Kid-Friendly Snacks Part 2: Tropical Smoothies

I have been making a list of kid friendly snacks on my blog lately. This is snack number 2, but let me reassure you that these are full flavor, and adult friendly too. No sorry this doesn't mean they have adult beverages in them - baby on board - but you won't think you are having a kiddie snack if you try them out. At least on this particular snack there aren't any faces or hidden veggies - just solid good eats. 

It's been hot the last few days. Is it hot where you are? We have been hovering around 105 degrees. Which reminds me of how much I love my fridge that makes crushed ice and my blender. Both of those are key components in my smoothie addiction. I wonder if there are groups for people who are addicted to smoothies. You come in and sit down, wear name tags, and introduce yourself like the sharks on that Disney movie who are trying very hard to not like eating fish. I would probably need to sign up. I wonder if they serve snacks like smoothies there? There is something so satisfying about drinking something cold and filling on a hot day. 

Cold. Refreshing. Yes this kid friendly snack has turned into one of my favorite breakfasts. Its easy, fun for kids, and only takes 2-3 minutes or however long it takes to peel a mango. Those slippery fruits are hard to cut sometimes. But it doesn't have to be just for breakfast. Its a great way to get some extra fruit in our bodies after running around all morning or being at school all day before settling into homework. Do try. You don't even have to tell anyone about the healthy fat that I added to balance out the sugars.

Tropical Smoothies

serves 2 or 3 

To make it you'll need 7 ingredients: 

1/2 naval orange, peeled and roughly chopped

1/2 cup of oj or apple juice (I have done it both ways)

1/2 cup of plain organic yogurt

1 mango, peeled and sliced

1/2 of avocado

1/2 cup of crushed ice or ice cubes
1 banana chopped or broken in a couple pieces and frozen the night before. (I just keep a couple in quart size freezer bags for easy smoothies when the bananas get too ripe to eat instead of making banana bread in the summer)

Directions:

1. Combine everything in a blender. 

2. Blend it all together. If you have a sleeping spouse try to not wake them up. 

3. Save the other half of the avocado so you can make another batch tomorrow.

4. Drink immediately.

5. Sign up for that class for smoothie addictions. No nevermind it can wait another day like when summer is over. 

Enjoy!

Stephanie

Kid-Friendly Snacks Part 1: Popsicles

My kiddo is back in school. So I am going to do a series of kid friendly snacks, treats, and ideas to bail you out if you don't want to rely upon the store bought and sometimes awful foods we feed our kids when life gets busy. These first two snacks are perfect as the summer comes to an end and berries are on sale everywhere. We have tried to pick a favorite over the last few days but it keeps coming up a tie. I guess we will have to keep making them both until we can come up with a winner. Darn. 

We start school earlier here compared to other parts of the Western United States. The weather apparently hasn't been told its back to school time though, as it is still incredibly hot outside, above 100 degrees. We made it through our first whole week of Kindergarden though - Yay! During my kiddo's first week the clouds cooled the weather down just below 100, only 1 day. So that one day of outside at recess made my kiddo was so happy, he is still talking about it 2 days later. 

Being new to this whole going to school thing, I admit, I had been somewhat apprehensive about what do while my son was gone. One week later.... I had no idea why I was so concerned. It was weird and relaxing all at the same time. I got dishes done, grocery shopping was done, read a few chapters in my book, and I watched tv that didn't include any dancing or talking animals. Amazing! 

But back to snacks....The weather still being hot dictated that we need cold yummy snacks to help cool us down. I am not talking about the kind that are for kids and have no real flavor or nutrients. Adult friendly too - is that an option? Yes. Thankfully. After braving the long lines of cars, getting in and out of the crazy maze of cones and cars at his school, I will need to have some snacks I enjoy too. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have. Please note that these popsicles have texture not recommended for babies without teeth.

4 Ingredient Strawberry - Kiwi Popsicles 

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Strawberry Pops

1/4 cup of white sugar

1/3 cup of cold water

1 lb/16 oz of fresh strawberries, trimmed and washed

1 kiwi, peeled and sliced

8 tiny (3-5oz) water cups

8 wooden popsicle sticks

Combine the water, fruit, and sugar in a food processor or blender. Blend until it resembles a smooth puree. Pour the puree into the cups and place in the freezer. They will fill up a 3oz cup to the top and 5oz cup half way. I found by putting them on a cookie sheet was an easy way to transport and not spill anything. Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then put the sticks in the center of each cup. Continue freezing for 7- 8 hours until they are solid. 

To eat: tear the paper cup off and throw it away. It should peel away easily but might be hard for little hands. My 5 yr old occasionally needs help opening his. 

Strawberry Orange Popsicles

1/4 cup of white sugar

1/3 cup of cold water

1 lb/16 oz of fresh strawberries, trimmed and washed

1 orange sliced into chunks

8+ tiny (3-5oz) water cups

8+ wooden popsicle sticks

The directions are the same as before. This makes more than 8 popsicles and larger popsicles than the previous ones depending on the size of cup you use.

Combine the water, fruit, and sugar in a food processor or blender. Blend until it resembles a smooth puree. Pour the puree into the cups and place in the freezer. I found by putting them on a cookie sheet was an easy way to transport and not spill anything. Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then put the sticks in the center of each cup. I found by putting the sticks in a bit after they had started freezing will ensure that the sticks don't fall over after you leave them in the freezer. Continue freezing for 7- 8 hours until they are solid. 

