Green Smoothie

2 cups water
2 cups fresh spinach
2 bananas
1 cup frozen pineapple (1/2 10-oz bag)
1 cup frozen mango (1/2 10-oz bag)

Blend & serve
Makes 2 large smoothies

(Makes 5  8-oz servings)

Citrus Cooler

INGREDIENTS
6 lemons - reserve 1
3 limes
6 oranges - reserve 1
3 quarts water
1 1/2 cups sugar, or more, to taste

PREPARATION

Squeeze the juice from 5 of the lemons, 3 of the limes and 5 of the oranges; pour into a gallon container. Thinly slice the remaining orange and lemon and set aside. Add water and sugar to juices; mix well.

Chill thoroughly and keep in refrigerator. Serve on ice with orange and lemon slices.

Makes about 1 gallon of citrus drink .

Five Threes Slush Punch

3 cups sugar
3 pints water
3 bananas, mashed
juice of 3 lemons (1/2 - 3/4 cup)
juice of 3 oranges (1 - 1 1/2 cups)
1 small can crushed pineapple

Make a simple syrup of the sugar and water by stirring together until sugar is dissolved.
Add other ingredients.
Freeze.
Thaw to a slushy stage; Serve.

(From Mom's recipe box:  Her own.  One of her favorite recipes)

Hot Chocolate

My mom always made hot chocolate from scratch... SO delicious! I use my cocoa cup for measuring the milk, and a regular teaspoon (not a measuring spoon) for the cocoa and sugar.

For each cup of hot chocolate:

1 cup milk

2 heaping teaspoons of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder

2 - 3 teaspoons sugar or the equivalent of sugar substitute (I know it's a lot, but hey, this is an indulgence!)

a tiny pinch of salt

I just place all the ingredients in my Cocomotion machine, and it does the rest.

If you don't have a machine:

Mix the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt together.

Add to warmed milk and stir with whisk to combine and continue heating.

Serve piping hot... with marshmallows if desired!

NOTE: When making 3 or more servings, I add a little (a little!) vanilla extract -- this gives it an extra rich and yummy kick. But be careful with the vanilla because it can take over the flavor of the cocoa. I find that when making just one or two cups, it's almost impossible to get the vanilla right, so I just leave it out.