Cherry Cranberry Fruit Delight

What You Need:

2 (.6 oz.) pkg.  sugar free cherry gelatin
2 C boiling water
1 (12 oz.) pkg. fresh cranberries
1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 orange, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 (1 in.) piece of orange peel
1 (20 oz.) can crushed unsweetened pineapple with juice

How to Make It:

Stir the gelatin into the boiling water until it is dissolved.
Fold in the cranberries, apples, orange and orange peel.
Add the pineapple with its juice and stir to blend in well.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Once cool place the mixture into the blender in batches and blend until slightly chopped.
Once all the gelatin mixture has been chopped pour it into a 13X9 pan and cover.
Chill for at least 3 hours or until the gelatin if firm.

Makes 16 servings

Fruit is a necessary part of a healthy balanced diet. It can be hard to incorporate all the necessary daily requirements of fruit into a diet but this recipe can give you a good start. You can substitute frozen cranberries in place of the fresh ones. This fruity side dish can also be turned into a healthy dessert by adding a little fat free whipped topping to each bowl full.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Chilling Time: approximately 3 hours
Total Time: approximately 3 hours 15 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 47; Fat 1g; Saturated Fat 0g; Carbohydrates 11g; Protein 2g; Fiber 0g;
Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 46mg

Baked Eggs in a Well

eggs

eggsWhat You Need:

1 t of ground cumin
6 garlic cloves, sliced thin
1 red onion, sliced thin
1 orange bell pepper, cored seeded and sliced ling
2 russet potatoes cut into small cubes
1/2 t of salt
1/4 t of pepper
1 small head of cabbage, shredded
4 large eggs
4 thick slices of whole grain bread

How to Make It:

Place the oven setting at 450 degrees allowing the oven to heat.
Spray the lid and inside of a cast iron Dutch oven with a cooking spray.
Place the cumin seeds over the bottom of the prepared pan.
Spread the garlic over the seeds.
Lay the onion then the peppers over the garlic.
Season the potatoes with the salt and pepper and place them evenly over the top.
Make 4 wells with the cabbage in the pan.
Break the eggs into the center of each well.
If the eggs run out of the wells it is ok they will still be nestled inside the well when cooked.
Lay a slice of the bread over the top of each well.
Cover and bake 32 minutes or until the eggs are cooked through.

Makes 4 servings

These eggs will bake similar to a poached egg. By using whole grain bread or bread with seeds such as sunflower this dish will have a little more texture. Add a glass of juice for a well balanced breakfast.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 32 minutes
Total Time: approximately 47 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 420; Fat 12g; Carbohydrates 57g; Cholesterol 426 mg; Sodium 462 mg; Protein 23g; Fiber 6g

Christmas Cooking Grocery List

grocery-list

grocery-listCooking at Christmas is stressful enough without the hassle of forgetting something from the store. Every cook has been through it at least once and it makes for extra stress and bedlam. This grocery list will help with making sure you don’t have to experience that again.

Each holiday, most of us prepare the same things. There are favorite family dishes that we prepare year after year. That goes for desserts as well. Yet with the stress during the holiday it’s easy to forget. Be sure that the kitchen cupboards are stocked with the items you use the most.

The short list for your pantry or cupboard should include:

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Dry yeast
• White, brown and powdered sugar
• Chocolate squares, chips and cocoa powder
• An assortment of chopped nuts
• Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper
• Honey
• Cooking oil and shortening
• Vinegar
• Beef, chicken or vegetable broth
• Dried fruits
• Assorted vegetables such as onions, garlic and potatoes
• Rice
• Dried pasta

You may find you need other items on this list depending on your tastes, likes and dislikes.

Stock the fridge with the following items:

• Milk
• Butter and/or margarine
• Sour cream
• Eggs
• Lemon juice
• Half and half

This list is also short and can be expanded upon according to your own personal needs.

There are also essentials that need to be stored in the freezer:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Pie crusts
• Juice concentrates
• Whipped topping
• Ice cubes

There are many staples necessary when it comes to Christmas cooking. Make your list and check it twice to be sure you don’t have to make that dreaded run to the store at the last minute.

Cool Kids Need Cool Snacks

littleboyeatingoutside

littleboyeatingoutsideThere’s nothing worse than kids that get bored, hungry and hot in the summertime. When kids become bored, hungry and hot they are hard to satisfy. Do you often hear “but I don’t like THAT mom” or other complaints when you offer them a quick snack? Looking for some healthy, delicious, “cool” treats to satisfy kids of all ages? Then look no further! Here are some treats the kids will love and ask for over and over. You will love them too because they are easy to make, delicious and healthy.

Fruit Pizza:

• 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough mix
• 1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups assorted fruits, sliced

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius). Roll the cookie dough into a ball and place in the center of a pizza pan. Spread the dough evenly onto pizza pan, into a 12 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Mix the sugar and cream cheese together and spread over the crust. Layer the fruit over the sauce. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the fruit to help keep it from turning brown. Refrigerate. Slice into 12 pizza wedges and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers. This is also a great treat to serve at a birthday party. Kids and adults love it!

Fruit Juice Spritzer

Kids like soda, but it’s not the best drink for them especially when they are hot. A fruit juice spritzer will fit the bill when it comes to replacing that soda intake. It’s refreshing, cool and tasty. It has the added benefit of fruit juice so you can count is as a fruit serving for the day. Use 100% Juicy Juice because it is 100% all natural juice. The kids will love it. This sprizer is a cool, easy to serve beverage made of ingredients you probably already have.

To make this spritzer, fill a glass with ice. Add the juice to fill the glass half full. Fill the rest of the glass with 7UP or Sprite. It’s better than a full glass of soda and the kids get the fruit serving they need. You can vary the amounts of course; a little more juice or a little less, depending on your taste. Just remember not to defeat the purpose of cutting down on the soda.

For an added treat you could blend the juice with some ice in the blender and make a slushy drink. Just fill the glass with the mixture and pour the soda over the icy juice.

Homemade Juice or Kool-Aid Popsicles

Homemade Popsicles are a kid’s delight. They have the enjoyment of helping to make them along with the fun of eating them. These are handy to have around when the kids are looking for a quick cool down snack.

To make these little wonders you will need a pitcher of juice or Kool-Aid. When using juice be sure to mix it with 5 parts water to 1 part juice. Pour the juice or Kool-Aid into freezer Popsicle molds. Ice cube trays may also be used. When using ice cube trays place them in freezer and allow them to freeze slightly. Insert the Popsicle stick into the middle of the frozen ice cube and continue freezing until solid.

Ice Cream Candy Float

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream is a sure thing when you have kids and its summertime. What better summertime treats can be found than a delicious ice cream float

Use the kid’s favorite ice cream. Place two scoops in a tall glass. Break up candy bar into pieces and place in glass with the ice cream. Fill with root beer or cola.

Yogurt and Fruit Pops

Kids love grabbing something quick and cool to take outside on a hot summer day. Best of all they like sharing these special treats with their friends. These little pops are easy to make, quick to grab and are a healthy alternative to the summer time cool off snack.

To make these pops you will need Popsicle molds with sticks, a container of fruit yogurt and sliced fruit.

Fill the molds with the yogurt. Insert the stick into the mold. Place the sliced fruit on top of the yogurt. Place them in the freezer until they are very firm. To remove the pop just place the mold in warm water.

These snacks are easy, cool and healthy all wrapped up in one. Keeping kids happy during the long summer months doesn’t have to be looked at as a chore. In reality it’s an adventure. Give your kids the snacks that will keep them happy while maintaining your own cool as well.