Enjoy!
Stephanie

5 Ingredient 5 Step 5 Minute Banana Breakfast or Dessert

These banana creations are exactly what you need to be having this summer. Chances are you have most of the ingredients already. Its only 5 ingredients and 5 steps. Super easy.

Its been averaging 109-115 degrees lately here in southern Arizona. Football season is starting very soon and all I can think about is trying to stay cool and calm and get through the last bit of summer. Last September was awesome 90-100 degree bbq weather. I loved every minute of it. But its not September yet so I need to cool my jets and eat another one of these yummy pintrest banana creations. Try one or five. I promise you'll like it. 

Also love this little creation for its flexibility. You can use your kiddos favorite flavor of yogurt, use nuts instead of granola, dip and cover the bananas in almond butter, peanut butter, or dip in any kind of chocolate for a fun easy kid friendly dessert. AND unlike all those ice cream type desserts your banana won't melt all over your floor!  

Long live bananas :) 

                        Recipe's author is  Chocolate Covered Katie - a healthy desert blog. 

This recipe makes 4 servings
Takes 5 minutes to prep + minimum of 4 hrs of freezing time on parchment lined cookie sheet for less mess 

Ingredients

2 bananas, cut in half

1/4 cup plain organic yogurt 

1 handful granola your choice, you want it small chunks (large ones tended to fall off) if you have clusters just hit them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin or unopened can of food 

small handful of your favorite candy, pieces of chocolate, or small chocolate chips

4 popsicle sticks (this took me forever to find... don't know why the regular grocery stores didn't carry it... check micheals or another craft store if you need them)

directions 

Thanks for stopping by!
Stephanie

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Popsicles & Dots

What does summer look like at your house? You heard me. What are the signs that everyone sees, who knows you, on your counter, on your walls, in your freezer or fridge that means summer is "officially" here?

Corn on the cob, watermelon, and popsicles are totally summer at our house. My son has been talking about popsicles since January. So I bought some at the store a few weeks ago. It was fun wellll eating them was fun. Buying frozen stuff like that is kinda risky in 100 degree weather here in southern Az. For example I just had a chocolate mint melt in the purse - fun. LOL. My poor purse puts up with a lot of abuse... spilled drinks, my son driving over it with his trucks, melted candy... Anyways if chocolate can melt in my car while I am driving with the a.c on, you can imagine what kind of mess or shapes popsicles can turn into during the 5-10 minute drive home.

It is over 100 degrees today. It is definitely summer now. We went to the park today but even that was a stretch after an hr and half because we didn't have any water - spontaneous trip. You wouldn't believe how awesome and grassy some of the parks are here. Anyways... so as I am enjoying all the great summer veggies, daydreaming about grilling corn on the cob, I am finding it is a pain in the butt to find healthy popsicles at the store. I spent 10 minutes in the grocery store looking at labels on boxes just trying to find one that listed fruit as the first ingredient. I found one. Wow it was a pain. So when I came across some websites that reminded me how easy they are to make at home, I was smiling from ear to ear. Summer time corn on the cob is best - super sweet. Yeah I am one of those people who will even eat leftover corn on the cob the next day cold straight out of the fridge in my jammies, but you didn't hear that from me. There is no evidence.

Strawberry Popsicles & Dots 

Adapted from Sisters Playing House - Treats on a Stick  -
Great place for other ideas too

This made alot of popsicle filling. Made: 8 popsicle molds 2 oz each, plus a tray full (30+) of dots So if you have the larger size popsicles you should be good. Before I tasted the dots tonight I was thinking I should've halved the recipe. No way.

I loved eating the dots. Amazing flavor!
My son enjoyed eating them outside too then I told him I needed to water the grass and turned on the sprinkler. Pretty soon he was soaked from head to toe and no longer had any sticky pink on his hands.... easy clean up. 

1 lb (16oz package) fresh rinsed, hulled strawberries

1 &1/2 cups of plain yogurt (I used organic) 

2 tsp of honey or to taste

2 tsp of lemon juice

2 tsp of v8 juice (orange tropical) just adds more nutrients

Making Popsicles: 
There are two ways to do this.... the easy way or the hard way. The pretty way or yeah I am making homemade Popsicles and that needs to be good enough way.  

First way: put everything above in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Fill your popsicle containers and freezer for approx 4-6 hrs plus or minus some - depending on size of your containers. 

Second way: Now if you want to be extra creative and cool. Blend up everything except the creamy white yogurt. Then will you go to fill the Popsicle containers alternative between layers of strawberry puree and yogurt and you will get extremely cool looking treats.  This way isn't too much harder takes probably about the same amount of time but just sayin'. 

Making Dots:

Use the leftover yogurt mix to make fun discs. If you decided to make pretty popsicles then go ahead and mix the rest of the plain yogurt in with the rest of the strawberry puree. Use a spoon, turkey baster (yeah I have too much time on my hands), or even a plastic bag to pipe out small or medium sized circles onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Totally easy. Look they don't even have to be the same size. Look at the picture. Freeze for them for approxiately an hr or longer. Eat them outside. Trust me. Messy but totally fun. 

Enjoy something cold. Make a fun dessert with your kids. Start summer off right... I remember running barefoot down the street to get a popsicle from the ice cream man when I was a kid. Good times. These you don't have to chase down the street. Share good times with others. 
From my a.c. filled glorious kitchen to yours. 

Related Link:

Chocolate Pumpkin Donuts (cold & chocolate - Yum!)