Forget Fresh Fruit Go Frozen

 With all the fear about Fresh fruit and cylospora everyone is giving up fresh fruits and the desserts that are made for them. Yet there is frozen fruit that can fill in, You can make anything with them, from muffins to crepes. They can top ice cream or be eaten just with whipped cream. 

There are many different brands of frozen fruits from Wyman, national brand, to just in house ones like Acme and Stop & Shop along with Lidl , Target and Shop Rite. You can  buy from several different stores and taste test them. You can still make crumbles with frozen blueberries or peaches.You just need frozen pie crust, sugar ,shortbread cookies for the crumble on top and quick acting oats. The flavors are both fruity and buttery and you won;t know if you're eating fresh or frozen. Crumble can also be made into bars too. Use frozen ,sliced or peeled peaches in this fruit filled treat. Cinnamon and brown sugar help with the flavor. That most classic of summer desserts strawberry shortcake can also be made with frozen berries. Expect a softer texture and more liquid however.To avoid a soggy short cake , drain them or cook them into a quick sauce with a bit of sugar for sweetness and cornstarch for thickening. It helps to spread them out evenly on the surface of the cake.Piling them on top of each other will resort in a mushy layer.

Can you use frozen fruit in pie? Yes! Just remember there are a few simple rules though to using them.Let the fruit thaw and drain extra liquid first before using. You could use the extra juice sin a thick cooked slurry which can be used later.Also increase thickeners. Add an extra tablespoon or two of cornstarch or flour. You can also do the precook option. Simmer the fruit and its; juices on the stove til thickened and then pour into the pie crust. If you put the filling in frozen or  cold, add ten to fifteen minutes to the baking time so you donl;t have a cold middle.The best fruit to use in a pie are blueberries. These have a deeper  denser flavor that freshly picked ones. If you;re using peaches, drain all liquid from the peaches before mixing them with sugar,cornstarch lemon  juice. vanilla,salt and cinnamon.What about making homemade sorbets and ices? This is actually to your advantage.It 's just pulsing the fruit with lemon juice and honey  until it;a creamy and soft. Freeze until you;re ready to serve it.

Frget about fresh picked fruits this season. Opt for the frozen . You can still create sweet desserts and have the same fruity taste as a fresh from the orchard harvest.

Fun Frosty Treats

 This is the summer for hot , HOT weather. It'd even too hot for the kids to play at the beach or in the pool. If that's the case keep them inside and creative. Have them make cooking treats for a fun snack or dessert.

One of the tastiest treats is a chocolate covered frozen banana. This is a super easy make with just a banana and semi sweet chocolate chips. You'llk need long wooden skewers which you can buy anywhere from the dollar stores like Dollar Tree and Dollar General.to  grocery storeThe bananas should be big and rip. Prep the fruit first. Place the bananas on a parchment line baking sheet and then melt  the chocolate. This can be done in thirty seconds increments in the microwave. Do this until all the chocolate is melted.Hold the banana over the bowl of melted chocolate and ladle the chocolate over it, slowly rotating the banana until  the batch is all covered. You can also roll them in sprinkles, shredded coconut (an absolute must) or chopped nuts. Another sweet treat is banan ice cream. Again take bananas and cut them into chunks Keep them in the freezer overnight and then take out. Put the pieces in a food chopper and blend until  the banana chunks become smooth custardy consistency . You can add peanut butter for more creaminess. My favorite way of having it is with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Of course the kids can try their hand at homemade popsicles. Before you embark on this, make sure you have the right molds.Temu has  amold set of twelve  for  as low as $1,77 while Wal-Mart has them. on hand for $2.02 They do have better made ones,, a ten piece one  now on sale for $9.99. Kohl's also offers something similar at $11.19  for six.A fun and colorful version is a fruit and yogurt one. Use one pound of any sort of fresh fruit and two cups of vanilla yogurt. This will make for ten popsicles. It starts with pureeing the fruit in a food processor .Pour into a resealable bags or squeeze bottle when done. Do the same with the yogurt, spooning it int either resealabe bags or squeeze bottles. (Actually squeeze bottles will be a better choice if kids are making them.) Swirl the two ingredients into the mold,c resting swirls and whirls. when they;re all done, pop in the freezer to solidify over night.Eliminate the yogurt if you want all fruit ones. Soften any flavor ice cream and then spoon into cupcake papers. Add a bit of either chocolate or caramel sauce and then refreeze until the cakes become solidly again. Take out ofthe freezer and decorate with whipped cream and sprinkles or any kind of candy. Top with a cherry for a more festive look.

