I don’t know about you but I am always looking for fun food for my kids. I love to surprise them with new foods, fun foods or food they can help whip up.

I have seen these Apple Nachos all over the internet lately, so we had fun making (and eating them).  I think food that is a “project” first is extra fun for the kids…it’s a craft AND a treat! Have fun with these!!

No real recipe here…just grab a couple of apples and raid your pantry for add-ins such as caramel, hot fudge, mini chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, granola or anything else your kids might get a kick out of. Maybe even slightly melt a little peanut butter and/or fluff throw it in a little sandwich bag, snip off the end and let the squeeze away (just though of that now…sounds fun)and then why not add a few rounds of banana. Let me know what your kids come up with

Posted December 6th, 2011 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Fruit, Kid Fun, Snacks | 1 Comment »

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How would your kids like to make a flavored butter?  It’s easy, it’s pretty, and it livens up toast, pancakes, waffles and bagels!

As an extra perk – it makes an awesome gift for grandparents, neighbors and more!

Raspberry Butter
1 stick butter, softened
2 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh raspberries (about 18)

Let the kids smash the berries in a bowl, add in the softened butter and cream together. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until fully incorporated.
Scrape butter into a small crock or bowl and cover tightly with wrap. You could also form it into a log or a heart – your call. Place into the freezer for 1 hour then store in the refrigerator until ready to gift or use. Let the butter soften a bit prior to using.

Happy Cooking!

Posted July 14th, 2011 by Colleen in Breakfast, Colleen, Fruit, Kid Fun, Valentines Day | No Comments »

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Who is more excited for this weekends festivities?  You or your children?

One of the great parts of Summer are all the fun parties and barbecue’s we go to.  The kids play and swim and the adults get to hang out – love it!

Then there is the food!!  All of that wonderful, barbecue, apps and side dishes folks contribute and as a bonus lots of desserts are usually available. YUM!!

Strawberries are definitely a Summer food for many of us, so have some fun with your kids and decorate them for the 4th!!  A perfect way to serve all of the kids a sweet treat with fruit benefits that is so cute and festive…that is if the adults don’t gobble them all up first!

Festive Strawberries

Strawberries

White chocolate melting disks 9I like Wilton from the craft store)

Blue sprinkles, sanding sugar or jimmies

Wash and completely dry your berries.  I a small, deep bowl, melt chocolate in your microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth (careful not to burn it).  In another small bowl place your sprinkles/sugar.  Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Dip your berries one at a time into the melted chocolate, let the excess drip off.  Then gently place the end of them into your blue sugar/jimmies.  Now you have a red white and blue berry!  Gently place it on you parchment/wax paper lined baking sheet and repeat.  Give each berry some space.  Place the baking sheet into your refrigerator to allow the melted chocolate to firm up. 

Have a fun. tasty and safe 4th of July weekend!!

Posted June 30th, 2011 by Colleen in Candy, Colleen, Desserts, Fruit, Kid Fun | 1 Comment »

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Summer is here and you know what that means – the kids want ice cold treats – stat!

I remeber growing up and loving to get my hands on the freeze pops my mom would stock the freezer with – blue and green were my favorite!  A big box of 100 freeze pops went a long way when you have 5 kids!  Now that I am a mom and a little conscious about what I feed my family, I don’t continue that tradition.  There is just to many “unnatural” ingredients found in them.

Instead my kids and I make popsicles!  My kids are not a fan of fruit pieces in their pops, instead they opt for juice pops and sometimes they add in some yogurt for added texture and taste.  My kids love making the popsicles and of course they love eating them too.  I love watching them have fun creating their treats, thinking up flavor combinations and of course I feel good about what they are eating.

What you will need:   Popsicle sticks and either popsicle molds or dixie cups

The tangerine pop is 100% fresh squeezed tangerine juice – that’s it.  We poured the juice into a dixi cup and froze it overnight. (Just insert the stick about 1 hour after you place cups in the freezer if you are using cups and when ready to eat, use sissors to cut the cup and continure ripping the rest of the cup away).

Let your kids select fruits that interest them…such as oranges, lemons, limes, taggerines, grapefruits, kiwis, watermelon, etc.  Squeeze every last drop our of your chosen fruit(s) add some sugar to the more sour fruits or depending on the palate of your kids any fruit.

Another option is purchasing 100% organic juices from some supermarkets.

If you want to incorporate yogurt into the pops, just fill the molds/cups part way with your chosen juice, then add a layer of yogurt and in another 2 hours or so add another layer of juice or vice versa – no rules here!

Enjoy!

Posted June 3rd, 2011 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Fruit, Kid Fun, Snacks, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

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This is amazing!  Adults and kids alike will compete to see who can get to the most of this super tasty, super juicy pineapple…!Maybe you should bake 2!

