orange julius/cream cooler and shamrock shakes for the rest of us!

Here is an allergy-friendly and healthier option to some popular shakes.

My allergy kids have actually never had traditional shakes and they went absolutely wild over these. I made them every night for a week and put one in his lunch daily and my tiny failure to thrive guy gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks!! They even tasted better than the "real" thing to hubby and I and other friends who've had the fast-food versions. i originally tried some of the alternative recipes being shared amongst food allergy friends and healthy eaters on FB and this recipe is how i ended up tweaking and modifying them. i shared my recipes on my FB page, as well - and got many rave reviews, so i've decided it's worthy to be on my food allergy blog. enjoy!

Shamrock Shake/

Chocolate Chip Mint Shake

1 can/ 13.66 oz whole coconut milk 

(we prefer thai kitchen brand)

13.66 oz other alternative milk (hemp, rice, soy, or almond if allergies permit)

(i use the empty coconut milk can to measure and dispense the 2nd milk)

4 Tbs raw, (preferably local!) honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp peppermint extract (can sub approx 10 whole mint leaves if preferred)

(can increase carefully for stronger flavor - a little goes a long way!)

1 avocado (can sub 1 1/2 bananas if preferred)

1 small handful kale/spinach/dark green leafy (for color)

2 cups ice

1/3 C chocolate chips (optional - we like 'enjoy life' brand)

blend and enjoy! you can make this thicker by adding more avocado, if desired. 

Orange Cream Cooler/

Orange Julius

1 can/ 13.66 oz whole coconut milk 

(we prefer thai kitchen brand)

13.66 oz other alternative milk (hemp, rice, soy, or almond if allergies permit)

(i use the empty coconut milk can to measure and dispense the 2nd milk)

4 Tbs raw, (preferably local!) honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp orange extract 

(can sub approx 1/2 C fresh orange or orange juice if preferred - adding about 1 tsp of grated orange peel really boosts the orange flavor, too!)

1 avocado (can sub 1 1/2 bananas if preferred)

1 small handful kale/spinach/dark green leafy 

(optional - it's going to be a very pale green anyway b/c of the avocado, so omitting it won't take away the green; leaving a dark green leafy in would only be for nutritional purposes -it doesn't affect the taste at all).

2 cups ice

blend and enjoy! you can make this thicker by adding more avocado, if desired. i haven't tried new flavors yet because we are still so excited to have some familiar old favorites again, but i am sure you could switch out the fruit or extract and make a strawberry/pomegranate/elderberry/blueberry/whatever- you- like- one, too! 

sweet weanling

i gave in this morning. 

an hour before the alarm was due to go off, i slinked from my bed and stole 'lou from his, tiptoeing with his sleeping form like a thief in the night. 

i mashed him up against me, head tucked under my chin, his legs curled up and tucked into my belly with a toehold secured at the tops of my thighs. 

i stroked his back, i squeezed his palm-sized babycakes, i snuffled his sunshine-and puppy-dog hair.

i curled his mini-palm over my lips and put a secret kiss there to get him through his day, my mouth fitting perfectly into his little hand.

i watched him sigh, silken lashes fluttering against his porcelain cheek. he dreamt of nursing, lips puckered in a kissy-pout, working his dream-milk out in a rhythmic suckle that matched the beating of my heart - slow and languid; utterly content.

i nibbled his little banana chip ear and whispered,
"what are you dreaming about?"
without so much as fluttering his lashes, he whispered back huskily, 
"milkmumma" 
as if they were one and the same.

just as i was drifting off, he pulled me back with his lispy little sleep-whisper: 
"you can just steal me today, tomorrow i have to be big again."

my last sweet weanling, how can 5 1/2 years of nursing suddenly feel like the blink of an eye when it's done?