A super hot day needs a super cold and fun treats. Make any of these to keep the kids chilled and happy. They;ll love making and eating them.

 

A Handful Of Peas

 One of the best Spring vegetables is actually not asparagus but the humble pea. This slittle green gem is not only good for you but also versatile,It can be put in a variety of hot and cold dishes and give a lovely sweet taste to any dish,

Right now it's Spring pea season. These are tender and sweet , just good in a sauce with pearl onions and melted butter.Peas are actually the seeds of the cultured pea plant .There's usually three to four in a long case called a pod. These perfect orbs have a lot of health benefits. They are perfect for diabetics because they have the low glycemic index of around twenty-two.They do not cause fast blood sugar spikes along with being high in fiber and protein, Peas are rich in magnesium, iron and potassium which again are good for managing diabetes.They're also chock full of carbohydrates which means they'll keep you sated and full after eating them.As tasty as creamed and processed peas are, try to avoid them because they contain high levels of sugar and salt.You can eat frozen peas . They picked and frozen at peak ripeness which means they're chock full of vitamins and nutrients. Keep in mind to check the packaging.Some companies may add sodium or salt for flavor.

Peas are great in everything.A pea salad is a nice side to a Spring lamb or Cornish hen dinner. Try using them in a salad full of crunchy radish sauces and mint.Creamy feta is also added to give the salad a silky feel and just olive oil as a dressing. Just a plain pea salad with some sprigs of mint is also good. Use a simple vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil dressing and a slight sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. A heartier meal using peas in the main course is the Venetian risi e bisi.It's a wonderful departure from typical risotto dishes,Diced prosciutto gives the dish a saltiness that pairs well with the peas sweet flavor.If you can't get prosciutto any leftover Easter ham will do.Garlic and shoots also give it a flavorful taste as its; cooked in either chicken or vegetable broth.Serve with a generous dusting of Parmesan cheese another Spring-y main dish is pasta primavera with peas and asparagus. Spring onions and butter are added to the half cup of asparagus and two kinds of peas,  a quarter pound of snap ones and three quarter cups of fresh English peas, They are part of the sauce ,  which also consists of creme fraiche ,Parmiggiano, Reggiano and fresh herbs are added later to the hot pasta(usually tagiatelli Peas can also be used in hummus too.It's just adding these gems to chickpeas and tahini blended together.

Use peas this SPring for a bright burst of sweet greenness. Try them in a zesty minty salad. Have them as part of a risotto to pasta dish.They are perfect ,cold to hot.

Are You Storm Ready

 This is January and that means storms - all sorts of them Are you ready for them? What about your food supplies? Ehat can you cook with if you lose power? Be prepared and be ready,

It used to be that the month just brough blizzards and monster snowstorms.Thanks to global warming we're getting more and more hurricane like storms in a warming winter. The same advice I gave in September during that season I'll give now.Have plenty of canned food along with plenty of bagged and canned food for your animal companions. Winter flooding is getting bad here in the States. It may be hard to get to a store , especially if it's in a low lying flood zone. Make sure both people, and animals have enough of their special foods for special diets too. Keep in mind that your power may go out so that's a problem for fridges and freezers. Those frozen dinners will have to be cooked quickly, namely in a gas oven. No electricity means no air fryers or  microwaves.If you can and the weather breaks then get out your barbecue. Use charcoal and any relatively dry wood as fuel and cook up any meats and even vegetables. Frozen dinners will have to be deconstructed and cook what you can from them.

