Take Time To Savor The Real Flavor Of Life- Mocha Caramel Latte Cheesecake Bites Recipe #LoveCafeBreaks

This content has been sponsored in part by Cafe Breaks through Acorn Influence. Regardless, all thoughts, suggestions, and photos below are original and copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016.

Momma Told Me: I think it's time for a break.

I took a course on food styling once and found it utterly useless.

I remember sitting down in a giant auditorium and listening to the instructor explain how all one needed for amazing food photos was a 'few' simple tools of the trade. Among these tools were glycerin, glass ice cubes, fabric protector, cooking spray, make up blending wedges, glue, and antacids. Fabric protector, as it turns out, is often sprayed on porous foods (think pancakes) in order to help toppings and such (syrup) sit on the surface of the food without sinking in. The makeup sponges are soaked in water, microwaved, and stashed off screen (behind or under food) to create that fresh 'steamy food' look. Various types of glue are used for a number of adhesive purposes, but also to help thicken thin foods to make them look richer and more appealing.

What on Earth does any of this have to do with anything?

Well, while taking some casual photos for this post I thought back to that course- and began reflecting on the concept as it relates to life itself. While the argument of whether it's okay to alter food to the point it is more chemicals and add-ons then actual food, for the sake of a great food photo the fact remains that we are conditioned to respond to perfection, whether it is real or simply perceived. Magazines, television, billboards, the internet- bombard us with someone's ideal vision of a story, product, or concept. And nothing illustrates this quite like the incorporation of artificial flavors, preservatives, and fillers in our everyday food.

It's enough to make any woman want to take a break.

Whatever happened to a simple 'me moment' with a cup of coffee? These days we get our caffeine fix in and out of coffee shop lines, herded like cattle, and paying 10x the ingredient value for a simple brand name and a fancy beverage title. Don't get me wrong, I love my Triple-Shot-Soy-Double Frothed-Gluten Free- Mocha-Chair-Latte as much as the next lady- but isn't it time for a little break?

That's why I'm sharing a delicious new product that recently turned up in the read-to-eat snack aisle of my local Walmart, Cafe Breaks. Remember the childhood feeling of pulling back the lid on a cup of delicious pudding, your spoon just waiting to dive in? Cafe Breaks brings that feeling back to life in an all new culinary escape for adults. Their cafe inspired pudding cups are ready to grab and go, and full of real rich coffee flavor. Because they're made with a special packaging technology Cafe Breaks' number one ingredient is Milk, yet they're entirely preservative and gluten free! They even contain an average of 16mg of real caffeine per serving- so this snack is all for Mom!

Cafe Breaks currently come in Mocha Latte and Caramel Latte varieties of 4 count- shelf stable ready-to-eat 3.5oz cups. These are the perfect indulgent escapes to grab and go- my favorite, Mocha Latte, has just 100 calories and 14g of sugar per cup! I love to toss one in my purse when I head out for a busy afternoon, or even to watch the kids play at the park. The silky, rich, flavors of real milk pudding and coffee extract take me away to my own private adult time out. Somehow the buzz of busy patrons, or screaming kids, just melts away with each spoonful. Even better- you can enjoy a $.50 off rebate with ibotta when you pick out a package of Cafe Breaks from Walmart, for a limited time!

In fact, I love my Cafe Breaks moments so much I decided to adapt these delicious pudding cups to one of my favorite Summertime treats- All you'll need to make this recipe are 4 ingredients and your Cafe Breaks flavor of choice. (I won't lie, I mixed them both!) My faux Frozen Caramel Mocha Latte Cheesecake bites sound a lot fancier and more involved than they actually are. All your really need is a blender and a silicone ice cube or mini muffin mold.

I whip a few cups of Cafe Breaks Mocha Latte pudding with a cup of Cafe Breaks Caramel Latte, and some whipped cream cheese for a fluffy filling that freezes velvet smooth. Add a little butter and sugar to a crushed gram cracker base and you have yourself a crust for instant cheesecake heaven- no baking or slaving required. And that's just more time to enjoy a "Cafe Break".

