It’s that time of year when we are all setting goals and trying to live better. Eating healthier is one of my goals this year. But honestly, I don’t have a lot of time to spend preparing healthy food. This easy Fruit Smoothie Recipe is perfect for our busy lives.
Smoothies are one of those sneaky drinks. You can pack them full of fruit or vegetables, add some protein and the kids (and you) will never be able to tell. This healthy smoothie recipe has a super combination of blueberries and pineapple that will make you feel like a kid again! They are creamy, rich and packed with flavor!
The ingredients in these Blue Hawaii Smoothies are simple and a bit surprising, they combine to make a delicious healthy smoothie when blended together. Pineapple and blueberries are the star here, a small piece of ginger is added for flavor, the Light & Fit ® Protein Drink and Dannon Greek Yogurt give the smoothie a burst of nutrients as well as creaminess.
We all love Fruit Smoothies, whether we serve them along side our breakfast, as breakfast on-the-go or even with our breakfast for dinner. They also make the perfect easy healthy snack! I often enjoy them in the afternoon to hold me over until dinner time.
Another easy healthy snack that I have recently found to tackle the afternoon snacking binges are Dannon’s Greek Yogurt with sauce on the top. These Caramel Macchiato, that we found at Walmart, is perfect with slices of apple for dipping!
And we can’t forget about lunchtime, these Danimals ® Squeezables are perfect in lunches! Freeze them, toss them into the lunch bag for the kids or yourself and by the time lunch rolls around they have a delicious treat!
You can find all of these products at your local Walmart.
Allow me to share with you the story of day these Easy Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins were born.
One day I thought to myself, “What if I mixed up chocolate muffins as usual? Then what if I poured cheesecake topping on them before I baked them? What if?”
I did all of that, but then I one-upped my idea by sprinkling mini-chocolate chips on top just before sliding them into the oven. This, of course, completed the recipe as if I was baking perfection itself.
Upon the birth of these delicious chocolate cheesecake babies, I began to consider other cheesecake-topped muffin options and lo, their little muffin siblings were born into the world. Coming soon to a Heavenly Homemakers blog near you:
Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
Banana Cheesecake Muffins
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Muffins
You see, once I started, I simply couldn’t stop. This resulted in 48 muffins atop my kitchen counter (and a significant number of dirty mixing bowls in my sink). Therefore, I had no choice but to invite approximately half the college campus to come over and eat muffins. I made for them a huge jar of Iced Coffee with which to wash them down.
And behold, it was good.
Additional Cheesecake Muffin recipes coming soon!
It is a fact that I was able to crank out 48 muffins in one setting because I had a container full of Muffin Mix just begging to be used. This made it so easy that I just kept scooping, mixing, playing, and creating.
I said it before. I’ll say it again. These Simple Mixes are my new super power.
I now present to you the first of the series of cheesecake muffin recipes. And if I’m you, I’d take advantage of the Simple Mixes that Save the Day eBook offer so that you, too, will be given this Super Power. Then we can all make all these muffins as quickly as possible and also we can teleport. What? If I’m going to have a Muffin Mix Super Power, I would also like to teleport. A girl can dream.
Easy Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins
**If you have our Simple Mixes to Save the Day eBook, save time and energy by using the Muffin Mix for this recipe instead!!
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
I have a wonderful chicken recipe to share with you. But first, a story.
Once upon a time, I was dating my husband. I mean, my boyfriend. I mean, we weren’t married yet when we were dating but then we did get married and all of that barely has anything to do with this recipe.
But back in the days of our dating, engagement, and early marriage we drove an hour away from our college town each Sunday morning to a small church with a sweet youth group. Matt was their youth leader, teaching Bible classes and forming relationships with the teens. These dear ones became our church family, worshiping with us, throwing us a wedding shower, celebrating our marriage, being a part of our first pregnancy, and welcoming Baby #1 into the world with us.
Some of our fondest memories of those years are looking back to the Sunday afternoons in the homes of various church family members. They took turns signing up to feed us after church. Those meals!!! Talk about a church full of good cooks. The fellowship was precious and I can remember in detail many of the ladies’ specialties. We were very well taken care of, that is for sure.