What should you buy? Usually most go for bread, milk and eggs. You can easily make French toast with these . Also think easy to store cheese slices. You can make everything from grilled cheese to stuffed tortillas with the slices. They can also go into salads too for extra protein. Cold cuts also work and they can also be used in salads for more protein. Some grocery stores will be flooded or will be powerless. A few will have generators and most industrial freezers can keep food overnight at the longest. Stay away from the creamy stuff like frozen dinner with sauces. Fresh meats and seafood can easily spoil. Avoid these. Stick with cereals for breakfast for the kids. Buy boxed milk , both plant and dairy for them and for your coffee. Again canned food will come in handy .Beans and tuna fish can be eaten cold right out of the can. Figure on bean salad and tuna mixed with vegan mayo (this is safer for you because there are no eggs in it that can go bad). Get fresh fruits and vrggies to eat too. Again these can be eaten raw and a good source of nutrients. Buy bagged snacks and cookies along with candy just to have as comfort food.

January is getting a bad reputation  as a stormy month these days. Be  prepared. be careful. You can weather any storm with the right food choices.

Spring Into Light Eating

It's Spring and that means a time for eating healthier.This season is the gateway to all thing fresh and verdant. it's time to start planning new recipes with homegrown and farmer's markets produce.

I love this idea of eating fresh and light after a winter of heavy foods.I finally made that avocado salad  with the lemon vinaigrette.It's a nice side to the lighter dishes. Start thinking not of heavy roasts with three or four sides but again Cornish  hens or salmon with a salad.  The avocado one is perfect and it even makes for a nice side for a barbecue. You can also just have a simple chopped salad with the addition of shredded cabbage and carrots. A rice salad is a much  welcomed change up and can be used for lunchthe next day too.

Keep in mind that Spring means planting. If you want to continue in the healthy eating vein then start planning your veggie garden according to what you want and need. Tomatoes are a must (although they'll come later in the season) along with different lettuces. Boston and Bibb lettuces are amongst the healthiest.The leaves are high in folates, iron and potassium. Spinach is another must grow.As we all know it's high in iron and the best for recipes. You can easily turn it into a salad or added to a delicious frittata or quiche. It also can  be frozen. Desserts also get lighter as the season warms up. That means planting strawberries and blueberries, These can be added to salads but also can be turned into a healthy granitas made with just honey and water. The fruits can also be blended into smoothies or used to make all natural toppings for sundaes.

It's Spring! It's time to eat healthier and lighter. Change over today for a new and fresher diet.

Ice And Fancy

 Who would have thought ice would become a thing It's usedoften enough. Even on a frosty cold day most crave a drink with it. Nowit's becoming more elevated and even glamorous.

Contributor and social media editor Becky Hughes wrote about this staple gone glam in today's New York Times food section. Americans havealways loved ice. even Mark Twain in 1896 wrote that ice has been so inextricably linked with the United States. "There is but a single specialty with us,only one thing that can be called the wide name American." he had written ," That is the national devotion to ice water." It all started in 1806 with Frederic Tudor according to Jonathan Reees, a history professor at Colorado State UNiversity Pueblo who has published three books about the development of American refrigeration. Tudor would give ice away at bars to get people hooked on it. It work, giving the new country a long standing addiction to cold drinks. By 1860 Americans developed a taste for ice year round and by 1875 people regularly had iced delivered to their homes. It was in 1925 however when electric refrigerators came into Americna life and with them ice cube trays. Now there are all sorts, from rounded balls to Korean made ice machine that produced the pebbled ice that cool off drinks at restaurants and fast food joints.

