Fresh Fruit Fool (Dairy Free)

We have been busy around here. Britney as I mentioned had a beautiful little boy named Henry. To join her 3 other boys. He is a sweet cuddly baby. She is a busy mama. he reminds me of how my newborns looked. It it truly a miracle each time a new little one joins our family. I had fun taking care of her 3 other boys while she was in the hospital. I appreciated the help from other family members. I love being a Grandma. This picture reminds me of Britney when she was a baby. I love him already. Britney and her husband Blake are great parents to their boys. 

I recently learned about this English dessert called "Fruit fool" It usually has custard or whipping cream folded into the fruit. I decided to make it healthier with whipped coconut cream. I also added chia for added nutrition. I added no sugar. I just enjoyed the natural sweetness of the fruit. It was delicious. I love finding ways to eat more fruits and vegetables. Here is a great way to eat fruit. The lime juice was a nice addition. This could make a great breakfast too. 

Welcome Henry!

Ingredients

1 kiwi Peeled and chopped up small pieces

1 banana cut up

2 T lime juice

1 tsp lime zest

1 C mangoes cut up (I used frozen)

2 T chia * Optional

1/4 C whipped coconut cream*

1 tsp vanilla

cut up kiwi and mangoes for on top

Directions  serves 2

1. Place kiwi, banana, lime juice, lime zest, and mangoes in a bowl together. Stir them up so the juice covers all the fruit. (You could also puree the mangoes if desired. Fruit fool often has fruit puree. ) Stir in the chia and set the bowl aside. 

2. * Making the coconut cream. Chill a can of coconut milk at least 5 hours in your fridge. (I have found in the winter storing my coconut milk in my cold storage my milk hardens without having to put it in the fridge. :) After it has chilled scoop out the thickened milk off the top (do not use the liquid on the bottom.) Whip up the cream with mixer or blender. Add the vanilla. Then fold into the fruit. 

3. Scoop into dishes. Garnish with additional fruit if desired.  Enjoy a wonderful treat!

Cowboy Caviar with Libby's Vegetable Pouches

 

We were given the opportunity through Recipe Redux to try Libby's new Vegetable Pouches. These little pouches were a great substitute for the normal canned vegetables because you can heat the vegetables right in the package. And who doesn't like to do less dishes? :) And considering I just cut my hand on a traditional can last week, it's nice to have a product that won't hurt my clumsy hands.

This Cowboy Caviar is one of our favorite appetizers. We took it to a party and it was a hit. It is a simple, fresh, and healthy salsa that is great on tortilla chips or any of your other favorite dipping devices. This recipe spotlights Libby's farm fresh sweet corn as the primary ingredient.

Ingredients
1 13 oz pouch of Libby's whole kernel sweet corn
2 avocados chopped up
3-4 Roma tomatoes chopped up
1/4 C chopped up purple onion
1 15 oz can of beans drained and rinsed (white, black, garbanzo, or black eyed peas)
1/4 c chopped up cilantro
1/4 C chia (optional)
1/4 C chopped up cilantro
1/4 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
juice from 2 limes

Directions
1. Toss together corn, avocados, tomatoes, onion, beans, and cilantro.
2. Then toss in chia, cilantro, chili powder, salt, pepper, and juice.
3. Serve at once or put in air tight container in the fridge.

I received free samples of Libby’s new Vegetable Pouches mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Libby’s and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

An InLinkz Link-up

Chia Fresca Drink (protein drink)

My daughter thinks it is fun to buy the chia drinks from the store. You know you can make your own and down on the sugar and control what is put in it? Here is a fast and easy recipe. That tastes really good. Great way to boost up your energy for the day.


Ingredients

1 C unsweetened pure juice (I used pomegranate cranberry)
3 C water
3 T chia
3-4 T honey
juice from one lime
quart jar with a lid

Directions

1. Pour all ingredients into a quart jar and shake it up. Leave in the fridge for at least 30 min to let the chia soften and expand. A great drink to enjoy all day long.

Vegetable Lentil Salad

This salad is a great way to eat a lot of vegetables in a healthy way. I loved all the color in it. When you eat a rainbow of colors you know you are getting a nice mixture of nutrients. You get a added bonus of lentils, chia, and quinoa. You get some nice protein in it. I have a nice hand chopper that cubes the vegetables. That makes it really easy. You can find it at Walmart or any store that carries kitchen tools. This is so healthy and good. Winner! Winner!

