Mule cocktails, which are made with ginger beer, are one of my ultimate favorite drinks. They have been ever since I met my husband and started having cocktails on special occasions. Knowing how much I love Mules, I wanted to come up with my own unique versions to serve my family and guests this summer. I’m calling them Orange Mules Three Ways and all three versions turned out to be sensational.

The three versions include a simple yet delicious Orange Mule, an Orange Blackberry Mule, and an Orange Pineapple Champagne Mule.

My personal favorite is the Orange Blackberry Mule, which has a unique, refreshing taste perfect for summer. The Orange Pineapple Champagne Mule has a more tropical flavor and is extra bubbly, and the Orange Mule is the most simple version yet still incredibly delicious.

For these drinks, I used Florida’s Natural® Brand Orange Juice. Florida’s Natural is made from just one ingredient—Florida oranges—which makes for delicious, fresh-tasting orange juice that is perfect for cocktails. 

Plus, one 8-ounce glass of orange juice provides nearly two servings of whole fruit, as well as essential vitamins and minerals like folic acid, potassium—and your daily recommended dose of vitamin C.

All in all, all three versions are exceptional and perfect for summer. I will be serving these to my family over the 4^th of July and am excited to see which version turns out to be the winner. I anticipate the blackberry version to be on the top, but we will see.

What will you be serving up this holiday weekend? If you don’t yet have a cocktail planned, these should be on your menu—simple, unique, tasty and refreshing. I promise your guests will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Mule 3 ways

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 1 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

Orange Blackberry Mule

• 2 ounces Vodka
• 1/4 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• 1/4 cup ginger beer
• 1 tbsp fresh blackberries
• Fresh mint

Orange Pineapple Champagne Mule

• 2 ounces Vodka
• 1/4 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• 1/4 cup pineapple
• 2 once Champagne
• A splash ginger beer

Orange Mule

• 2 ounces Vodka
• 1/3 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• 1/3 cup ginger beer
• A splash of lemon juice

 

Directions:

Orange Blackberry Mule

In a glass, muddle the blackberries and mint. Add the vodka. Fill the glass with ice and add the ginger beer. Garnish with mint.

Orange Pineapple Champagne Mule

Fill a glass with ice, add the vodka, orange juice and pineapple. With a spoon mix to combine. Add the champagne and a splash of ginger beer. Garnish as desired.

Orange Mule

Fill a glass with ice, add the vodka, orange juice, and ginger beer. Add the splash of lemon juice and mix to combine. Garnish as desired.

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I love making cookies, especially chocolate cookies of any kind. Today, I tried something that I have never done before—an orange chocolate cookie. I’ve made orange chocolate truffles before, but not cookies, and they were even better than I’d imagined. Orange is the perfect seasonal flavor to welcome spring and complements the rich chocolate so well. If you like chocolate (who doesn’t?) you are going to absolutely love these gluten-free Chocolate Orange Truffle Cookies. 

These Chocolate Orange Truffle Cookies are simply the best. They are almost like brownies, with an intense chocolate flavor. Rich and fudgy with a touch of citrus, these will satisfy any chocolate craving.

For the orange juice that gives these cookies their delicious citrus flavor, I choose Florida’s Natural Orange Juice. Florida’s Natural comes from pure Florida oranges. There are no artificial flavors or ingredients, and Florida’s Natural only uses oranges hand-picked from their grower-owned orange groves in Florida. Plus, Florida’s Natural orange juice is full of vitamins and minerals like potassium and vitamin C.

This recipe calls for two types of chocolate, which gives the cookies their sensational brownie flavor. I wanted to keep my cookies strictly orange and chocolate so the flavors would really stand out, but you can also include add-ons to the recipe, such as walnuts or pecans that will add just a little bit of crunch.

These Chocolate Orange Truffle Cookies are decadent, exceptionally tasty and perfect for any chocolate lover. If you are looking for a cookie with a rich, fudgy texture and intense chocolate flavor, this is your recipe.

Enjoy!

.

Chocolate orange truffle cookies

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 24 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp Florida’s Natural^® Orange Juice
• 12 oz dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or gluten-free flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened or Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Celtic salt
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, room temperature
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• Flaky sea salt, optional

Directions:

Melt 8oz of the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave. If using the microwave, cook in 20-second increments, stirring after each until the chocolate is completely melted. Set aside to slightly cool.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and remaining 4oz of chocolate chips together. Set aside.

Transfer the melted chocolate to a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the eggs and orange zest and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the coconut oil and mix for another minute or so on medium speed, until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Transfer the dough to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper.

Spoon the dough onto baking sheets, using approximately 2 tbsp of dough for each cookie, placed 3 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges appear set. The centers will look a little soft.

Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, top cookies with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

 

 

 

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With the holidays approaching, one of my favorite things to bake are classic desserts. I have only made bread pudding once before and it turned out to be a huge success, so today I decided to try a different version. I’m excited to say that it also turned extremely well! I consider this Dark Chocolate Orange Bread Pudding the perfect dessert for the holidays ahead.