Yet it is "glam ice" that's making headlines. Thanks to Tiktok, developer of all trends these days, ice making has taken on new heights. There are dozens of videos showing how to make ice cubes, ice balls and ice squares along with making "snow ice" (which wou;d be perfect for making Sno-Cones), Home chefs are spending money on expensive pebble making ice machines that give the same size crunchy frozen bites that Sonic puts in their drinks.Ice lovers are combining  coffee in theirs which will go well with milk and even seltzer.Some are  even making hot sauce ice and Spaghettio's ice followed by Pepto Bismo Ice,Bars are putting giant spheres of ice in their drinks.These have to be clear. Drinkers have rejected cocktails with "cloudy" ice in them. There is even a custom ice company founded by Leslie Kirchhoff. Her company sells cubes for up to fourteen (!) dollars a cube. Hers have suspended flowers in them, created by a special method(which she'll never reveal). She'll even create ones with company logos on them . Home chefs can do the same thing by dropping mint leaves or small citrus wedges in prettily cut ice trays. Amazon has a dazzling array of trays that are not that expensive. Take a look at their rose and diamond shaped ones which range in price from $6.99 to $9.99.

Ice is America's addiction. Yet it does wonders to everything from whiskey to cola.They're a fun and now glam to make and use.

The Way We Shop Now

 The pandemic has certainly changed the way we live.It's definitely affected how we shop and how we eat.We relearned how to bake and yearned for a night out with friends. Will this be the new normal after we return to normal? It could be.

Regular contributor Kim Severson wrote about this phenomena in today's New York Times Food section. A lot of the data is eye opening but predictable.There were seven ways food shopping and our eating habits have  changed. We did fewer trips but had more detailed lists. Before Covid 19 , a mere 19 percent of Americans only shopped for food more than three times a week, That number dropped to ten percent by June.Many stocked up, buying double the amount of what they would normally buy. Home chefs also became better planners, knowing what to make for a whole month and shopping for those four weeks.Online food subscriptions went up.Online food sales went from 1.2 billion to 7.2 billion from March to June. Farmers jumped on this bandwagon too, selling to customers and building a good solid client base via the internet. Curbside pickup also increased. Once people realized the ease of this and selecting groceries through apps , they knew they could never go back to visiting stores themselves. Stores were also redrawn. There are now one way aisles and some Walmart have a more open check out areas.

Our eating habits changed as well. Oranges became the snack of the moment, thanks to them keeping so long. In May the fruit has a 73 per cent jump in sales. However there aren't many fruit or other food choices now. Options are shrinking. People are buying staples not frill snacks and treats and stores are noticing. There's also more generic buying  with more home chefs opting for store brands which are usually tastier and cheaper, Buying dried beans have also been popular since, they're versatile and full of protein. Another interesting fact is that freezer food is also popular. Sales initially jumped by a whopping 94 percent in March.Frozen fruit and veggies were an attractive alternative to fresh produce and many home chefs were buying them regularly. Yet some home chefs also want fresh local produce. This also includes eggs and milk from local dairies along with fresh beef. Grocers are also teaming up with chefs to sell meal kits that feature ingredients from local farms. It's part of a growing awareness of climate change and the impact of transporting foodstuffs on the environment.

Our eating and shopping habits will be changing as this pandemic continues. will they ever go back to normal once we go back to normal? Maybe. but maybe not. There may be new trends emerging as we come out of this.

Ayo A Tasty Almond Yogurt

Yogurts are always good for you. Add almond milk to the mix and it gets even better.AYO Almond milk yogurt is just that, good for you along with being delicious and even refreshing.

AYO is one of the oldest yogurt companies, starting in 1913 by the Billings family. They grew almonds in the San Joaquin Valley and also own Billings Ranch and Pacific Almond. The last produces a variety of different nut milks and even soups including bone broth. Being a big fan of anything almond, I decided to give the yogurts a try.
             

The four flavors are vanilla, peach , blueberry, and strawberry. They're not as thick as traditional yogurts, being made with almond milk. 

