Summer Goodies
We had planned another mini-getaway for last weekend but opted to stay home because of the extreme heat. Extreme, meaning regular, for you Arizona folks!Hot summer days only mean breaks from hot stoves to make way for colorful, beautiful salads like this one.
The fresh pineapples serve the purpose of dressing. Yes, not a drop of dressing was used and yet this salad hits the spot, over and over again.
This has been my kids (and other people's kids!) favorite smoothie that we literally make it everyday.I just load the Vitamix with
a few handfuls of frozen mangoes,
a handful of frozen pineapple pieces,
a cup of fresh squeezed orange juice
and a spoon of flaxseed.
(I also add strawberries or peaches once in a while for variations.)
Voila! Smoothies that Aliyah always says are better that Jamba Juice's. Even the neighbors' kids look forward to this. You simply have to try it!
Inspired by Dr. Fuhrman's Fudgsicles, we have been enjoying these fudge bars lately. There is a lot of fat because of the cashew nut butter, but it is so wholesome and healthy for the kids. For four popsicles like this one, and a lot more leftover for the kids to feast on as chocolate pudding, I used:3 bananas
3/4 c. - 1 cup cashew nut butter
3 T. carob powder
1/4 cup soymilk (I used the chocolate kind.)
I just throw everything in the Vitamix and blend for 30 seconds. We would enjoy the fudgsicles the next day, but the leftover is good as ice cream after an hour or so in the fridge. Or if you are like my kids, you'd eat them straight from the blender.
22 Comments:
That smoothie looks so delicious! I'm almost drooling. The salad also looks great - I rarely use dressing on salad and I think the pineapple is a great way to replace it.
Those icy treats are looking pretty COOL, Kai. Impressive.
Kai, glad to see you back. I don't think anyone really understands what 114 degree F dry heat feels like. I am just glad we don't have humidity here. I am used to it on a daily basis though. Toughen up!!!
Your frozen treats look delightful. I am going to try the chocolate one so thanks for that recipe! The salad is a great idea with the pineapple as the dressing. Yay, you're back!
The fudgsicle looks amazing. I love the cashew nut and chocolate combo. I'm going to try it soon!
Kai -- what a perfectly-timed post! The salad looks amazing, and my two year old son is just giddy with delight looking at the smoothie! He keeps blowing up the picture and laughing and saying, "Mama, me, eat!"
It's been 95F here, but that's horribly hot in Belgium - and so humid. Luckily today is grocery day, so we'll get to try that smoothie this afternoon. Thanks for the delish ideas!
Yummy summer eats! I love fruit in salad - it really does cut down on the need for any dressings.
The fudgsicles look fantastic and a great treat :) Thanks for the idea!
-Crystal
Yum! I want one of those fudgsicles! I am so glad you are back, Kai--I always look forward to reading your posts.
So happy to see you post, Kai. The temps are gettin' up there... global warming? (Vicki can tell us more about that!) It's been so hot everywhere in the northern hemisphere it seems!
The weather sure does lend itself to eating cooler things, though, as you wrote. The salad you made is so pretty. I love cool, colourful food, especially in the summertime. How great to not "have" to use a dressing other than natural juice of the pineapple! Yummerful!
That mango smoothie looks SO refreshing and wonderful!!! I am sure to try that as for once i have all those ingredients on hand! I buy Trader Joes frozen mangoes weekly... Jamba Juice look out indeed!
The "fudgsicles" are for me the best thing you photographed here! I am such a fan of carob, ever since i tried Tiger's Milk when i was a kid. Back then, i mixed Tiger's Milk powder into (ugh!) regular milk... that was a LONG time ago! I don't think it's even available in that form anymore, just in the bars. This looks soooooooooooo good, Kai! Chocolate soymilk's been a staple for me for a few months now. This would be great. Now, to get a Vitamix! (I'm still saving up for one...)
Great to see you post, Kai!
great summer eats! the heat is turned way up here too -- record breaking.
The fudgsicles look SO good! I wonder if there is a good sub for nut butter in them? I will have to think about that...
I always enjoy your posts and photos!
Courtney
This all looks SO delicious!!! I will definitely have to try those fugdesicles. ;)
I like my salads without dressing too, sometimes i use avocado.
hmm i like the fudgsicles.. my pop trays are filled with watermellon right now though
teddy
I love salads. I do usually mix up a little something for it. Lately, I am totally digging a little grapefruit dressing. Those fudgesicles look delicious.
That salad looks absolutely refreshing! I only recently discovered that I like fruit in green salads. Romaine, strawberries, and almond slivers in vinaigrette is one of my new favorites.
I must try those fudgesicles, they sound amazing!
What a great idea, using fresh pineapple as the dressing too... that salad looks lovely.. and the mango smoothie... yeah baby!
Fudgie pops looks fab too.. don't you juve love the Vitamix?
Last night I was craving something sweet and chocolate... but low calorie and I threw in some homemade soymilk, stevia, 1/2 frozen banana, ice and cocoa powder. It was a thick, delicious chocolate shake! (I freeze these into popsicles too, but I'll bet yours are sooo much better and rich)
Kai, You really know how to live it up in the summer heat. Everything looks awesome! Good to see your posts - missed your "stuff".
Great to see you post again! I love the salad. The fruit smoothie looks amazing. I love mango. I made some fudgsicles like that! Check it out in my archives. Yours sounds interesting with the cashew nut butter. I will have to try them next. Mine just had mori nu tofu and carob chips in it.
The little guy I nanny for could eat an entire mango by himself if no one was watching! We'll have to make mango smoothies sometime soon!
Missing you, Kai!
*HUGS*
ooooh. LOVE the fudgsicle pop thingy's. I shall defintiely have to try that out soon!
I'm doing for a vita mix... one day!
Wow, kaivegan, your Mango dessert looks yummmmm.
Great idea with the popsicles. Looks so good for the summer.
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