Java Chip Frappe

Have you tried the Starbucks VIA line of instant coffees? The Witch has, and LOVES them! They are make the perfect afternoon mug of coffee and are fabulous for baking. Anytime a recipe calls for instant espresso powder I throw in a packet of VIA, usually Italian roast, in its place. VIA is a lot easier to find and the price is a lot better than espresso powder.

One of my favorite treats from Starbucks is a Java Chip Frappucchino: coffee blended with milk, chocolate chips, mocha flavoring, topped with whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle, its fabulous! It also will run you about $4.50 for a grande, and that grande (16 oz) beverage will cost you 440 calories. But its worth it, or so I thought until I made my own.

Tribute was Starbucks 30th anniversary special blend. It was available for a limited time only and was delicious!

This frosty beverage was super simple, used ingredients I have on hand all the time and took about 2 minutes to prepare. And best of all, its around 200 calories! Into the carafe of my blender I added a packet of VIA instant coffee, milk, a touch of half and half, sugar, chocolate and ice. Now granted, my version didn't have a whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle, but, it was an amazing frappe and I saved myself $4.50 and 240 calories! Now that's witchcraft! Who needs Starbucks when you've got a Witch around?

Java Chip Frappe
makes 1 serving
1 c ice cubes
1/2 c 2% milk
Packet VIA instant coffee
1.5t cocoa powder
1.5t sugar
2T chocolate chips
2T half and half

Combine all ingredients in the carafe of a blender. Pulse to break up ice then blend until smooth and frothy, about 1 minute. Serve and enjoy!



Nutrition Facts provided by SparkPeople recipe calculator
Amount Per Serving
Calories 201.9
Total Fat 11.1 g
Saturated Fat 6.7 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.7 g
Cholesterol 20.9 mg
Sodium 62.3 mg
Potassium 39.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 24.8 g
Dietary Fiber 1.0 g
Sugars 20.0 g
Protein 6.4 g

Sunrise Smoothie

Ever since I bought my KitchenAid blender
I've been a smoothie junkie. They're so easy, so satisfying, so refreshing. And best of all, you can control what goes into these unlike the big franchise smoothie places. Sure, those are great for a treat, but who needs ice cream for breakfast? That's whats in most of those smoothies, ya know, which is why they taste so darn good! But never fear, the Kitchen Witch is here with a smoothie that's both delicious and healthy!

This one begins with strawberries and peaches. The berries are ones that I froze from an awesome .99/lb sale earlier this year and the peaches are standard issue frozen peaches from the grocery store. When peaches come into season I plan on freezing my own. Mmm...fresh sweet peaches! I can't wait! Add in a little yogurt, orange juice, milk, sugar and my secret ingredient, vanilla extract, and you've got a smoothie that will not only put a smile on your face but it'll wipe out memories of jamba and kiva and their calorie laden concoctions for good.

The measurements are in grams for this recipe. I had my kitchen scale handy & figured it was a lot more accurate than a handful of berries or a plop of yogurt. If you don't have a kitchen scale, get one! No just kidding, well not really, they are fabulous tools to have! But just for those of you who don't have a scale I'll also list the approximate amounts in parentheses.

Sunrise Smoothie
makes 1 hearty smoothie (16 oz)

60g peaches (about 5-6 slices)
120g strawberries (about 7-8 berries)
80g plain all natural yogurt (about 2 heaping tablespoons)
90g OJ (about 1/3 to 1/2 c)
100g milk (about 1/2 c)
7g vanilla (1t)
20g sugar (1.5T)

Blend them all together in a blender until very smooth and whipped. Enjoy!


Nutrition Facts provided by SparkPeople recipe calculator
1 Serving (16 oz)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 258.1
Total Fat 3.3 g
Saturated Fat 2.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.6 g
Cholesterol 11.0 mg
Sodium 61.4 mg
Potassium 514.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate 53.2 g
Dietary Fiber 3.5 g
Sugars 40.6 g
Protein 6.3 g

Dutch Apple Pie smoothie

I've wanted a blender for a long time. But, I wanted one that actually worked. The Kitchen Witch has gone through about 5 cheap blenders over the past 15 years, none of them were worth the money that was spent on them. I knew that I wanted a KitchenAid blender, but I didn't want to spend Kitchen Aid's prices (however if I add the $20-$50 ea for the past 5 blenders I've spent way more than 1 good KitchenAid blender would have cost. Sigh). Being resourceful I found the outlet store on shopkitchenaid.com. They had refurbished machines for a fraction of their normal cost. I got my brushed nickel 5 speed powerhouse for $70. This is a $180 machine. Now that's Witchcraft!

But I digress. This is about the smoothie. I don't really know where the idea for this one came from, other than my love of all things apple and wanting the flavor of pie with out the caloric load that pie carries. Enter the smoothie! Apple cider (100% juice from US apples please!) frozen into cubes helps keep the smoothie frozen and not watered down. The Greek yogurt adds creaminess - much like the ice cream atop a slice of apple pie. Basic pie flavorings including cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar are all included in this taste sensation. A touch of oatmeal gives that flavor of Dutch apple pie with a strudel on top. It also adds fiber and great flavor to the smoothie.

Apple pie in a mug for breakfast? 138 calories? Blender, how I love you!

Dutch Apple Pie smoothie
makes 2 servings
1 apple, Braeburn, Pink Lady or other firm tart apple
3 heaping scoops greek gods honey yogurt
1 T brown sugar packed
1 t vanilla
1/4 t cinnamon
1 c apple juice, frozen
1/4 c apple juice
1 heaping T oatmeal
ice, about 5 cubes

Core apple, leave skins on. (I cut in half, then into quarters. Then cut the core out. You could also cut the cheeks of the apple off leaving the core behind.)
Cut into chunks.
Put everything into a blender, blend until smooth.


Nutrition Facts provided by SparkPeople Recipe Calculator
2 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 138.9
Total Fat 0.6 g
Saturated Fat 0.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 19.6 mg
Potassium 234.9 mg
Total Carbohydrate 31.6 g
Dietary Fiber 2.3 g
Sugars 4.6 g
Protein 4.3 g