The texture's a bit like the Indian yogurt drink lassi, very liquid-y. All

the flavors , are colored the same , thanks to the addition of red cabbage extract

The vanilla is delicate in flavor while the fruit ones have small bits of peaches, strawberries or whole blueberries. They are perfect because they're not overpowering in taste. I think AYO yogurt would be good frozen as an ice cream. It seems to lend itself to it.They are low in calories too, another reason to love them. The blueberry and strawberry are only 150 while the peach and vanilla are 160 calories.

AYO almond milk yogurt is the perfect and refreshing summer snack. It's good for you and good for the planet. Try a  cooling cup today to beat the heat.

A Quick Sorbet

With the weather heating up, there's nothing like a cooling simple sorbet .Everyone thinks it's a hard make but a recipe in the Sunday Home section of the New York Times. I thought I'd try it. It's simple ,.Just freeze a can of fruit and then puree.

Well, it was simple in theory. I put a can of peaches in the fridge. The recipe calls for fruit in heavy syrup, but that would be too sweet and I had this.

I left the DelMonte peaches overnight. First thing, never freeze the fruit in the can that  it came in.

It was a block of fruity ice which was impossible to get out of the can. I put it under hot tap water to loosen it. That didn't work, so I got both my paring and slicing  Farberware knives out to break it into chunks.

Once it was all out it needs to be pureed.I used my immersion blender for it and voila - sorbet!!

It was creamy, cool and fruity, a lovely delicious end to dinner. I would definitely make this again, maybe with pears and fruit salad.I also would put the fruit into a container. first. It was a job hacking it to pieces in the can. 

This quick fruit sorbet is the perfect cure for a hot steamy summer's day. Try it  with one kind of frozen fruit or two for a treat. It's a light alternative to ice cream.

Chinese Restaurants - A Go Or No Go

The coronoavirus has affected everything , from how we live to how we conduct business. Even eating out can be seen as risky. Now the focus on Chinese restaurants since the virus originated in Wuhan, China and everything Chinese is suspect. What should we do?

The dilemma is a double edged sword. If you boycott Chinese or any Asian restaurant, you're seen as racist and xenophobic. Staying away is understandable  since COVID-19 , the official name for the virus - is highly contagious. Families with young children along with the elderly and  autoimmune compromised are especially nervous and again, it's understandable. I hate to say avoid until the virus is eradicated but that may have to be the case. What about Asian markets? Again the answer may be stay away until everything is OK again. Keep in mind that also applies to grocery markets and other ethnic restaurants.Mall food courts are out too, since they're hangouts for all sorts of germs. Maybe the best bet is signing up for Peapod or any food delivery service.  Pick out what you need , by brand and quantity and have it delivered to you. Many swear by these and are satisfied with the quality of produce and meats they receive.

This brings up the question of take out. Can we order Chinese take out by phone or computer? Again, this sounds racist and xenophobic but if you can trust your restaurant, then the answer is yes. They know you and probably realize your fears. Maybe they'll wear plastic gloves when cooking. Face masks may help but they also hold in humidity which breeds germs. Yet all take out should be suspect as well. Can we trust our pizza delivery people or our Panera drivers just as much as we trust our Chinese take out deliverers? They too are human and just as susceptible to the coronavirus as any of us. One accidental sneeze or cough could contaminate our order of pizza sticks or tomato soup. Maybe the healthier choice is the unhealthy choice of frozen and processed foods. We can still get a variety of different ethnic choices.They may not be fresh made but they're just as easy to prepare as ordering  take out. If you do have the time, then you can create some of your take out favorites.

There is no easy answer to eating out right now. Be brave if you want to. Support local businesses. Just b e aware of what's going on in your neighborhoods and towns. Be aware. Be cautious.

Back With Caution

I'm  back and it comes with a caution. The blog was not on holiday.Thanks to a person's carelessness,I had a throat infection and cold, one of the very worst. Unfortunately, even though it's summer, we still need vitamins and all the produce we can eat.