Life's full of over-complicated- it's important to take time out to enjoy real moments.

I cant' make pudding look sexy unless I whip it into something else, pour it into an elaborate fancy container, or layer it with a bunch of delicious toppings. But life doesn't have to be over-complicated and sometimes delicious things don't come in fancy packages with loads of gimmicks. They're just worth savoring all in themselves. Cafe Breaks understands that.

The past few months have been hectic, as my readers know- I'm finally now settling back into a simpler routine. Things that used to seem overwhelming or rushed now present themselves as a treat. I've been visiting the park a lot more just to take a 'me moment.' Whether it's with the kids, for them to run off steam, or simply a quiet walk reflecting with the dog, it's nice to sit down under a large tree and take a deep breath as the wind rustles the leaves above. Regardless of how you find your break, it's important that you make time to do it. This life can be full of unnecessary distractions, over-dressed situations, and needless stress- breaks help re-center and reconnect with the things that really matter.

It may be pleasing to look at perfection when flipping through a magazine or changing channels, but the better things in life are really delicious just as they are- no touch ups needed. It's kind of like that photo of your son or daughter covered in finger paints with their hair a mess you keep on the mantle right next to the studio family portrait. Life, dressed down, can be just as magical as life dressed up. So, consider this my little reminder to stop and take a break, to savor, those moments, this Summer. Don't forget to check out the hot ibotta rebate offer when you buy Cafe Breaks at Walmart! Now, tell me, what's one simple thing you enjoy reveling in?

What Daughter Says: Take a break and get real- find time to unwind without all the extras!

Mocha Caramel Latte Cheesecake Bites

**Click here for the printable cheesecake bites recipe.

"The King" Waffle Sandwich And I Explore The Keurig 2.0 K550 Brewer

**I received a K550 Keurig 2.0 Brewer directly from the company in hopes I would share my honest opinions here on the blog. All statements and images below are copyright Momma Told Me 2014.

Momma Told Me: New technology, new headaches!

Of course there was a coffee maker in our house growing up; compared to a modern single-cup brewer it was an antique, and I'm pretty sure Momma laughed out loud the first time I asked if her 'coffee machine' could make me hot chocolate. My parents also indulged primarily in the topic of kitchen appliances, which I've touched on before, and I'm quite sure the 4 buttons on our little KitchenAid coffee maker were in them-self overwhelming as functions. Let's just say Momma fed her caffeine addiction outside the house at coffee shops and grocery store 'complimentary' displays. So, when I tell you I've inherited my mother's fascination with coffee, and my parents obsession with appliances, I literally mean I have owned 4 Keurig brewers. (And yet that cherry red Keurig, that would match my kitchen appliances, still eludes me.)

I could be all 'Rah! Rah!' and tell you the newest in the Single Cup Brewing Revolution; the Keurig 2.0 K550 is astoundingly intuitive and a must have convenience for anyone who drinks fluids (yes, let's be that broad.) But, as a modern consumer I also realize not everyone is going to drop $200 on an appliance most associate with brewing coffee when one CAN get by with a $20 coffee maker and ground coffee. And making the leap from a standard Keurig system to the 2.0 range will offer a range of perks and changes that you should understand when deciding whether this model is right for you. First, you must know that Keurigs are much more than 'coffee machines,' but 'brewing systems' that offer a range of hot and cold beverages brewed by the cup, or now with a 2.0 compatible carafe (up to 5 cups at a time.)

Unfortunately I don't think the company quite considered that their main consumer of this new 2.0 machine would be existing owners and brand consumers. If you are reading this right now there is a high probability that you either own a Keurig or have used one on several occasions at the office or a friend's home. The K550 2.0 brewer, and other 2.0 range models, offer an enhanced intelligence of properly brewed cups and varied 'strength' selections. In order for this technology to be integrated the brand had to put in place a readable system for the machine to identify the type and size of K-Cup. They did this in a way that the 2.0 and all previous brewers could brew standard single K-Cup size cups.

