Healthy Banana Strawberry Smoothie

This healthy banana strawberry smoothie is just one of the many you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or a snack during the day.

This is a great way to start your day if you want an easy and quick breakfast. And, if you happen to be in a hurry just pour it into a travel mug and take it with you.

If you're looking for an easy way to improve your health and nutrition without giving up all the flavorers you enjoy. Consider trying some easy fruit and vegetable smoothies.

You can achieve more energy, better sleep, and even weight loss by making juices and smoothies a part of your everyday life.




What is the difference between juicing and smoothies?

Let's start with Juicing: Juicing extracts the juice or liquid from the fruits and vegetables, thus leaving the peels and pulp behind. There are many types of juicers or extractors on the market today. Full disclosure here, I don't own a juicer or extractor so I can't tell you how delicious the juices are.

If you're looking for a juicer extractor here are some popular choices.

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Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice ExtractorAicok Juicer Juice Extractor High Speed for Fruit and VegetablesHamilton Beach Juice Extractor, Big Mouth, Metallic (67608A)

 Smoothies: You can easily make delicious smoothies using a high-speed blender. So, when you make a smoothie you're drinking all of the pulp and fiber contained in the fruit or vegetable.

 Juicing and smoothies are both healthy and good for you. But. if you want more fiber in your diet then smoothies are certainly the better choice.

For healthy and delicious smoothies here are some high-speed blender choices.

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Professional Blender MengK 1400W High Speed Electric Total Nutrition FoodNutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System, GrayNinja Chef 1500-Watt High Speed Blender, Black CT805

Now, I'm not a health expert or a nutritionist by any means. This information is easily found with a little research.

We own and use the Nutri Bullet High-Speed Blender to make so many different types of delicious and healthy Smoothies. Smoothies are always made with a base. It might be water, milk, or yogurt.

Healthy Banana Strawberry Smoothie

This is one that I made for Tyler a couple of weeks ago as he was home sick from school and spending the day with me.

Jamie asked to make sure that he was drinking plenty of liquids. So I asked him if he wanted a fruit smoothie.

I cut up one banana, and five strawberries, and as a bonus, I added about 10 blueberries.

For the base, I used Almond Milk. After adding the fruit I poured the almond milk to the max line on the cup.

Then I added the blending attachment set it into the Nutri Bullet and turned it on for about 15 seconds or more.

Tyler drank to the whole smoothie and then ate some more strawberries just for good measure.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Take your breakfast on the go with a travel mug

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Crescent Roll Pizza Bites

Last week, Jamie brought the boys down to the village to have their pictures taken for the Holidays. The studio just happens to be right around the corner from our house.

So, while Jamie stayed at the studio to pick out the best pictures, the boys took a walk to our house. Being the grandparent that I am, I, of course, want to feed the kids.

I like homemade as much as possible, but sometimes you just have to be creative. We had some Pillsbury Crescent Rolls in the refrigerator. I asked the boys if they wanted me to make some crescent roll pizza bites.

We had everything we needed: crescent rolls, a small jar of pizza sauce, black olives, pepperoni, and some mozzarella.

I rolled out the crescent rolls on the counter while Bobby sliced the black olives.

Tyler broke up the mozzarella into smaller pieces since it was in slices.

Then, we added a tablespoon of pizza sauce on each crescent roll.

There were eight altogether, so we made four with olives and cheese, and the other four with pepperoni and cheese.

Then we rolled them up and tucked them in the corners. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

These crescent roll pizza appetizers make a perfect quick treat if you have some guests stopping in for lunch or a quick snack. The kids enjoyed them down to every last one.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy

Martha Stewart's Appetizers: 200 Recipes for Dips, Spreads, Snacks, Small Plates, and Other Delicious Hors d'Oeuvres, Plus 30 Cocktails: A CookbookBuy Now

 

Caramel Apple Pizza Recipe

I just love trying new recipes and, I love pizza so, so I thought, why not try a fruit pizza. I know that fruit pizza is nothing new but, this is the first time I've ever made it.

I had a couple of fresh Granny Smithe apples in the refrigerator so I decided to make this caramel apple pizza. And, what a wonderful sweet treat it is. This is perfect hot out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oh! doesn't that sound good?

First I made my standard pizza dough. While the dough was rising I peeled and cubed two Ganny Smith apples.

 The recipe and measurements are all below. I melted the butter in a medium saucepan. 

Then add the apples and all other ingredients into the pan.

Stir together until it comes to a slight boil then you can remove it from the heat. 

Next, I greased an 11-inch x 17-inch pizza pan. 

Spread the dough and brush it with 1 tablespoon of melted butter before pouring the apple mixture.


