halved
2 tablespoons or more of tomato paste  (I used the whole can because they’re pretty small)
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

Blend on high for 2-3 minutes, using the tamper (if you have one) to press the ingredients into the blades. When done, the consistency will be a bit weird, but don’t worry. I promise it will turn out! Whatever you do, DON’T stop now. It would taste terrible uncooked. :)

Pour mixture into a saucepan.

Simmer for 35-40 minutes. I usually stir in a bit more dried basil for color. You can use this in any recipe calling for tomato sauce. Or serve over cooked pasta for a quick meal! Enjoy! :)

Have an abundance of zucchini? Try this amazing recipe. I’ve made this healthy cake at least half a dozen times this summer, and we never get tired of it! :) Happy Monday!

There’s nothing like a good cup of iced coffee on a warm summer morning! I thought I’d share with you how I make it, but feel free to experiment and adjust the ingredients to your liking!

Measure out 1/2 cup boiling water and add 1 rounded teaspoon instant coffee granules (or you can just use extra-strong coffee). Add 1/4 cup milk and 2-3 teaspoons sweetener (honey, maple syrup, sugar, or several drops of stevia). I like a drizzle of maple syrup and 8 drops vanilla-flavored stevia. Stir this all together and slowly pour into a large cup or mug filled with ice cubes. Let this sit for a minute, and then stir it again. Enjoy!