Tomatoes are a must have if you're sick. One, they're loaded  with nutrients and two they're versatile. They're also light. A good tomato salad is easy to make. Just take a couple of vine ripes, slice and then cube. Put into a bowl with minced garlic, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and a good glug of extra virgin olive oil. Add fresh basil or oregano for more flavor and serve on slices of super crusty Italian bread. I like the fact that they can mix with eggs for a uovo e pomidori easy meal. For an easy meal with a lot of protein , stuff beef steaks or again vine ripes with a mix of tuna in water, and chopped celery. Nix the mayo. If you're sick, you're not going to want it anyway. Cauliflower and broccoli are also chock full of necessary Vitamin C. Try to get them riced. Stop & Shop has them mixed together. They are wonderful sub in's for traditional rice. Add some olive oil and lemon juice and you've got a great meal or side. Sliced carrots and peas can be tossed in for color and flavor.

Fresh fruit is important if you have a virulent summer cold. This is the time that you really crave ice, thanks to rough, sore throat and the nasty heat. What you can do cut up chunks of strawberries and peaches, add a bit of water (or even flavored water) and puree. This can be done by immersion blender or food processor. Pour the fruit into a slushie cup and  - voila - instant Italian ice. It's actually closest to the earliest versions of true Italian and Roman ice where real fruit purees were used. You can also pour the mixture into ice pop molds and have later as a dessert or snack. Another idea is layering fresh fruit in a creamless parfait. Stay away from any dairy when you have a summer cold. Ice cream and frozen yogurt unfortunately do produce phelgm. Try whipped frozen banana instead to sub in for any ice cream. Another sub in aquafaba meringue if you want to fool with making it.

A summer cold is pure hell. Eat right to keep it at bay. Use the produce of the season. It's your best medicine.


     o

Fat Filled Fall Drinks

The temps dip and the first thing we reach for is --- a pumpkin latte. We down it like it's ice water on a hot day.The same goes for the peppermint mocha's which ride in on the pumpkin spice's coat tails.To be honest, all we're drinking is fat. Think of these quaffs as liquid cake and you might not be so quick to glug them down.

The average pumpkin spice coffee is anywhere from 300 to 400 calories. It's not much if you treat yourself to it once a week but have three or four times a week and then watch the weight gain. A better choice would be just a regular no bells and whistles cappuccino that comes in at only 120 calories. It's just as flavorful, especially when there's a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg on the top.Another idea is a simple black coffee.It's actually better because you get to enjoy the rich flavor without the hindrance of chocolate or caramel syrup and whipped cream. Hot tea is another zero calorie choice. Starbucks subsidiary Teavana is also being offered in all their locations. Try a hot , fruity tea instead. If you're stressed a soothing cup of chamomile is a better beverage than a caffeine laden espresso shot. A real dilemma is hot cocoa. This is a comfort drink and fortifier after  a hard day at work on a busy Saturday and Sunday. It will be high in calories however they can be cut with the right choices. Skip the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. Hot chocolate has a froth of its' own.Also  asked for two per cent milk instead of whole and keep the size down to a kid's mini cup.

Just as seductive and loaded with calories are the frappuccinos and frozen hot chocolates. These are basically liquid cake. They are tasty and refreshing , especially after a warm fall Saturday morning spent on the soccer field.One with all the works is close to five hundred calories!!! That's  one hero sandwich with the works.It can also be two lean pieces of steak too. Even just limiting these sweet coffees to the weekends, can cost one thousand calories. Is the flavor worth it? If you want an icy pick me up settle for a cold brew. Again, Starbucks has theirs , and one in particular the Nitro Foam
Cascara which has only eighty calories and gives a satisfying kick. A plain cold brew is even better with only five calories a glass.As for iced tea, just have a plain  unsweetened one with a slice of lemon.Many tea and coffee shops can turn their hot brews into iced ones. Think about having an iced peppermint or jasmine for a refreshing break. Some coffee shops, such as Dunkin Donuts, still sell their frozen hot chocolate. Stay away from these lethal sips.Some can reach up to nine hundred calories!!!!. If you want cold chocolate, opt for Silk's Chocolate Cashew Milk boxes at ninety calories a box. These can be brought anywhere and are even a great drink at home.