Bread pudding consists of cubed bread, soaked in a custard mixture made of eggs, sweetener and milk and/or heavy cream. I use stale or toasted bread, since it will hold its shape better when soaking up the custard mixture. Otherwise, fresh bread will tend to fall apart and become mushy.

I have seen many recipes that call for different types of bread, but I believe challah bread is one of the best options to obtain a hearty bread pudding recipe. Challah bread is slightly sweet with a unique flavor, perfect for bread pudding.  

I love the orange flavor that comes through from the Florida’s Natural orange juice in this recipe, and with the dark chocolate, the mixture is just superb. I used 100% dark chocolate bars rather than chocolate chips because I didn’t want the overpowering sweetness of milk chocolate. Also, the big chocolate chunk effect is what I was looking for, which is obtained using chocolate bars rather than chocolate chips. 

For the orange flavor, I used Florida’s Natural orange juice. As I’ve talked about in past recipes, I love this juice because it’s made from one simple ingredient—Florida oranges. I like to keep my ingredient list to a minimum, so this alone has made Florida’s Natural a favorite of mine. So, what gives the juice its fresh-from-the-grove flavor? It’s made from seven different varieties of Florida oranges.with a fresh, citrusy taste I love in my recipes.

For the holidays this year, this dark chocolate orange bread pudding will be the perfect pairing for my other recipes that call for Florida’s Natural orange juice. Altogether, this makes for an awesome, unique and well-balanced menu. The full menu consists of:

1. baked orange rosemary chicken as the main dish
2. avocado orange salad with orange honey vinaigrette. for a side
3. Dark chocolate orange bread pudding.

If you haven’t yet decided your holiday menu, I highly recommend this dark chocolate orange bread pudding with the baked orange rosemary chicken and orange avocado salad.

I know this menu was a hit at my house – especially the bread pudding! My husband is not a fan of bread pudding and he thoroughly enjoyed this version.

Enjoy!

Dark chocolate orange bread pudding

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40-60 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 loaf challah bread, cubed (or brioche)
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup Florida’s Natural^® Orange Juice
• 4 oz 100% dark chocolate bar, chopped

Directions:

The bread you use should be a little dry. If the bread you are using is fresh, after you cube it, spread it out on a sheet pan and put it in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes rotating the pan halfway through. Alternatively, you can leave cubed challah bread out overnight to dry out.

In a mixing bowl, add the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, orange juice and maple syrup. Combine with a wire whisk.

In a previously greased baking dish, add the toasted challah bread. Pour the custard mixture over the challah bread. Sprinkle the chopped dark chocolate and let it sit for 30 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the bread pudding for 40-60 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Let it rest to cool and serve as desired.

Keep bread pudding refrigerated. Before serving, you may warm it slightly in your microwave. Serve it topped with ice cream, if you prefer.

The post Dark chocolate orange bread pudding appeared first on Eat Good 4 Life.

This summer has been the perfect time to experiment with cocktail recipe ideas and make some unique versions of my favorite drinks. A gin and tonic is by far one of my most classic, go-to drink recipes on hot summer days, so today I’m sharing with you three ways to enjoy my favorite cocktail.

These three summery versions of the Gin and Tonic include a very unique spicy version (which has turned out to be my favorite one); a virgin version, for those wanting an alcohol free drink; and the classic drink dressed up with orange and thyme. All have been big hits, especially for a gathering I recently had for family and friends.

The key ingredient in all three of these drinks that makes them so delicious and refreshing is Florida’s Natural® Brand Orange Juice, which is made from just one ingredient — Florida oranges. No water, sugar or preservatives are added, making for a straight-from-the-grove taste my family and I love.

Whether you are looking for a special drink to try this summer or are having a few friends over for a gathering, serving up a memorable and unique cocktail will never be more than a few shakes away.

Enjoy!

Gin and tonic 3 ways

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 1 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Gin and tonic 3 ways 

Orange and thyme Gin and Tonic

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/4 cup tonic
• 1/4 cup  Florida's Natural orange juice
• 2 Sprigs of fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
• 1 tbsp maple syrup, optional

Spice Cinnamon Orange Gin and Tonic

• 2 ounces gin
• 1/4 cup tonic
• 1/4 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• Fresh ground nutmeg
• Cinnamon sticks

Virgin Orange Cherry Gin and tonic

• 1/3 cup tonic
• 1/3 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• 4 sweet cherries, stems and pits removed, plus more for garnish

Directions:

Orange and thyme Gin and Tonic:

In a glass, muddle thyme sprigs with 1 oz of gin and maple syrup, if using. Strain the mixture into a glass over ice. Pour in the rest of the gin, along with the tonic and orange juice, and stir. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.

Spice Cinnamon Orange Gin and Tonic:

Pour gin, orange juice and tonic into a glass over plenty of ice and stir. Add a sprinkle of ground nutmeg and garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Virgin Orange Cherry Gin and tonic

Muddle cherries lightly in a glass. Add ice to the glass, then pour in the orange juice and tonic and stir to mix. Garnish with fresh cherries.

