Make Monday Marvelous with a Cherry Float

Hi all!  We wanted to share one of our first blog posts that is perfect for this beautiful week ahead. This is a must try for your family and friends, courtesy of Cool. Enjoy!!!!!!

It's "What the What?" Wednesday and that means it's hump day! It's the middle of the week and everyone could use a simple "cool" and sweet recipe that makes the week go by a little faster. The type of recipe that is a great "go to" recipe when you want to impress your friends and family and trick them into thinking you have been in the kitchen for hours! The type of recipe that others offer to do the dishes if you make it. The type of recipe that is so good that people might say "What the what? Why is this so good?"

You should be happy you're reading this because I have just that recipe for you. It is such a sweet treat. It was the official start of summer Saturday so what better recipe for this week than one that had frozen yogurt in it. I know most people think of ice cream but at our house yogurt wins by a landslide. It is one easy recipe that will make your summer a little brighter and make you smile a little bigger.

I feel like I am not a brand specific person usually but lately I find myself finding small differences in competing brands that make me more brand specific, and make me spend the extra money because it's worth it. I will tell you that the Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt is delicious, it is so light, creamy, and full of vanilla flavor.

With that being said.... the ingredients and set up!

What the what? Is that all? Only 3 ingredients and one appliance? You betcha, that's all! A cold bottle of cream soda, frozen sweet cherries, and Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt is all you need!

I will also let you know that if you enjoy blueberries, you can substitute them out for the cherries and it is also amazing! Yes you can use fresh fruit, but just remember that if you use fresh cherries you have to pit them which makes the frozen cherries so much easier and with being Wednesday we all deserve a simple easy treat for making it this far in the week!

All three ingredients in the blender waiting to be all mixed up and made into something REAL special!

Aaaahhhhhhhh, can't you just taste it? So good! So delicious and so refreshing!

I hope you try this recipe out for your friends and family and let me know what you think!


-Cool


Cherry Float Shake

All you need:

1 (12oz) bottle cream soda

2 cups frozen sweet cherries

5 scoops of Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt

All you do:

Place the ingredients in the blender in the way they are listed and blend on high. Serves 3-4 people.

"What the What" Wednesday and Farro

 

The perfect question to start this post is "What the What?" is farro? Farro is an ancient grain (meaning is has been around way before wheat...or you... and it originated in Rome) but is from the wheat family of grains. It has a nutty texture and taste, working well with hearty and rich flavors. In compliments my favorite fruit of the summer:  cherries. The tangy sweet flavor of the cherries accents this nutty grain and mint gives it a fresh summer accent. I decided it was a perfect recipe for an upcoming dinner on the patio, so of course I wanted to test it out!

First you need to rinse your farro well to remove any hull or film on the grain. 

Add to sauce pan with water and salt. 

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until grain is soft but firm, about 25 minutes. 

While your farro is cooking away, here comes the fun part, pitting cherries. I cheat and have this handy gadget (it works for olives too).

And it is MESSY! (It may be just me...) but don't wear white or your favorite outfit. I always wear an apron because I am probably the most clumsy cook on the planet. Halve your pitted cherries. 

Prepare you other ingredients, toast your almond slices by adding them to a pan heated to medium and gliding them around the pan until they are a slight brown, removing immediately so they don't burn. (I have witnessed this happening to Cool). 

Dice your red onion, open up your feta and make sure the pieces are uniform. To slice the mint, pull the leaves off the stalk, place 5-6 leaves directly on top of each other and roll. Take a knife and slice through to create mint ribbons.

Now you farro should be cool and your are ready to throw everyone in to the pool.  

Mix all the ingredients together and eat!  This salad will make a lot and to keep the fresh taste, consume within 24 hours of preparing. Or you can leave off the mint, and add when ready to serve, up to 48 hours. 

Cherry-Almond Farro Salad

Adapted from:  http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cherry_almond_farro_salad.html
6 servings | Active Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup farro, rinsed
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 cup Hy-Vee White Balsamic & Honey vinaigrette
• 2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and halved
• 1/2 cup Hy-Vee fat-free feta cheese
• 1/4 cup Hy-Vee slivered almonds, toasted
• 3 tablespoons finely diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

Preparation

1. Combine farro, water and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover and cook until the farro is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain any remaining liquid and fluff with a fork. Spread the farro out on a large rimmed baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Add vinaigrette, cherries, feta, almonds, onion, mint and the farro. Gently stir to combine.

-Crazy

"What the What?" Wednesday and Cherry Float Shakes!

It's "What the What?" Wednesday and that means it's hump day!  It's the middle of the week and everyone could use a simple "cool" and sweet recipe that makes the week go by a little faster.  The type of recipe that is a great "go to" recipe when you want to impress your friends and family and trick them into thinking you have been in the kitchen for hours!  The type of recipe that others offer to do the dishes if you make it.  The type of recipe that is so good that people might say "What the what? Why is this so good?"

You should be happy you're reading this because I have just that recipe for you.  It is such a sweet treat.  It was the official start of summer Saturday so what better recipe for this week than one that had frozen yogurt in it.  I know most people think of ice cream but at our house yogurt wins by a landslide.  It is one easy recipe that will make your summer a little brighter and make you smile a little bigger.

 I feel like I am not a brand specific person usually but lately I find myself finding small differences in competing brands that make me more brand specific, and make me spend the extra money because it's worth it.  I will tell you that the Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt is delicious, it is so light, creamy, and full of vanilla flavor.

With that being said.... the ingredients and set up!

What the what?  Is that all?  Only 3 ingredients and one appliance?  You betcha, that's all!  A cold bottle of cream soda, frozen sweet cherries, and Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt is all you need!

I will also let you know that if you enjoy blueberries, you can substitute them out for the cherries and it is also amazing!  Yes you can use fresh fruit, but just remember that if you use fresh cherries you have to pit them which makes the frozen cherries so much easier and with being Wednesday we all deserve a simple easy treat for making it this far in the week!

 All three ingredients in the blender waiting to be all mixed up and made into something REAL special!

Aaaahhhhhhhh, can't you just taste it?  So good!  So delicious and so refreshing!

I hope you try this recipe out for your friends and family and let me know what you think!


-Cool


Cherry Float Shake 

All you need:

1 (12oz) bottle cream soda

2 cups frozen sweet cherries

5 scoops of Kemp's vanilla bean frozen yogurt

All you do:

Place the ingredients in the blender in the way they are listed and blend on high.  Serves 3-4 people.