By roasting the pineapple, it becomes even sweeter and jucier if you can believe that!

Slow Roasted Pineapple

-Jim Fobel,  from the cookbook Big Flavors

1 whole pineapple

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Slice the leafy green top of the pineapple off, cutting just to where it ends.
Place your pineapple standing up on a baking sheet and roast it for 1 hour in your oven (if it is a super large pineapple…add 15 minutes). Turn off the oven, leave the door closed and allow the pineapple to cool in the oven for an additional hour.
*If you need the oven…it’s ok remove the pineapple and let it cool on your counter.

Serve by slicing off the top and the bottom. Cut off the skin and the eyes. Slice into rounds and eat around the core or core the slices and serve the halves. Either way – serve it warm and enjoy the deliciousness! (My mouth is watering as I type this!!)

No real recipe here for your kids to follow, however it may interest them to see how the pineapple tastes different after the slow roasting…be sure to have napkins aplents.  This is one juicy, tasty dessert or snack!

Posted April 17th, 2011 by Colleen in Breakfast, Desserts, Fruit, Snacks | No Comments »

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Please welcome Melissa from The Highlandview Pantry.  She is a homeschooling mom to 5 children who happen to live on a farm where the homestead.  Melissa and her family have a life very different from my own (one that I think is wonderful) and I thought many of you would enjoy peeking into it.  Please visit her site for many ideas on recipes, crafts and more. http://thehighlandviewpantry.blogspot.com/

If you are planning on planting strawberries this season with your kids or grand kids making Melissa’s Strawberry Freezer Jam is a wonderful way to use up some of the bounty you will get!  As a perk, your kids can have a hand in their future school lunches…how cool will it be to know they made their jam on their sandwich.  Plus you know exactly what is in the jam and can feel good about feeding it to them.  My kids love strawberry jam sandwiches, I am totally making this with them once our berries are ready!!  Thanks Melissa!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

-The Highlandview Pantry

The appearance of juicy, ripe strawberries kicks-off berry season.  Making strawberry freezer jam is a fun project to do with a child.  The most exciting way to get the child involved is to check local area papers for a u-pick strawberry farm.  Once the berries have been harvested, the strawberry freezer jam process is simple.

 Ingredients and Supplies:

2 cups of crushed strawberries

4 cups of sugar

¾ cup of water

1 box of fruit pectin (1.75 oz)

Freezer containers

Wide-mouth funnel

Directions:

1. Wash and dry several freezer containers.

2. Wash the berries.  Have the child remove the stems.

3. Using a potato masher, have the child smash the strawberries one cup at a time.  When all the berries are crushed, the total amount of crushed fruit should be two cups.

4. In a large mixing bowl, have the child stir together the crushed strawberries and sugar.  Let the mixture sit for ten minutes.  This allows the strawberries’  juices to flow.

5. The adult should heat the water and pectin to a boil in a small saucepan.  Boil one minute stirring constantly.

6. Pour the pectin mixture into the strawberry mixture and stir until all the sugar is dissolved.

7. Have the child help pour the jam into freezer containers leaving room for expansion. A wide-mouth funnel helps keep this process neat.

8. Let the jam sit at room temperature for twenty-four hours.  While the jam is setting up, have the child design cute labels for the containers.  Store in the freezer for up to one year.

Tips -   This recipe yields five cups of jam.  Strawberry freezer jam can also be made with honey and fruit juice instead of sugar.  However, a low-sugar or no-sugar pectin would be needed for that process.

Posted April 14th, 2011 by Colleen in Breakfast, Desserts, Fruit, Kid Fun, Lunch | No Comments »

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I LOVE this smoothie and my kids do too!  Seems we can never make a batch big enough!

What else can you whip up this quick, that is this pretty, that packs a HUGE vitamin and mineral punch AND an immunity BOOST to boot??

As the weather gets warmer and your kids are running, bouncing and playing outdoors and working up a thirst…show up with a tray full of these and watch them disappear!  This freezes well too, so go ahead and make a double batch – for a quick thaw microwave for half a minute or so, stir and serve.

For breakfast on the go, a snack, drink or dessert this kids smoothie is sure to please!

Banana Berry Smoothie

2 cups cranberry juice

1 whole banana (frozen for a thicker smoothie)

8 oz container of a strawberry, raspberry or mixed berry yogurt

2 1/2 cups of  frozen berries (strawberry, raspberry and blueberry mixed)

Using your blender add in the cranberry juice, yogurt and the banana.  Blend until combined.  Add in the frozen berries and blend until thick and rich like a milkshake.

For an extra special treat, layer with some fresh whipped cream!

This is a great recipe for your kids to take the lead on!!

Happy Cooking!

