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Hubs and I have been married for 16 years. We met in 1992. I was a sophomore in college and thin and could eat anything. He was older, athletic, and very conscious about what he ate.
I corrupted him.
I’m not sure what did it first…. the bacon and avocado thrown onto a turkey sandwich, the butter on a baguette, a truly French croissant…. but man, those were good times.
One of the things that we loved to drink were ice blended mochas. This was back in the days before Starbucks “invented” the Frappuccino. Yes, really. It was the early 90s and all the things that you take for granted, like Starbucks, the internet, and the ipod, were either just gaining popularity or hadn’t even been invented yet.
Yes, I’m old.
Date night was different back then. We usually went out to eat, grabbed a coffee or dessert, and then strolled Santa Barbara’s State Street or walked along the Biltmore Wall. We might go browse Borders and buy more books than we needed.
Today we have six kids, from tot to teen, and date night looks different. Thanks to family we get in a few nights out each month, but sometimes we plan an at-home date night. Not only is it less expensive, but it can often be more relaxing than trying to coordinate a babysitter, figure out where to go, fight the crowds to get there, etc.
One thing that makes an at-home date nights so fun is that we can indulge in foods that we might not splurge on at a restaurant. Case in point:
The Ice-Blended Mocha
I created this concoction awhile back when I was feeling too cheap for even Starbucks’ two-buck Frappuccino. Since I already had the ingredients I needed at home and a rocking Magic Bullet to do the work for me, I whipped up a couple for me and hubs.
Yes, they’re indulgent, but you’re worth it, baby.
Tips for Saving Money:
- If you’ve got leftover evaporated milk, this is a great use for that!
- Freeze milk into cubes to add before blending.
- You can also freeze almond milk in cubes to use in this recipe.
Ice-Blended Mocha
Ingredients
- ½ cup strongly brewed coffee
- 1 cup crushed ice
- ½ cup half and half
- 2 tablespoon chocolate syrup
Instructions
- In the bowl of a blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately.
Emily @Random Recycling
We just tried cold brew for the first time and we need to tweak it. It was a little weak. This mocha drink looks so yummy…time to get a babysitter!
Jessica
@Emily @Random Recycling, I made my cold brew pretty strong because I like lots of milk and sugar. I did 1 cup grounds in a quart canning jar. Water to fill.
Carla
How do you use the cold-brewed coffee in this recipe? I just made some last night for dh to have today so we haven’t played with the concentration for a regular iced coffee, much less to throw it into this drink. . . . .
Jessica
@Carla, I would use the same measurement of cold brew.
Dana
I love this post!! I love date night with the hubs and more times than not its just a nice meal and a movie at home. But its still great.
I fix yummy foods, set the kids up in their room with bean bag chairs and snacks and then the hubs and I are free to hang out in the livingroom with an more adult approved movie. That way no one is left out, the kids are cool snacking away and watching disney in their rooms and the hubs and I are enjoying yummy foods and just this past weekend watched Battle:LA and The Mechanic
Katie
We’re not coffee drinkers at our house, but we do like Pero/Postum, so we made the iced mocha recipe with that instead of coffee. In addition, we didn’t have any half and half, so used whole milk instead. It was a big hit with the children as well as the three adults in our home.
Kate
I’ve been doing the date-night-in recently. SO much cheaper to buy two nice steaks and a bottle of wine then to go out for the same meal. We eat after the kids go to bed and leave the dishes until morning.
ChristyC
Peet’s coffee – a girl after my own heart! My fave is “Major Dickason’s Blend”!
Carrie R
Love this post. My hubby is a high school teacher so during the school year his evenings are consumed with grading and lesson planning. But tomorrow is the last day of school for the summer, so he’ll have evenings free again! And since our little one goes to bed between 7-8, I feel some good date nights coming… Thanks for the recipe, I might have to make that today, it’s gonna be a hot one here!