Don't fall into the pumpkin spice latte trap. Pick a sensible hot or cold drink that has zero to very little calories. Remember , they/'re just as refreshing and comforting as their high calorie counterparts.

Bananas For Banana "Ice Cream"

After writing about the ice cream made solely from bananas, I couldn't resist and made it.  As always it takes me a long time to jump on the bandwagon, The recipe has been around for a few years, I had seen it on every show  from Dr. Oz to my local Fox Channel 5 AM show "Good Morning".

 I think my initial resistance was that it's a fad and that people will forget about it. I just wrote about it in Monday's entry.I just had to try it after seeing all the pictures. It looked too creamy and luscious.

And you know what? I was hooked. It's easy to make. Just take a very ripe banana, the kind with a lot of brown and black spots., Slice into coins and then freeze , preferably overnight in a freezer bag.

I then added them to my mini food processor. Some recipes call either for this or a blender. Stick with the food processor. The blades are sharper and can handle the frozen fruit better.

                                 
                     Now pulse. It'll look like either oatmeal or flaked coconut.

It then goes through a gooey stage. Hang in there. I guess this is the part where the pectin in the banana melts with the ice crystals . It gets better.

Much better. See how creamy and airy it is? It really does look like soft serve ice cream.

Now, many people  would just end it there,but I didn't.

I turned my batch into a sundae and before any of you think it's counterproductive, look closely. The syrup is Hershey's Lite syrup with only 20 calories a serving and Stop & Shop's Lite Whipped Whipped Cream at only 10 (!!!) calories a serving. It's like the lowest calorie banana split ever.

What you do with it is up to you? Many add cocoa powder for chocolate "ice cream". Some add almonds or peanut butter. You can even sprinkle chocolate chips, jimmies or mini M&Msover it or blend them in. . It can even be plopped in a cone or waffle bowl if you like. You also don't have to just use one banana. Make a bigger batch with two or three. The  "ice cream" lasts for one week, however I know from experience - it won't. Make your own batch and see why.

Scream For Healthy Ice Cream

With summer comes ice cream, and this summer will be no different. Yet too much of the creamy cold stuff is no good.Yet what to do? Switch to ices? Give up the good stuff and sub in fruit? The best option is look for ice creams that are not so sinful. Whether kitchen made or store bought, they 're still delicious.

The best way to have healthy ice cream is to make it yourself. It's easy to pick up an ice cream maker and get the right ingredients. The basic recipe is a custard however you can still make a rich one using unflavored gelatin and nonfat sweetened condensed milk.Another plus about making your own is adding healthy ingredients too.Liven it up with blueberries and strawberries, flavored honeys and dark chocolate shards. Just remember that homemade ice cream can get very hard after prolonged periods in the freezer. A twenty minute stay down below in the fridge part can remedy that. Many dieters swear by banana "ice cream". It's just first slicing a ripe banana into thin slices or coins, freezing them in an airtight container such as a freezer bag or freezer safe glass bowl. When ready ,pulse the slices in a food processor or blender.It takes a while for the fruit to transform into a creamy soft serve looking treat.it is worth it though. Many add cocoa powder to give it that chocolate dipped banana taste. Get daring with it too. Add spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. Top it with semi-sweet  chocolate chips or chopped almonds or serve it with fresh sliced strawberries or crushed blueberries.

