My Favorite GREEN Smoothie

My friend, Bonnie McMillan visited last summer. She had taught me how to make her favorite green smoothie and I fell in love with it. She had a bag of this peanut butter/cocoa powder mix and I used it for a few months until it was suddenly gone. I looked everywhere for it and just kept forgetting to ask her where she buys hers. Finally, I contacted her and she told me it was at Whole Foods. I looked there, even asking all the staff about it, but we couldn't find it anywhere. A few weeks ago, I was in my local Giant grocery store and in the peanut butter isle, I saw a container of PB2 powder and realized that it was the same thing. It was different packaging that Bonnie had used, but it was the same powder. So, if you are looking for it at your local grocery store, check in the peanut butter section.

You really have to try this smoothie before judging it. My boys won't touch it because of the color, but it really tastes like a yummy milkshake. It's cool and refreshing and perfect for a hot summer morning.

Green Smoothie

1 c. coconut milk (any milk can be used)
1 c. ice
2 T. PB2 powder
1 T. agave syrup (more or less to taste)
2 c. loosely packed spinach leaves

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Homemade Root Beer

Every year for Halloween we make homemade root beer in a witch's cauldron. It's easy, fun and oh so impressive to your little goblins and ghosts. Even though it's easy, many people ask how it's done. The tricky thing back east has been finding root beer extract and dry ice. You have to buy your dry ice no more than a couple of hours before using, as it loses volume quickly.

1 lg. bottle root beer extract
5 lbs. sugar
5 gallons water
7 lbs. dry ice

Mix water, sugar and root beer extract until sugar is mostly mixed in and dissolved. Add half of the dry ice at once. Constantly stir so the dry ice doesn't pile up in the bottom. After about 20-30 minutes it should be sufficiently carbonated. I usually hold back and add more dry ice here and there to make the smoke for the kids.