Posted March 22nd, 2011 by Colleen in Breakfast, Colleen, Desserts, Drinks, Fruit, Snacks, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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Does all of the cold and snow have you dreaming of Summer??? 

Why not throw together a Winter Fruit Salad?  It will remind you of Summer and give you something to do (other than frolicking in the snow) and has the added perk of vitamins galore…just when kids can use a Vitamin C boost to keep healthy!

See which fruits look good next trip to the grocery store…fruits like blackberries, kiwi, bananas, apples and grapes are available this time of year and look good.  To spruce up the salad and give it a wonderful kick squeeze the juice of 2 tangerines into a small bowl, add in a teaspoon of sugar and stir it up.  Toss the fruit with the mixture and enjoy!!!

Stay tuned…this weekened we will have a fun activity to do with you kids next snowfall!

Posted January 26th, 2011 by Colleen in Breakfast, Colleen, Desserts, Fruit, Snacks | No Comments »

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For a simple but oh so special treat, try Stuffed Strawberries with REAL whipped cream! Besides homemade whipped cream being so much better tasting, it’s healthier as well and it only takes a few minutes to whip up…literally!

Strawberries are pretty to look at, tasty to eat and packed full of nutritional benefits! The have a huge amount of vitamin C and are a great source of fiber, potassium an folate, plus strawberries have touted medical benefits as well – so go ahead and grab a few!

Stuffed Strawberries
Strawberries
1 cup heavy or whipping cream
1 1/2 TBS sugar (or more if you want it sweeter)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Wash and dry the berries. Parents, slice the green part of the berry off making a flat surface. Gently cut out a circle from the tip of each berry, digging down a bit. Kids pop the tail end of the berry in your mouth and enjoy!

For the whipped cream:
Place cold cream in your mixing bowl and mix on med-high speed until the cream begins to get firm (about 2 minutes),add in the sugar and vanilla if using and continue beating until nice and thick and peaks hold their place do not over beat unless you want to make butter lol!

Pipe the cream into each strawberry using a pastry bag and tip of your choice, or you can just throw some whipped cream into a sandwich bag, snip off the end, gently squeeze a bit into each strawberry it. I have taken these on picnic’s transporting the berries and cream in an ice filled cooler – cream in a baggie, snipped of the end and filled them on site….quick and easy!

Happy Cooking!

Posted August 20th, 2010 by Colleen in Desserts, Fruit, Snacks | 2 Comments »

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Melon Balls, what a perfectly refreshing snack or dessert.

Have fun teaching your kids how to use a melon baller then scooping out the colorful balls.

Did you know?

Watermelon
Watermelon seeds were found in the tomb of King Tut.
In the US the largest producers of watermelon are Florida, Georgia, Texas, California and Arizona.
The first recorded watermelon harvest was 5000 years ago in Egypt.
Watermelon is 92% water; early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
The watermelon is truly an international food, many more watermelon are consumed by other countries than the US. For example China consumes 30 times more watermelon than the US, they are the worlds largest producer as well. In China they also stir fry the rind with a bit of olive oil, garlic, chili peppers, scallions and ginger.
Watermelon rind contains many, many hidden nutritional benefits that the watermelon itself does not provide. In Southern US pickled watermelon is commonly enjoyed.
The watermelon is thought to have originated in Southern Africa.
Watermelon is a great source of potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and B6. It also contains calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Honeydew
A ripe honeydew’s flesh turns from green to white and is one of the slowest melons to ripen.
Honeydew seeds were brought to China by Vice President Henry Wallace in the 1940′s and as a result they often refer to the fruit as the Wallace.
Honeydew is a great source of vitamin C, it also contains folate, potassium and B6.

Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe is believed to have originated in India or Africa.
Christopher Columbus introduced cantaloupe to America on his 2nd voyage to “the new world” in 1494.
Always wash the outside of a cantaloupe before cutting into it as the surface of cantaloupe has been known to carry salmonella.
1/4 of a medium cantaloupe provides 400% of your daily vitamin A requirement and 100% of your vitamin C.
Cantaloupe is a nutritional powerhouse with many purported health benefits.
Cantaloupe is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, beta carotene, folate and potassium.

Melon Balls

1/2 watermelon
1 cantaloupe
1 honeydew

Wash each melon and blot dry with paper towels.
Have your CB help you cut the melons on half (between the stem markings).
Using your melon baller on an angel, push it into the melon and firmly but gently turn it towards your body, then away turning your wrist in almost a full circle. This creates a circular shape.

Place fruit balls into a glass or bowl, cover tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour prior to serving.

For fun, serve with toothpicks!

Tip – Honeydew and cantaloupe are not meant to be refrigerated. For best results allow to ripen on your counter for a few days.

Happy Cooking!

Posted July 23rd, 2010 by Colleen in Colleen, Desserts, Fruit, Snacks | No Comments »

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