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ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart

Even for the very simple recipes, it seems by time you buy the milk and the half in half, or the creamer, or the heavy whipping cream, the coffee, or any other ingredient , that you're still looking at maybe 10 dollars, when just buying the stuff is 4. And there's still the issue of potentially not liking it:(

There are single serving coffee makers...and there's real half and half in individual servings in a box at Sams. I bought a box so I can have some in my purse when on the road, because I am allergic to most artificial creamers that fast food places use. One box will likely last me a year. In other words...I completely fail to see how making a cup or glass of coffee, then refrigerating it, could cost more than a dollar, tops. Even with all the bells and whistles on. Heavy cream for whipped cream on top? It's more cost effective to buy real whipped cream in a spray can. Also, I keep a square of baker's chocolate and will grate a little bit on top of the whipped cream if that's what I'm in the mood for that day. One square of baker's chocolate (sugar free, used for baking) will last me a year, and a can of whipped cream will last us for several months.

My favorite coffee is Master Chef and is sold at Walmart. I use a type of stevia called Truvia, along with some Splenda (my coffee mugs are at least 16 oz. and I like it sweet, lol).

Do a half pot of coffee with the full pot dose of coffee grounds. Put water into your plastic pitcher and then pour the hot coffee into this and add sweetener. Put the lid on. When serving some up, just pour and open up your single serving (or two of them) of real half and half. There are 192 servings of half and half in a box for $7.58.

Try out recipes when you have days off to see what you like. I prefer different flavors in some of my coffees, and a lot more types of flavors in my homemade hot cocoa. Get real vanilla extract, not artificially flavored, toss out the small metal lid and get an eyedropper instead. (I bought mine from a pharmacy, ones used for bottles of amoxycillin are perfect for the job.) A few drops of real vanilla extract tastes better than any of that imitation stuff. In my hot cocoa, sometimes I add mint extract, banana, raspberry, or orange. With cocoa and banana, I think I needed 8 to 12 drops, with mint, only 2 or 3. I think vanilla only needed three drops for my 16 oz. mug. Each small bottle will last me at least a year.

My son enjoys some coffee creamers from Walmart...Mounds or York Peppermint Patty flavored. I'm thinking that these creamers that don't sell in individual servings, and are often only seasonal in my area...can be frozen into small slot icecube trays and then stored in some plastic container in the freezer, taken out and used in individual servings. Have fun finding out what you like and how to get what you want. Btw, half and half freezes well. I'm not sure that heavy cream will thaw out and still be good for coffee.

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ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart

True on getting more than one or 3 drinks out of it.

I'm looking at several recipes, including low fat, or low sugar or low calorie. Including just coffee ,ice and milk.

I'm ok with it not being good for you, especially when I cut everything else not good out, either mostly or completely for long periods of time. Being well behaved and feeling deprived , or like you are missing out sucks and gets old

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ORIGINAL: CynthiaWVirginia



Try out recipes when you have days off to see what you like. I prefer different flavors in some of my coffees, and a lot more types of flavors in my homemade hot cocoa. Get real vanilla extract, not artificially flavored, toss out the small metal lid and get an eyedropper instead. (I bought mine from a pharmacy, ones used for bottles of amoxycillin are perfect for the job.) A few drops of real vanilla extract tastes better than any of that imitation stuff. In my hot cocoa, sometimes I add mint extract, banana, raspberry, or orange. With cocoa and banana, I think I needed 8 to 12 drops, with mint, only 2 or 3. I think vanilla only needed three drops for my 16 oz. mug. Each small bottle will last me at least a year.

.[/color]

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ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart

Athena, it's more like don't eat this, don't eat that, cut this out. There's already so much I would love to have, and I dont eat it or drink it because it's bad for you, or because my health says I shouldnt, that sometimes it's nice just to go with cuz it tastes good and makes the day a little brighter.

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ORIGINAL: ShaharThorne

We found out by accident that the coldest part is the top shelf in the back. Baby M put a bottle of water back there and a few days later, it was frozen solid. Mom had a good laugh about it.

This is the same fridge that is trying to cronk out. Ice forms on the back and when you hear a certain noise of ice falling into a container (we don't have an ice maker), it is time to get the hunks of ice off of the bottom shelf.

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ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders
Chris - I know what you were saying about how it's nice just to relax and have a treat. But I think you're missing my point that getting out of the mindset that unhealthy foods are a reward for sticking to your restrictions will go a long way to making healthy eating sustainable.

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ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart

Even for the very simple recipes, it seems by time you buy the milk and the half in half, or the creamer, or the heavy whipping cream, the coffee, or any other ingredient , that you're still looking at maybe 10 dollars, when just buying the stuff is 4.

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And there's still the issue of potentially not liking it:(

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ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders
I'd guess the price might be raised a bit if you are buying the special branded flavour syrups

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or the pre-flavoured coffees