Healthy Fruited Popsicles

Summer is coming and nothing beats the heat like frozen popsicles. The kids will love this treat and can help make the icy delights.

Another yummy fruit dish is Yogurt Parfait from The Hassayampa Inn. Recipe on page 52 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Healthy Fruited Popsicles

Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon puree (seedless if possible)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 peach or nectarine, diced small
handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Directions:
Cut the watermelon into chunks and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside.

Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds). Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit. Then pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top. Place a popsicle stick into each one. Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.

When ready to serve, run the popsicle molds under warm water for a few seconds and then pull each one out.

from Heather Thomas on FB

Homemade Basil Pesto

The basil plant is out of control. Time to make some Pesto.


Homemade Basil Pesto

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup basil leaves
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 garlic clove, chopped
salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender.
Puree until smooth.

Makes about 1/2 cup.

Also try Tomato Caper Relish on page 20 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Yogurt Smoothie

Refrigerator leftovers . . . what do you do with them? We were leaving our condo in Eleuthera and decided to use up what was left. The condo had a "state of the art" blender so we put in yogurt, milk, blueberries, flax seed, ice, banana and a little oatmeal from breakfast. It looked wonderful until we twisted the blender from it's base. Unfortunately, this was the kind you twist to remove the bottom . . . whoosh. Yogurt Smoothie all over the counter and floor. We saved some of it and I got a few pictures to remember the laughs. It tasted pretty good, except for the oatmeal. Note to self: Remember not to add oatmeal next time.

The Hassayampa Inn has an easy Yogurt Parfait recipe pg 52 from the cookbook. No blender involved so no spills.

Yogurt Parfaits
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups fresh raspberries
2 cups granola (use the granola recipe from pg 196)
Strawberry yogurt

Mix the blueberries and raspberries in a bowl. Alternate layers of the berries and granola in parfait glasses or wine glasses and top with the yogurt.
Note: you can use homemade or commercial granola and low-fat yogurt in this recipe.

Serves 6