Linda Medeiros, Independent Director with The Pampered Chef

07/26/2025

July 26 - National Coffee Milkshake Day

While a milkshake sounds refreshing at the end of July, a coffee milkshake sounds even better. The combination of creamy ice cream blended with coffee perks up even the most extended workday. Add chocolate, and this treat becomes a mocha, too!

MOCHA CHIP MILKSHAKE

THIS SMOOTH AND CREAMY COMBO OF CHOCOLATE, COFFEE, AND ICE CREAM COMES TOGETHER IN ABOUT A MINUTE. PERFECT FOR A WARM DAY OR A SPECIAL TREAT!

INGREDIENTS
For One Milkshake:
• 1½ cups (375 mL) vanilla ice cream
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) iced coffee, or cold brew
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• ½ tsp (2 mL) cocoa powder
• Add all the ingredients to the Deluxe Cooking Blender in the order listed. Replace and lock the lid. Press the CUSTOM BLEND wheel to start the setting and blend on speed 2 for 1 minute.
For 4 Milkshakes:
• 1½ qt. (1.5 L) vanilla ice cream
• ½ cup (125 mL) iced coffee, or cold brew
• Any mix-ins
• Add all the ingredients to the Deluxe Cooking Blender in the order listed. Replace and lock the lid. Press the CUSTOM BLEND wheel to start the setting and blend on speed 6 for 2 minutes.

DIRECTIONS
Prepare 1 package of Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix according to the package instructions. Allow the cookies to cool. Crumble 3 cookies into pieces and set aside.

Melt 3 tbsp (45 mL) chocolate morsels in the microwave, stirring often, until melted. Dip the rim of the glass in the melted chocolate then roll into the crumbled cookie pieces.

Drizzle 1 tbsp (15 mL) chocolate syrup on the inside walls of the glass.

Pour the milkshake into the glass and top generously with whipped cream. Drizzle with the remaining chocolate syrup and top with additional chocolate chip cookies. Serve immediately.

Yield:
1 servings
Nutrients per serving:
U.S. nutrients per serving: Calories 480, Total Fat 26 g, Saturated Fat 16 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Sodium 160 mg, Carbohydrate 57 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugars 50 g, Protein 8 g

Cook's Tips:
Eight scoops of ice cream equals about 1½ cups (375 mL).

07/26/2025

BOTH😂

07/26/2025

According to the FDA, American cheese is not real cheese. The organization refers to American cheese as a “pasteurized process cheese,” which means that it only needs to have a minimum of 51% real cheese and can be combined with other ingredients including milk, skim milk, buttermilk, cream and whey proteins. Now you know.

07/25/2025

July 25 - National Hot Fudge Day

There are many cities that claim to be the home of the hot fudge sundae, but they’ve all got one thing in common: they’re American cities. Hot fudge sundaes are about as nostalgia-tinged as it gets: they’ve dotted pop culture for decades, further back than their cameo in Full House’s “Gotta Dance” episode, and more recently than in Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” video. Hot fudge sundaes have dominated the ice cream landscape for decades now, and on July 25, we celebrate: raise your spoons for National Hot Fudge Sundae Day!

Hot fudge and chocolate syrup are two completely different things. Hot fudge is thick, rich and oh, so delicious. Below is my favorite hot fudge recipe and it's SO easy, you'll never buy a bottle of chocolate syrup again!
HOT FUDGE
12 oz fine-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate can be used if preferred)
1 cup heavy whipping cream

Empty chocolate chips into 2 qt Micro-Cooker. Add 1 C heavy whipping cream. Microwave for 1 minute, stir to combine. Microwave in 30 second increments until chocolate is completely melted and incorporated into the cream. Please note: chocolate has a low burn point so be very careful to stir every 30 seconds and only until it is fully melted. Serve warm over your favorite ice cream and top with a cherry!