The unfortunate snafu, is that this 'redesigning' and modern innovation in 2.0 systems means that the system is unable to 'communicate' or 'read' K-Cups that were previously produced without the communicative colored outer rim. While the brand has been working for months prior to launch to get 'old' K-Cup packages off shelves so the transition would be smooth I had to toss out 146 K-Cups that were no longer compatible with my new 2.0 brewer- some of which had best by 2014 dates and were bought as recently as August. If you purchase incompatible K-Cups (with the old labeling) you will receive and 'Oops' message when attempting to brew, and are advised to contact customer service asap. Read more about the important labeling and K-Cup identification on my Facebook discussion.

Part of the appeal in upgrading to a new Keurig 2.0 system is the digital intelligence built into the functions which promises several exciting options as the development team progresses. I also look forward to learning more about brewer 'skins' which will help personalize the look of your 2.0 brewer externally. For now, the colorful touch screen navigation is playful an offers customizable colored wallpapers. Among the new features and frills for the K550 brewer are 'profiles' which let you pre-save strength and brewing preferences, a (multi-color) exterior tank lighting feature for night ambiance, and enhanced strength and portion control.

Of course, most notable is the Keurig 2.0's ability to not only brew in various single serve sizes (4, 6, and 8oz) but a compatible carafe (pot) that brews up to 6 cups of coffee at once, thanks to the new Carafe K-Cup Packs. In order to brew 'carafes' you must have the compatible Keurig branded carafe, at this time, which triggers a 'docking' sensor and informs the machine of it's presence. Carafes are most functional when paired with Carafe K-Cups, which are larger in appearance (and currently pose a storage conundrum for me) and available in a limited number of varieties an brands at this time. While we, personally, don't entertain often in our small condo, the carafe has found a home on the top shelf of our fridge over the past week, as we brew a pot of iced coffee once a day. I hope to see the Snapple and Tea range expand into Carafe K-Cups very soon- as having a 'pitcher' around would be great!

There's a lot we haven't covered; and I've cooked up a devilishly sweet Hallow's Eve themed coffee infused treat to share- so keep your eyes peeled for a follow up post soon! In the men time, let me break down some of the biggest questions an concerns with the new Keurig 2.0 system as I enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Donut House coffee and 'The King' waffle sandwich (Pinterest Image at bottom):

*You said the new Carafe K-Cups are larger, how does the machine brew both the smaller and larger K-Cups? The new 2.0 systems have a spring loaded K-Cup compartment that expands to accept the larger Carafe K-Cups during use. No buttons are necessarily to switch to this function, simply insert the Carafe K-Cup in and the system will recognize it!

*Are all of my old K-Cups compatible with the new 2.0 system? I suggest you read up a little on how to identify compatible K-Cups prior to buying a new system, and use any old K-Cups first. While the brand has worked hard to ensure all K-Cups on shelves are compatible, stock issues and individual chains may not have removed old inventory. A newer 'best by' date does not guarantee your K-Cups have the compatible 'rim.' Look for the "For Use In All Keurig K-Cup Brewers' stamp on boxes, and 'Keurig Brewed' band on K-Cup rims. For more information see my discussion here.

*The 2.0 brews Carafes, does that mean it is larger than my current/old Keurig? My first Keurig was a 'mini' the most compact and not compatible with tumblers, and my most recent was the K75. We have our K550 in the same space as our old unit, it is only an inch or so wider, and about the same depth. The tank on the K550 is larger, but comes forward to wrap around the unit more. Check measurements of your model before buying, but I do not anticipate the size will be an inconvenience if you currently own a brew outside of the compact Mini or Elite systems.

What Daughter Says: As with any new technology there will be some bugs to work through in the first few productions; if you're on the fence, wait- However, I think it's well worth the money.