Ingredients

1 C lentils cooked
1/3 C quinoa cooked (red adds great color
1/3 C chia *optional
1/4 C chopped purple onion
1 sweet potato cooked and cubed
1/4 C yellow pepper chopped in cubes
1/4 C red pepper chopped in cubes
1/2 C zucchini  chopped
1/2 C avocado chopped
2 Roma tomatoes chopped in small pieces
1/4 C cilantro chopped up
juice from one lime
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder

Directions
1. Toss all the ingredients in a bowl except juice, salt, pepper and chili powder.
2. Then squeeze on the juice and pour in salt, pepper and chili powder. Toss into salad.
3. Serve at once for best results or cover in an air tight container and put in the fridge until ready to serve.
4. Keep leftovers in airtight container in the fridge.

Strawberry Watermelon Sorbet (No added sugar)

Oh the things you can do with watermelon. I had no idea how much fun it could be. My daughter gave me the idea to make this drink after being in Thailand. The fun has continued. I made this today. It is a total guilt free dessert and so refreshing too. 

 Ingredients

2 C frozen watermelon cut in small cubes
1 C frozen strawberries
2 T water
juice from 1 lime

Directions

1. Pour all the ingredients in the blender and pulse and stir until it is all blended.
2. Then stir together and scoop out with an ice cream scoop.
3. Serve at once or store in freezer.
Enjoy!

watermelon slushie

Here is a melon sorbet. No added sugar.

Refreshing Watermelon Mango Slushies

So my sweet daughter Juleen that helps me keep my teeth clean. She is a dental hygienist. Was telling me about when they were in Thailand last fall they would drink wonderful watermelon slushies. So I thought it sounded really refreshing. So I gave it a whirl. My son Derek and I really enjoyed it Yum. It would be a fun drink to serve for Memorial weekend. Enjoy!

Ingredients  serves 2

2 C watermelon Chopped 

8 ice cubes

1 C mangoes cubed frozen

2 lime wedges 

Directions

1. Pour all the ingredients into the blender except the lime wedges. Blend until smooth.

2. Pour into glasses and serve with lime wedges. I just squeezed it in and stirred it up. 

3. Enjoy a wonderful refreshing treat. 

*Check out this refreshing creamy melon slushie.  

*Check out this refreshing strawberry watermelon sorbet.

Grape Peach Salsa

By posting this recipe I am entering in a recipe contest sponsored by the California Table Grapes Commission and am eligible to win prizes. I was not compensated for my time.

One last grape recipe for you! We couldn't let the Recipe Redux's challenge go away without posting this last recipe. This was fun to make a salsa with grapes. I have never done that before. The grapes added a nice sweetness to salsa. We put this salsa on our baked chicken last night. It would also be delicious on chips, fish, beef, pork etc... Be creative.

Grapes of all colors are not only tasty, they are good for you. Grapes contain resveratrol, a polyphenol antioxidant that appears to be involved in reducing the risk or slowing the development of cancer, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, viral infections, and Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol is especially found in the skins of grapes. One serving of grapes (3/4 cup) contains just 90 calories, no fat, no cholesterol, and virtually no sodium, and also provide potassium and are good source of vitamin K. 

Ingredients
1 clove of minced garlic
3/4 C of quarted purple grapes
1 jalapeno minced
3 green onion chopped
1 ripe peach (or switch out for mango!), diced into small pieces
2 T diced purple onion   
1/2 lime juice
salt and pepper and to taste

Directions
1. Place in bowl garlic, grapes, jalapeno, green onion, peach, purple onions, Stir all together.
2. Then stir in lime juice and salt and pepper. Let the flavors meld together if possible. Serve.

Cucumber Lime Smoothie

This is a wonderful recipe that my friend shared with me. It's a delicious green smoothie recipes--a wonderfully refreshing drink for a warm summer day or night. My husband and I enjoyed it after a evening walk. I preferred to not have it be very sweet. You can make it to your taste preference. It makes a great "No Cook Meal" for our Recipe Redux this month.

Enjoy a wonderful summer!

Ingredients: about 4 servings depending on serving sizes

1 English cucumber washed and chopped (leave peel on)

juice from 4 limes

1 to 1 1/2 T honey or other sweetener

16 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.  

2. Pour into desired glasses and serve immediately for best results. Store leftovers in the fridge.

Sunrise Smoothie

I loved this smoothie. It was sweet with out adding any other sweeteners. The fruit made it the perfect sweetness. It was a nice refreshing drink that would be great any time of the day. If the fruit was frozen it would even be more refreshing. Yum! It is a great way to enjoy summer by enjoying the summer fruit that is available. :)

Ingredients: 2 servings


2 mango's peeled and chopped up
1 C pineapple (I used fresh)
juice from 1 orange
juice from 1 lime
a banana would be wonderful too
1 C of ice

Directions:
1. Pour it all into the blender and blend until smooth!

Enjoy Today!