Well, one of these ladies frequently made chicken that was slathered in the most delicious cream sauce. When we knew Carlene had signed up to feed us, I’d always say to Matt, “Ooooh, I hope she made that chicken this time!” Anytime she did make it and we sat there gushing over the meal, she’d always shake her head at us and say, “Oh. It’s just food.”
Right. Just food. Just the best chicken I’ve ever eaten!!!
Since that time, I’ve always regretted that I never got her recipe. I’m not even kidding you that 20 years later I still get hungry for that meal. Finally about a month ago I thought to myself, “Laura, are you or are you not the lady who invents recipes? For Pete’s sake, woman. Go to the kitchen and figure out how to make Carlene’s chicken.”
You’d think I would have considered this option before.
Well, my friends. I now present to you Not-Quite-Carlene’s Chicken with Cream Cheese Sauce. Make this.
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Sea salt and pepper to taste
½ cup palm shortening or other oil for frying
Make-Ahead Instructions
Prepare and fry meat as directed. Allow it to cool, then cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two days. Prepare sauce as directed and stir in the chicken, heating through.
Freezer Instructions
Prepare and fry meat as directed. Allow it to cool. Freeze in a well-sealed freezer bag for up to three months. To serve, thaw cooked meat. Prepare sauce as directed and stir in the chicken, heating through.
I can’t think of a brilliant way to end this post. Go make this chicken! There. That oughta do it.
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
Perhaps you’re thinking, why would I make Banana Cheesecake Muffins when I can make Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins?
I’m here to tell you that I actually like these even better than the chocolate muffins. This, from a girl who loves her chocolate. There’s just something about the subtle sweetness, the perfect moistness, and the obvious cheesecake topping that makes these banana muffins rise to the top for me.
Then there’s the fact that I can think of no better way to use up overripe bananas. Now I watch our uneaten bananas start to turn dark and I’m like, “YES! I’m going to have to make some Banana Cheesecake Muffins with these!”
Notice I said “have to.” Because there is no other option. None at all. The only thing I can possibly do with my blackened bananas is make these Banana Cheesecake Muffins. It is the only way.
Easy Banana Cheesecake Muffins
**If you have our Simple Mixes to Save the Day eBook, save time and energy by using the Muffin Mix for this recipe instead!!
Check out the sister recipe to this one: Easy Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins. And be watching for more! Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins and Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins recipes coming soon!
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
Easy and Healthy Homemade Gummies My kids LOVE this easy recipe for healthy homemade gummies! I love that there's no junk and that they're ready in just 15 minutes. They won't melt in a lunchbox and can be made with fruit juice or whole fruit puree - perfect for using up the last little bits of produce to avoid the trash can (and that saves money!) :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com
If I could pick only one topping for frozen yogurt, it would be gummy bears.
My whole life I’ve loved gummy everything. Bears, worms, sour… (sour patch kids were THE BOMB!). Now there’s even “life saver” gummies and “jolly rancher” flavors too.
Oh my. I’m not sure whether to rejoice at the myriad of gummy flavors out there (because they ARE my favorite you know), or be slightly disgusted that the corn industry has found YET ANOTHER way to sneak high fructose corn syrup onto store shelves.
Well I’m not falling for it.
I read the labels of gummy bears one time and rolled my eyes. Somehow my gut already knew that those chewy little bites of goodness were tainted.
It’s easy (sort of) for me to resist the urge to eat gummy bears, but my poor kids don’t stand a chance. I personally haven’t ever given my kids gummy bears, but I know they’ve had them. And I know they like them.
Not that I blame them (of course), but now that I know what’s IN them, I don’t want my kids to touch them with a 10 foot pole. I know first hand how incredibly addicting those little gummies can be!
So in my quest to re-make processed foods into healthier whole food versions (I’ve tackled these so far), I faced gummies head on. It took some experimenting, and LOTS of taste testing (against my will, of course), but I’ve come up with a homemade gummy recipe that will totally give any other typically processed gummy a run for its money.
AND it’s healthy!!
My kids LOVE this easy recipe for healthy homemade gummies! I love that there's no junk and that they're ready in just 15 minutes. They won't melt in a lunchbox and can be made with fruit juice or whole fruit puree - perfect for using up the last little bits of produce to avoid the trash can (and that saves money!) :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com
Healthy Homemade Gummies
Now, before you take on this challenge yourself, there are a few things you need know.
