Hi Everyone,
I am happy to say I am typing away on my new computer. I ended up getting a Toshiba Laptop. I wanted a Ultrabook, but for everyday use and not too much travel, I figured a little sturdier, bigger screen laptop would be better. It’s so weird typing on a new keyboard. Hopefully these keys won’t come off like my last one. I was losing letters everywhere, my dog even at the P key! I got replacement keys at “www.lostkeys.com”. I thought it was pretty funny, but hey I guess it happens more often than you think!
Today I have for you your Monday pick me up!
This is my Almond Joy Frappe! I tested this recipe out 3 times this weekend and I just love it! I never thought I would like the taste of almonds in my coffee, but you know what I can’t get enough of it! This drink is made with coconut milk, fat free milk, cocoa powder, coconut and almond extract. But to give it a true rich taste I topped it with a sprinkle of sweetened coconut, fat free whip cream and chocolate syrup. Oh my gosh! Amazing!!!!!!!!! Yum!
Lets talk about chocolate syrup for a minute. I was at the store researching the calories, fat ect… on Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and Smuckers Sugar Free Syrup, lets just say there isn’t much of a difference. Here are the stats below.
Hershey’s Genuine Chocolate Syrup (2 Tbsp servings): Calories: 100, Fat: 0, Sodium: 15, Carbs: 20, Fiber 1, Sugar: 20, Protein: 1
Smuckers Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup (2 Tbsp servings): Calories: 90, Fat: .05, Sodium: 35, Carbs: 23, Fiber: 1, Sugar: 0, Sugar Alcohol: 14, Protein: 11
If we look at the stats it seems Hershey’s have more calories but only by 10, less sodium and more sugar. But the Smuckers has more carbs, only 10 fewer calories, Sugar Alcohol and it’s made with Splenda. I was looking at the ingredients; in Hershey’s I know all of the ingredients. Their common stuff like corn syrup, cocoa, sugar, not good stuff, but the list isn’t that long. But Smucker’s I haven’t a clue what the ingredients are but the first two which is water and Maltitol, which is a chemical derived from Corn Syrup. In other words it’s a sugar. The problem with Malitol is that it’s good for diabetics because it doesn’t spike your sugar levels and for people who are really watching their sugar, but beware there are side effects like diarrhea, bloating, nausea, gas and abdominal pain. Personally I don’t want any of that and that’s what happened when I used to use Splenda.
Here’s my advice and this is what I do. If I want chocolate syrup like on this Frappe, I take 1 teaspoon of real chocolate syrup and 1 teaspoon of milk and whisk it together. You still get the taste of chocolate with half the calories! There are some foods where you should cut fat and calories, but on other’s you might as well get full fat, especially if there isn’t much of a difference. So what I’m saying, I’m going for the real stuff on Chocolate Syrup and get full-blown chocolate syrup. Why sacrifice flavor for 10 small calories? OK, now back to my Almond Joy Frappe!
This drink makes just over 2 cups and comes in at 49.8 calories! I love it!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about guilt-free. Did I mentions that also includes the whip cream, syrup and sweetened shredded coconut. The little almond in the picture is not counted, that is just to look pretty! 🙂
- 1½ cups coffee, frozen
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut milk
- ¼ cup non-fat milk
- 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp. coconut extract
- ⅛ tsp. almond extract
- 1 packet stevia (3.5oz)
- ½ tsp. chocolate syrup
- ½ tsp. non-free milk
- 2 tbsp, fat free whip cream
- 1 sprinkle sweetened shredded coconut
- In a blender at coffee, coconut milk, non-fat milk, cocoa powder, coconut extract, almond extract and stevia. Process until smooth.
- Meanwhile, in a tiny bowl add chocolate syrup and milk and whisk together till combined. Set a side.
- Pour into a coffee mixture into a cup and top with whip cream, shredded coconut and chocolate mixture.
One thing I almost forget to tell you about this drink, is go easy on the Almond Extract. A little bit goes a long way. Test it out with an 1/8 of a teaspoon first, then add more if you need it. The first time I made it, I used to much and it was over powering. You want a nice equal balance and you want to taste the coconut. If you’re an almond joy or even an almond fan, you’ll love this drink!
Sorry for today’s lesson on sugar, but I thought that some people may want to know. The theory of the story is, some things are better off getting the real stuff rather than the fake. For me I’m not to concerned over 10 calories, now if it was more like 50 calories then I may think differently or come up with a different chocolate solution, like melting real chocolate in the microwave and dabbling that on top.
I said this weekend I was going to cook and bake and I didn’t do any of it, so I have a few hours left of my Sunday, so I better get snapping. I have some new cookies I have been working on and I am going to try to perfect them today.
Have a glorious week!
Toodles,
Jennifer