I baked this at 450 degrees on the center rack of the oven for 15 minutes. I melted Kraft Caramel Bits and drizzled it over the top. Then mixed my white icing made with powdered sugar and milk and drizzled it over the caramel.

Here is what I used for the dough:

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tablespoons Crisco or vegetable oil
1-1/4 cup lukewarm water
1 package dry yeast

Add the warm water into a mixing bowl then add the yeast. When the mixture begins to bubble add the oil.

Now, add the flour and begin mixing until you have a nice firm ball of dough. I always use my KitchenAid Stand mixer for this part. Cover and set the dough aside to let it rise. About one hour until it doubles in size.

For the Apple Topping:

2 Granny Smith Apples (peeled and cubed)
4 tablespoons butter melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon All Spice
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, add the apples and the remaining ingredients. Stir over medium heat until it boils then remove it from the heat.

The Caramel:

1/4 cup Kraft Caramel Bits
1 tablespoon Milk

In a microwave-safe bowl melt for 30 seconds at a time. Stirring in between, I did this three times for a total of 90 seconds. This gave me a nice smooth caramel to drizzle.

The White Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk

I whisked this in a small bowl until it was nice and creamy. Then drizzle it over the caramel.

Vietnamese Cinnamon Ground By Penzeys Spices 1.7 oz 1/2 cup

This Penzeys Vietnamese Cinnamon is the best we've ever used. It is extremely aromatic and so flavorful and sweet. You only need to use about 2/3 of what any recipe calls for.

Mix this with some white sugar and enjoy it on your toast, hot cereal, or waffles. For amazing pancakes add some of this to the batter. This also is a perfect addition to your coffee or hot chocolate.

Kraft, Caramel Bits, 11oz Bag (Pack of 3)


Here is another favorite we like to use when baking. These Kraft Caramel Bits really come in handy during the Holidays.

 No need to unwrap your caramels anymore these are perfect for baking and ready to use right out of the bag.

Norpro Wood Pastry/Pizza Roller

And, let's remember one of my favorites. The Norpro Pastry and Dough Roller. This little kitchen gadget works wonders with pastry and pizza dough.

I've had this little tool for years and, it makes rolling out the dough so easy. Especially pizza dough. The small end is contoured which really helps get to dough right to the edge of the pan.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Well, It's that time of year again and the fall season is once again here. This means that I get to make and enjoy one of my favorites once a year snacks, oven roasted pumpkin seeds.

Jamie and boys came over last night for our annual pumpkin carving night of fun. We carved up four pumpkins and reaped a whole lot of pumpkin seeds.

Do you know? There is plenty of nutrition in roasted pumpkin seeds? They are high in fiber, contain heart-healthy magnesium, rich in Zinc to support your immune system, helps improve blood sugar levels, increase your HDL good cholesterol, and so much more.

Every year I take the extra time to save and roast our pumpkin seeds. These make such a wonderful snack and can be flavored so many different ways. I like my pumpkin seeds lightly coated with olive oil and sea salt.

Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Here is how I make them

1. First, rinse and clean off the excess pulp from the seeds. I use a colander and cold water.
2. Spread them out on cookie sheets and let them dry overnight. (Don't load too many on one cookie sheet).
3. The next day transfer the seeds to a mixing bowl, and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and mix with a spoon.
4. Spread the seeds out on a cookie sheet again and season them with sea salt to your taste.
5. Bake on the center rack at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until they are golden brown.

Let the pumpkin seeds cool for about 10 minutes and then enjoy a healthy snack. Oh! I just love this time of year.

As always thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy.

Two Simple Ingredients for Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 68 Fl Oz - First Cold Pressed Olive Oil for Cooking - Smooth Taste for Sauteing, Stir-Frying, and BakingMcCormick Sea Salt Grinder, 2.12 ozNutriChef 3-Piece Nonstick Kitchen Oven Baking Pans - Premium & Stylish Non-Stick Steel, Commercial Grade Restaurant Quality Metal Bakeware with Red Silicone Handles - Easy to Clean, NCSBS3S

 

Healthy Easy Breakfast Muffins

This easy breakfast muffin recipe is just a great idea for a quick, on-the-go breakfast.  They're also perfect to serve if you're having friends over for a little brunch.

Recently, our granddaughter had a birthday, and Sammy wanted to have a little brunch for the kids and adults. The party was a princess theme, and he also served little finger sandwiches using a crown cookie cutter set.

The cookie-cutter set consisted of a castle, a crown, and a slipper. The kids really had fun with the little sandwiches. I'm sorry that I didn't get a picture of those.

Fran and Sammy made these easy breakfast muffins the night before. So, all we had to do the next day was warm them up and serve.

Here is what we used to make these breakfast muffins:

Pillsbury pie crust
Hormel bacon crumble
Cheddar cheese
Frozen Spinach (Thawed, drained, and chopped)
Egg Beaters (With a little milk added)

Take your muffin tin and spray it with non-stick spray.