Although way good for you, gelatin on its own does not taste good.
Just one tablespoon contains a whopping 6 grams of protein – talk about a super-food (and in my gummies?! Squee!!)
But it does come from animal proteins and by default, doesn’t taste that great. You know how you can add more of an ingredient in order to achieve a certain effect? Well I tried adding more gelatin to make these healthy homemade gummies more “gummy” and the result was not pleasant. So don’t get all gung ho and add a bunch more gelatin thinking you’ll get rock solid gummies.
That would be bad.
Of course, you could spend bukoo bucks on this gelatin so you can’t taste the flavor.
But I’m frugal, and that’s WAY out of my price range. If you’re in the same boat, buy what you can afford and stick to the recipe.
Note: You CAN make healthy homemade gummies with vegan gelatin. I personally have not tested this myself, but in research it appears that you can substitute it relatively easily in recipes.
The sweetener is entirely optional.
You don’t have to add it and there’s no need to alter the recipe if you don’t. I used it because my taste buds have come to expect the flavor of typical processed gummy bears (thank you HFCS!). But if you haven’t eaten many gummy bears in your life, you might not need it.
My kids LOVE this easy recipe for healthy homemade gummies! I love that there's no junk and that they're ready in just 15 minutes. They won't melt in a lunchbox and can be made with fruit juice or whole fruit puree - perfect for using up the last little bits of produce to avoid the trash can (and that saves money!) :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com
The recipe is SO flexible.
You can use fruit puree OR fruit juice OR a combination of both – it’s entirely up to you and what’s in your kitchen.
Personally I feel better knowing there’s whole fruit inside these healthy homemade gummies, but I’d be okay making them with 100% juice too (so long as the juice didn’t have any added sweetener!).
The flavor combinations for healthy homemade gummies are endless!
If the fruit/juice flavor combination sounds good in your head, chances are it’ll be good in a gummy. Strong flavors (i.e. grape juice) will make for a very tasty gummy. Mild flavors (i.e. apple) will make a mild gummy and in my humble gummy-loving opinion, would be better paired with something stronger to keep the gelatin flavor at bay.
In general, avoid single strong acidic flavors since they tend to not gel up as well (think pineapple juice or grapefruit). You can combine them something else though for sure!
The shape of healthy homemade gummies is flexible too!
I asked the kids if they’d prefer bear shapes or LEGO shapes, and they chose LEGO (obviously). But you don’t have to do bears or LEGO – I’ve seen dinosaurs, robots, circles, flowers… you name it!
The goal though is to choose a silicone mold that makes small, individual gummies like this one for hearts or this one for bears. Be sure to read the measurements so you’re not ending up with monster-sized gummies (like I did when I picked this LEGO set – the big green man is over 3″ tall!).
If a silicone mold is out of the question, use a glass dish instead and cut these delicious healthy homemade gummies into squares. Don’t think you can’t do this just because you don’t have a mold!
My kids LOVE this easy recipe for healthy homemade gummies! I love that there's no junk and that they're ready in just 15 minutes. They won't melt in a lunchbox and can be made with fruit juice or whole fruit puree - perfect for using up the last little bits of produce to avoid the trash can (and that saves money!) :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com
Ok, now for the more serious cooking notes. I only have a few, but they’re important:
Have all of your supplies and ingredients ready to go before you begin. The recipe moves fast!
Taste the liquid before freezing. If it doesn’t taste good, the gummies won’t either when they’re done. Err on the side of too sweet rather than not sweet enough!
Print
If you're starting with whole fruit, make fruit puree by blending fruit in a blender. Then measure fruit puree into the larger measure cup/bowl first. Add honey if using.
Measure juice into a small sauce pan and turn the heat on medium low. Add the gelatin and whisk constantly. Bring the mixture to an almost simmer - you want it to be definitely warm, but not hot, to the touch - abut 3 minutes. The liquid should be opaque or clear and the gelatin should be completely dissolved before proceeding.
Add the juice/gelatin mixture to the puree (if using) in the bowl/cup with the spout. Whisk to combine juice/gelatin with puree and/or honey, if using.
Place the mold on the baking sheet. Pour mixture into the molds, but do not overfill them. Alternatively, pour the mixture into the 8x8 glass pan.