Cook's Tips: This sauce is actually an easy ganache. It's a liquid form when warmed and a solid when cooled. You can also use this recipe to make chocolate truffles. Once cooled (I put mine in the fridge over night) you can scoop (using Small Scoop) balls of ganache and roll them in chopped nuts, sprinkles, crushed Oreos, cocoa powder or other topping of your choice using the Coating Trays. Enjoy!

07/25/2025

Love me some Tulips

07/25/2025

Time to do some bragging. Tell us something you are proud of.

07/24/2025

July 24 - National Tequila Day

Here are 5 fun facts about tequila:

1. Over 50 million liters of tequila are consumed in America annually. (Whoa!)
2. Studies have shown that consuming tequila can cut your risks of dementia by 37%. (What?!)
3. Some tequila is aged in barrels. Many are aged up to 30 years to create the perfect flavor.
4. It also has a component that can help lower LDL levels, aka bad cholesterol. (Umm...is this bordering on HEALTHY?! 😆)
5. A 1918 flu epidemic led to a tequila boom in Mexico. Doctors advised ailing patients to drink tequila, lime, and salt as a remedy. (Hmmm...I guess it wasn't the same for Covid!)

Raspberry Tequila Sangria
Festive and beautiful with just the right amount of kick! The perfect drink for warm nights on a patio.

Ingredients
2 oranges, divided
3 limes, divided
¼ cup (50 mL) sugar
6 cups (1.5 L) ice
1 bag (10-12 oz) frozen raspberries
1 cup (250 mL) silver tequila
½ cup (125 mL) triple sec
1 bottle (750 mL) pink champagne or sparkling wine
4 cups (1 L) chilled lemon-lime soda
Directions
Juice one orange and two limes to measure ¼ cup (50 mL) juice each.

Combine the juices and sugar in a Small Batter Bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 2–3 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved. Thinly slice the remaining orange and lime.

Add the ice, juice mixture, orange and lime slices, raspberries, tequila, and triple sec to the Family–Size Quick–Stir®Pitcher and stir. Add the champagne and soda. Place the lid on the pitcher and plunge gently.

Yield:
12 servings
Nutrients per serving:
Calories 220, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 0 g, Sodium 15 mg, Fiber 2 g

07/24/2025

Omelets for me

07/24/2025

Walking Meeting - Elevate meetings by swapping the boardroom for an outdoor path. Nature and exercise can boost creativity and productivity, cultivating an engaging meeting experience.

07/23/2025

July 23 - Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day is commemorated on July 23 and celebrates one of the most iconic food combinations. The day marks one of the elite combinations that make us believe in love at first taste. Since they met, peanut butter and chocolate have been an unstoppable force, rising to the level of iconic. Chocolate and peanut butter are delicious on their own but even better when combined! As a reminder of just how good these are, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day comes around, and we are thankful to have a day to indulge in this combination unashamedly.

Peanutty Brownie Pizza

Ingredients
1 pkg (18-19 oz or 450 g) fudge brownie mix (plus ingredients to make cake-like brownies)
1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese, softened
½ cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
¼ cup (60 mL) creamy peanut butter
2 pkg (1.5 oz/45 g each) classic peanut butter cups
¼ cup (60 mL) peanuts
2 bananas, sliced
¼ cup (60 mL) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare brownie mix according to package directions for cake-like brownies. Pour batter onto Large Round Stone, spreading evenly to edges. Bake 16-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely.

Meanwhile, mix cream cheese, brown sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture over brownie to within 1/2-in. (1-cm) of edge. Sprinkle the peanuts over cream cheese mixture. Arrange bananas over brownie.
Microwave chocolate morsels in a small bowl, uncovered, on HIGH 30-45 seconds or until melted, stirring after 30 seconds. Pour into small resealable plastic bag; trim the corner. Drizzle chocolate over pizza. Slice and serve.
Yield:
16 servings
Nutrients per serving:
Nutrients per serving: Calories 390, Total Fat 23 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Carbohydrate 44 g, Protein 6 g, Sodium 210 mg, Fiber 1 g

07/23/2025