What about if you don't have time even to whip up the banana ice cream? Supermarkets such as Stop & Shop and Acme have extensive ice cream aisles so the choice is wide and varied. Yet which ones are the best for your diet? Surprisingly Ben and Jerry's. It's actually their frozen yogurt but it's still cold, sweet and creamy at 100 calories for the strawberries and cream flavor. Ice cream lovers should try Edy's slow churned kind. I love their  small cups in different flavors.The chocolate chip mint (always a favorite ) is only 190 calories while the vanilla is only 160 calories. You can also buy the larger gallon containers in many more flavors like Mississippi Mud Pie, Maine Blueberries and Cream along with Vermont Maple Syrup and the mousse like French Silk. A lot of people have Breyers in their fridge during these hot , steamy months, and now they have both low fat and no sugar variations of their classic chocolate, vanilla and cookies and cream. The sugar free has a little more variety, with their flavors that include mint chip swirl,butter pecan and salted caramel swirl along with a take on Neopolitan and vanilla. What about the king of ice creams, Haagen Daz? Stick with their frozen yogurts that have 100 calories less than their ice creams. They have the same rich flavor without  all the richness and fat.

Don't deny yourself a bowl of ice cream during these hotter than an oven days. Make or buy a low calorie one that's full of flavor but half the calories. You'll enjoy the treat without the guilt.

Healthy Hot Weather Snacks

It's summer and that means days packed with fun and activity.It also means hungry kids.After all that swimming ,and paying ball ,they're going to be hungry.It's easy to just open up bag of chips and cookies.Yet you can go another easy route.Give them healthy veggie and fruit snacks.Th ey 're just as easy to serve during these sweltering days. Nothing beats a platter of crudités for any pool party or even summer back yard camp out.make a fun and colorful platter of grape and cherry tomatoes ,sliced bell peppers and broccoli florets.Add rinsed and scrubbed mushrooms and snap pea pods too for some variety.Instead of sour cream ,try plain Greek yogurt with some olive oil and lemon as a healthier dip.You can also turn these into fun kabobs to eat too ,whether they be cold or grilled.Hommade hummus is another easy snack to make, especially if you mix up the recipe with cannelloni or pinto beans.You can also bake the garbanzo beans with olive oil and Rosemary for crunchy snacks. Fruit is another tasty natural snack.Instead of popsicles ,try freezing bananas and grapes.Kids will love these ,especially after a hot day at camp or sultry evening playing ball.For a fun ,and posh treat try a healthier version of Eton Mess.This traditional English dessert has a bed of merengue with fruits and whipped cream piled up,Refashion it with a bed of plain Greek yogurt and a lighter non dairy topping such as Cool Whip.Grilled pineapple kabobs are another fun treat instead of s'mores . Alternative with mangoes for color and more flavor. The summer is here and with it increased appetites.Satisfy them with healthy snacks fresh from the garden.The kids will benefit from taste and nutrition.

Slush Fun

Almost everyone loves a good Slurpee or Slushee. Those mushy half frozen drinks are good on hot summer days. The only problem is that they can be too sweet or too much. The solution is making them at home which is now easy. Get a Slushy Magic and your favorite drink.

I admit I caved in for this one. I'm a huge fan of those Icee or Slushie drinks at Target . They're cool and fun along with being tasty. Unfortunately the snack bar doesn't always sell cola which I crave at times. I thought why not get something that can give you the same effect. I bought Slushy Magicand can have my frozen drink whenver I want to , It works under the premise of snowflake science. In other words , the special cubes (read little plastic bags full of salt water) transform any liquid into hundred of ice crystals. It;s easier than using a blender and ice cubes.Well it claims to be.

The kit comes with a large cup that looks like a cocktail shaker and a lid with a tiny hole in it (this is for Slushies made with soda and it lets out the gases)It also comes with a long spoon /straw as well. I froze the cubes overnight and tried it  with one of my carbonated Ice waters. These are flavored and no calorie.I thought it would make a perfect Slushie. The problem is that it takes finesse to create the perfect frozen drink. After putting in both the cubes and drink, you put the lid on the shaker and  well shake. Little did I know there would be a slight leak and my  Ice water got all over the place. After rescrewing the cap on and vigorously shaking I did get some slush - not much. I guess it takes practice.

There's nothing like a Slushie on these hot days. With Slushie Magic you can have any flavor you want. Just practice and get the perfect  cold treat .