Place the entire baking sheet with the mold on top, or the 8x8 glass pan, in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Pull the gummies out from the freezer and pop out of the molds. Store in a container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
My kids LOVE this easy recipe for healthy homemade gummies! I love that there's no junk and that they're ready in just 15 minutes. They won't melt in a lunchbox and can be made with fruit juice or whole fruit puree - perfect for using up the last little bits of produce to avoid the trash can (and that saves money!) :: DontWastetheCrumbs.com
Additional Recipe Notes
This recipe as-is will make healthy homemade gummies that will last the school day at room temperature. I’ve made these, let them sit out on the counter for a full 24 hours and they did not melt. Now, your results may vary if the sun is blazing and it’s a million degrees outside, but they should do just fine inside or in a school lunch box.
If you aren’t a fan of the taste of gelatin, you can reduce the amount to as low as 6 tsp, but this will affect the integrity of the gummy. If you do this, I recommend serving these as an after-school snack directly from the fridge rather than packing in lunch box for later.
Feel free to adjust the amount of honey. I liked it at 2 tablespoons, but you’ll be able to taste the honey flavor (so adjust if you don’t like the flavor of honey!).
Get more frugal, affordable and awesome back to school ideas or check out “The Healthy Lunchbox” – it’s one of the best eBooks I’ve read on healthy lunches, including back to school!
Let’s be honest – do you like gummy bears? What would be your favorite topping on frozen yogurt?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. By making a purchase through those links, I will earn commission that helps to keep the lights on in the Crumbs house – with no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crumbs in this way. Read my full disclosure statement here.
Original article and pictures take dontwastethecrumbs.com site
Drinking herbal teas are a great way to get some of the benefits of the herbs in a soothing drink.
I love drinking herbal teas, especially in the winter as they are so warming and comforting. During the summer months, I make the tea and pour it over ice for a refreshing boost. If you are new to the herbal tea world, you may find some of them taste different that what you expected at first. But, they are all so tasty! For an added taste boost, I leave a nub of peeled ginger in my teapot to infuse with the herbs.
Add all the above to a quart jar, shake gently to mix. To use, simply add 1 T. of the herb mix to 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep for 3-5 minutes, covered. Strain the herbs and sweeten to taste. This will be a great aid for digestion, especially after a big meal, and the chamomile is calming before bedtime.
Aunt Flo Blend
This is a blend my friend and I came up with to help ease cramps during a monthly period. Red raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) does have a history of being used as a female uterine tonic and clinical trials support a shorter labor and reduced use of forceps during delivery.
Add the dried herbs to a quart jar, shake gently to mix. To use, add 1-2T per quart of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes, covered. Strain the herbs and sweeten to taste. This is especially great when drunk 3-5 days before a period begins, although you may enjoy this at any time. This may also be helpful in the case of diarrhea, as the red raspberry is soothing to the digestive tract.
Hippy Blend
This is just a tea blend that we enjoy around our house, especially on a cold winter night for relaxing. It has calming properties that make it great to enjoy before bedtime as well. Over ice, it’s also outstanding!
Add the dried herb to a jar, shake gently to mix. o use, add 1-2T per quart of boiling water. Infuse for 10 minutes, covered. Strain the herbs and sweeten to taste. We love bringing this along when we go camping as well.
How about a list of LEGO sets that all cost less than $10? This comes at a perfect timing with Christmas right around the corner!
This year I made two mistakes: 1) I asked Malachi if he still thought he’d want to put LEGOS on his Christmas list and 2) I mentioned that it didn’t seem as if he played with LEGOS as much anymore. I got quickly put in my place seeing as 1) of course he still wants LEGOS on his Christmas list and 2) he doesn’t play with LEGOS; he builds with them.
My bad.
My youngest LEGO lover is turning 13 this month, but “old age” has not stopped him from loving the bricks. He still has a room dedicated to LEGO and still spends hours working with them. I truly won’t be surprised if he somehow makes a career out of LEGO some day, somehow.
For all who have LEGO lovers in your life, you will enjoy looking through all of these great sets that cost less than $10. Many are less than $5!
Grab them for stocking stuffers. Grab them for party gifts. Grab them for gift exchanges. Grab them for incentives or rewards.