Lay the pie crust and cut with a 2-1/2-inch cookie cutter. You want just enough to fit in the bottom of the muffin tin.

They yielded 12 cutouts out of one 9-inch pie crust. Then picked up and rolled out what was left, yielding 6 more.

This may vary based on how close you cut them I would say you should at least get 15.

Now you're ready to fill them up. This is one tin made with bacon crumbles and cheddar cheese.

Just drop in some bacon crumbles, then add some cheddar cheese, and top off with the egg beaters.

You can use real eggs if you like, just beat them with some milk, and you're ready to go.

The first photo is spinach and cheddar cheese. The options here are endless. You can use whatever veggie you like in these muffins.

I would love mushrooms and cheddar cheese. Or, how about green peppers and cheese?


Oh, I almost forgot. Bake these at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, then let them cool for about 10 minutes before removing them from the muffin tin. You can make these and freeze them, and just pop them in the microwave for a quick breakfast on the go.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy it. 

Wilton Gold Non-Stick Bakeware Muffin Pan - Baking Pan for Muffins & Cupcakes - Made Without PFAS, Dent Resistant & Dishwasher Friendly - Offers Even Heat Distribution - 10.5 x 15 x 2 Inches, 12 CupBaker's Joy Original No-Stick Baking Spray with Flour, 5 Ounce Can

 

Fun Halloween Treat Ideas

Here are a couple of easy Halloween treat ideas that the kids and even the adults will love. These Reese cup bats and chocolate mini donut spiders are not only fun but also so easy to make.

  Every Halloween, our grandsons go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. So, we always try to have some fun treats. There is no recipe or cooking involved; you just need the treats and some time to assemble them.

Fun, easy Halloween Treats: Here is what you need:

Reese Cups (Full size)
Oreo Cookies
Pretzels (Large Thin)
Chocolate mini donuts
Edible candy eyes
Edible dab-n-hold adhesive

Let us make the spiders first:

With a sharp knife, cut the large loops of the pretzels where they meet the middle. This is not a perfect process, so you're going to waste some of them.

Now, press four pretzel loops on each side into the mini donuts. Ten glue on the candy eyes using Wilton Dab-N-Hold Edible Adhesive. And that is it, you've made a mini donut spider.

Now for the Reese Cup Bats:

First, separate the Oreo cookies, scrape the icing off one side, or you can eat that one and keep on going.

Again, use a sharp knife to cut the Oreos in half. These will be your bat wings. This is also not perfect; you're going to waste some, which is great because you get to eat them.

Use the edible adhesive to attach the Oreo halves to the Reese Cups, and do the same for the eyes. Oh!! How easy these are to make and how much fun they are. I'm sure they will disappear quickly.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy.

REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, 1 Pound (Halloween Candy)Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Family Size, 19.1 OunceHostess Donettes Frosted Mini Donuts, Chocolate, 1 Count (Pack ofWilton Mini Candy EyeballsWilton Dab-N-Hold Edible Adhesive, 2 fl. oz.Halloween Cookie Cutters - 5 Piece Boxed Set - Pumpkin,

Moist Easy Zucchini Bread

With a few simple ingredients and not much time, you can enjoy this moist, easy zucchini bread. Yes, it's that time of year again, the fall, when we enjoy the fresh harvest from our gardens.

My friend George gave me some beautiful, fresh zucchini from his garden. So, I did some digging and found my mother's easy zucchini bread recipe.

The thing about zucchini bread is that it's really versatile; you can add all the things you enjoy. For example, chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, raisins, or just about any fresh fruit that you like.

As always, I used my KitchenAid Stand Mixer for this recipe. I used my flat batter attachment to beat the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together.

I mixed the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in another bowl.

Then I added the dry ingredients to the mixer and mixed until the batter was nice and creamy.

Next, I added the grated zucchini and continued mixing until it was fully incorporated. This is the time to add any of the options I mentioned above.

I greased two 9-inch x 5-inch bread pans with Baker's Joy non-stick spray. I use this spray for all of my muffins, and they never stick.

I preheated the oven to 325 degrees and baked these for 50 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center came out clean.

Let them cool for 20 to 30 minutes, and they will pop right out of the pan.

If you would like the bread to be a little higher, then use 8-inch x 4-inch bread pans.

Ingredients for quick, easy zucchini bread:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2-1/4 cups white sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
Add any of the options that you like

As always, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy

KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, Onyx BlackKitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachment, KSMVSA Fresh Prep Slicer/ShredderWilton Platinum Non-Stick 9 x 5 in Loaf Pan, Cold-Rolled Steel Bakeware, Made without PFAS, Packaging May Vary