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If you are like me and love mimosas, you are going to be blown away by this unique Orange Thyme Mimosa recipe. I’m sure this will become one of your favorite drinks to serve on special occasions. Refreshing, unique and very easy to make. 

I like to make mimosas whenever I’m celebrating a special occasion. Easter is just around the corner, and with everything going on in the world right now, my family and I will be celebrating a little differently this year, but I still want it to feel like the special occasion it is.

This recipe is a unique twist on a classic. The honey thyme syrup adds a unique and distinctive flavor that pairs perfectly with orange juice.

To make the syrup, I personally use raw honey. It’s what I always use at home, but any type of honey will do. I would only caution against using a flavored honey and stick to a classic honey like clover.

For the orange juice in this recipe, I opt for Florida’s Natural® Brand Orange Juice which is made from one simple ingredient — Florida oranges. And only Florida oranges. No water, sugar or preservatives are added. Florida’s Natural orange juice comes from pure Florida oranges and is rich in Vitamin C.

This recipe is superb and sure to be a new favorite. We prefer it to regular mimosas because the subtle thyme flavor really makes the drink.

If you’re like me and want to prepare ahead of time, you can make the thyme syrup in advance and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. Regardless of batch size, be sure to chill all ingredients before serving. This recipe does not call for ice, so everything should be refrigerated ahead of time.

If you haven’t thought of a special drink to serve your guests this Easter, look no further. This orange thyme mimosa is the perfect recipe to share with family and friends.

Enjoy.

Orange thyme mimosas

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 4

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Florida's Natural orange juice
• 2 cups Champaign

Honey Thyme Syrup:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 6 3-inch sprigs fresh thyme

Directions:

To make the honey thyme simple syrup, add water, honey, and thyme to a heavy bottomed sauce pot. Bring to a simmer until honey has dissolved. Remove from heat and let thyme steep for 30 minutes. Strain out thyme. Transfer syrup to airtight container and keep in the fridge.

To assemble the mimosas, pour 2 oz of thyme syrup into each of four cocktail glasses. Add ½ cup each champagne and orange juice to each glass. Serve.

The post Orange thyme mimosas appeared first on Eat Good 4 Life.

How are your new year resolutions going so far? New eating habits are one of the most popular new year resolutions, so I decided to share this roasted vegetable salad with orange vinaigrette. The dressing is what makes this salad superb. It’s a perfect pairing in this recipe, but you can get creative and use it on others!

In short, the dressing is simple yet flavorful. I think it has become one of my favorite dressings to use across salads because of its citrus flavor profile. I’ve all together quit buying dressing at the grocery store because of the long ingredients list. Store bought salad dressings often have a long ingredients list, with some being artificial. Making your own and keeping it in the fridge for future consumption is perfect.  And, salad dressings keep well. I have had homemade salad dressings for over two weeks in the fridge and they are still good. Making your own is a win-win. Since making your own dressing is super easy, I would rather do that because it also allows me to get creative.

For this roasted vegetable salad with orange vinaigrette, I used vegetables that are in season, but you can use any vegetables you prefer. I thought the butternut squash, red onions and beets made for a great combination. I am usually not a fan of butternut squash or beets, but I am striving to introduce new and different vegetable combinations into our family meals this year.  We really enjoyed how the salad came together.

When you use orange juice in this recipe, opt for Florida’s Natural® Brand Orange Juice which is made from one simple ingredient — Florida oranges. And only Florida oranges. No water, sugar or preservatives are added.

Florida’s Natural orange juice comes from pure Florida oranges. There are no artificial flavors or ingredients. Florida’s Natural doesn’t fuss with their farmers’ oranges — they’re simply squeezed, gently pasteurized and poured into cartons that ensure a straight-from-the-grove taste that my family loves. I feel good about using Florida’s Natural as a key ingredient in many of my recipes and dressings.

If your new year resolution is centered around your diet, try for small changes at first. For example, try to incorporate one new veggie each week, have one less drink, or even try a new kitchen hack to keep you inspired and enjoying meal prep. Starting right now, you can make your own salad dressing!

Try this roasted vegetable salad with orange vinaigrette. Swap any veggies of your choice, the dressing is truly what makes the recipe, so I hope you like it.

Enjoy!

Roasted vegetable salad with orange vinaigrette

Miryam's original recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 red beets, cubed
• 2 large red onions, cubed
• 1 lb butternut squash, cubed
• 6 oz fresh spinach
• 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 8 oz goat cheese
• 1 tsp Celtic salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

For the dressing

• 1/2 cup Florida's Natural orange juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tbs raw honey
• 2 tbs rice vinegar

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F

Place the sliced beets on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

In another baking sheet, place the sliced butternut squash and red onions. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Roast the veggies for 20 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool for at least 10-15 minutes.

While the beets are roasting, prepare the dressing. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the roasted veggies. Add the fresh spinach and salad dressing, then toss to combine. Divide salad among four plates and sprinkle the goat cheese over the salad. Serve immediately.

I like to store my salad dressings in salad dressing jars. So convenient!!

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