And now for a little more of a specific break down of sets. Keep in mind that not only are all of these sets less than $10, many of them are only $5 or $6!
Classic Creativity Boxes
I love these colored Classic Creativity Boxes! You can buy them as a set of four then divide them among four recipients. Or you can buy them individually if you prefer. For easy access:
Have little bitties? Check out these My First sets!
These Creator sets are fun because kids can make 3 different items out of the one set!
(These range between $5-$6)
The LEGO City sets are probably my favorite because I overall, my kids have used them more than other specific themed sets.
LEGO Star Wars is always a hit!
Don’t forget LEGO Friends…
Merry LEGO Christmas!
This post contains my affiliate links.
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
If you haven’t started preparing your immune system for the “sick” season now is a great time to start. Winter is the time of year that a lot of people get sick for a few different reasons. In the colder months people are indoors and in close quarters for a longer period of time then in the warmer weather which can help spread germs to others. There are a number of specific things you can do to build up your defense.
What Causes People to Get Sick?
Just merely being around someone else who is sick doesn't mean that you too will get sick. Have you ever heard about parents having a chicken pox party? Well maybe not so much today because a lot of parents hope their children will never get sick, but when I was growing up this was somewhat of a normal thing to do. The idea is that if one child in the neighborhood has chicken pox, they invite all the other children over so that they too can get chicken pox and then build up the natural antibodies they need so that they will never get it again. Since chicken pox is a more serious illness as a child gets older parents would host these parties to get this out of the way early on in the child's life. After these “chicken pox parties” were over some children would get chicken pox and others would not. Why is that? It could be a number of reasons, these are some of the reasons why we get sick:
Lack of rest. Getting adequate amounts of sleep is important for a strong immune system. In the Winter season it is important to get extra rest, slow down, and take more time to relax.
Vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D3 are more likely to happen in the colder months because people are indoors much more and the primary source of vitamin D is from sunlight. Without adequate levels of vitamin D the immune system is not at its best.
Vitamins A & C. Both important vitamins for immune function. Low levels of these vitamins can play a role in why someone might get sick.
Poor diet. Eating the standard American diet is not sufficient nutrition for the immune system or for any other systems in the body as well. Eating a diet full of processed and packaged foods will not support a healthy immune system. Even just a short term period of not eating well can affect the immune system.
Children Need to Get Sick in Order to be Well
As adults, we don’t like getting sick – its uncomfortable and inconvenient. Since we know how horrible it feels to be sick we want to keep our kids from getting sick as well. Children don’t like getting sick either but it’s actually really good for kids to get sick. It’s hard when children are sick because we hate to see them uncomfortable and if they are too young to communicate we don’t even know how to help them. The good thing about getting a cold is that it is helping your child build a healthy immune system. Exposure to these little colds helps them build anti-bodies and strengthen their overall immune system. With that being said, it is still very important to keep kids immune system strong and to teach them good hygiene like washing their hands.
How to Prevent Illness
The best way to prevent illness and keep the immune system in top working order is to eat a healthy diet. This phrase “healthy diet” can be confusing because this term gets thrown around very often and is not well defined. Here is my definition of a healthy diet:
Lots of organic vegetables
Healthy fats – olive oil, coconut oil, raw organic butter (if you tolerate dairy) and avoid vegetable oils
Pastured meats and eggs (not factory farmed)
Wild caught fish
Beans and legumes
Organic raw nuts and seeds
Homemade stocks, broths and soups – vegetable, chicken, beef, fish, etc.
Organic fruits (in season)
Low grain, no grain, soaked or sprouted grain, or sourdough
Fermented foods and beverages – kombucha, water kefir, sauerkraut
Avoid refined sugar – stick to honey, maple syrup, and stevia
Avoid packaged and processed foods
Strictly adhering to this diet will strengthen your immune system greatly and also improve all the other functions of your body. This diet prevents colds and flu's but also helps to prevent more serious diseases as well. In addition to a healthy diet there are some supplements that can be added for enhanced benefits.
This is the cold and flu prevention routine that I keep for my family and it has worked extremely well. I encourage you to share your strategies in the comments below.
How Are You Preparing For Cold & Flu Season? What Are Your Favorite Prevention Strategies Or Remedies?
Original article and pictures take theholisticmama.com site
