Cheers! One of our favorite healthy foods is this Fruit (and veggie-shh!) smoothie. It started out as just a fruit smoothie but Alison was determined to get more veggies into the boys' diet. So, one day she added spinach and later carrots. They loved it! You can't even taste the spinach. When friends or cousins come by during lunch or snack time, everyone wants a GREEN smoothie!
Fruit & Veggie Smoothie
Fill the blender 1/3 to 1/2 with Fresh Spinach. Add one carton light Vanilla Yogurt. Add about 1/2 cup Orange Juice and 1/2 cup Milk. Add Carrots, if desired (it makes it a bit sweeter and a little different texture). Then one Banana. Lastly, add 1-2 cups Frozen Fruit. We like just strawberries, a berry medley, and tropical blends (substitute pineapple juice for OJ). Then blend until smooth. Add more liquid if its too thick. Enjoy!
Now for something not so healthy...
KEY LIME PIE
1 Can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 Cup Key Lime or Regular Lime Juice
1 (8 oz) cool whip (I use a little less than this)
1 package (6 oz) graham cracker pie crust
Grated Lime Peel
Green Food Coloring, until you like the color
1. Beat milk and lime juice in large bowl with electric mixer on med. speed until smooth and thickened. Fold in whipped topping.
2. Spoon lime mixture into pie crust. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour (I like to do it the night before). Garnish with grated lime juice. Refrigerate any remaining.
I wanted to share few family recipes that the boys love to eat and that I love to make. Here are a few of my creations. First, these were our Easter Baskets. The boys loved helping making and eating them.
Jack wanted a dinosaur birthday party so I decided to make a dinosaur cake. After doing lots of research, I found a recipe that I could "tweak" enough to make it Peanut and Tree Nut Free for Jack to be able to enjoy (he has food allergies). I had to use skittles instead of M&M's and candy orange slices for the scales.
Here are some of our other favorite recipes!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 Chicken Breasts (can be frozen)
2-15 oz cans black beans, drained
2-15 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 Cup Salsa (your favorite, I like Pace Chunky Mild)
4 oz can chopped green chilies
14 oz can tomato sauce
Chips, cheese, sour cream
Combine all of the first set of ingredients in crock pot. Cover. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Just before serving, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (or shred). Stir into soup. To serve, put a handful of chips in each bowl, mash, and ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese and sour cream. **If you like thicker, use a paper towel under the lid while it cooks.
My sister-in-law took this chicken tortilla recipe to a chili party and won first place!
Corn Salad
2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1-2 cups mayonnaise
1 med sized bell pepper (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
1-10.5 oz bag coarsely crushed chili-cheese corn chips
Mix first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving. I like to make it the night before and then just add the chips. This is a crowd pleaser!
BBQ Meatloaf
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick cook oats
1/2 cup chopped onion (most the time I use dehydrated)
1 t salt
1 lb ground beef
Sauce:
2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 t dry mustard
In bowl breakup egg and milk. Stir in cheese, oats, onions, and salt. Add beef and mix well. Shape into five loaves. Put into 9x13 (sprayed with grease) pan. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Spoon sauce mixture over each loaf. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 Chicken Breasts (can be frozen)
2-15 oz cans black beans, drained
2-15 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 Cup Salsa (your favorite, I like Pace Chunky Mild)
4 oz can chopped green chilies
14 oz can tomato sauce
Chips, cheese, sour cream
Combine all of the first set of ingredients in crock pot. Cover. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Just before serving, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (or shred). Stir into soup. To serve, put a handful of chips in each bowl, mash, and ladle soup over chips. Top with cheese and sour cream. **If you like thicker, use a paper towel under the lid while it cooks.
My sister-in-law took this chicken tortilla recipe to a chili party and won first place!
Corn Salad
2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1-2 cups mayonnaise
1 med sized bell pepper (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup red onions, chopped
1-10.5 oz bag coarsely crushed chili-cheese corn chips
Mix first 5 ingredients and chill. Stir in corn chips just before serving. I like to make it the night before and then just add the chips. This is a crowd pleaser!
BBQ Meatloaf
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup quick cook oats
1/2 cup chopped onion (most the time I use dehydrated)
1 t salt
1 lb ground beef
Sauce:
2/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 t dry mustard
In bowl breakup egg and milk. Stir in cheese, oats, onions, and salt. Add beef and mix well. Shape into five loaves. Put into 9x13 (sprayed with grease) pan. Combine ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard. Spoon sauce mixture over each loaf. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
