healthy cinnamon apple yogurt parfaits, great for breakfast, snack, or dessert So it's September. And though some of us are still sweating in summer-weather, September puts me in the mood for all kinds of fall flavors. Beginning with apples. Growing up in Washington state, our family had a few apples trees, and every year my mom and grandma would spend a couple of days making all things apple: apple pies, apple sauce, and just slicing and freezing apples for year-long snacking. (So
Snacks and Smoothies
Family Favorite Energy Balls.
Energy balls are one staple snack food I have in my fridge almost all of the time. I shared a recipe for our favorite energy balls within another post a couple years ago, but as I am cleaning up my archives, I wanted to give the recipe it's very own post. It is worthy. ;) Energy balls are perfect for breakfast, a snack, on-the-go, or late night...Kids love them, and they are packed with great ingredients. They take a little time, but the end product is so worth it. The awesome thing about
Three favorite protein smoothies (without fruits or vegetables.)
You might have noticed, we drink a lot of smoothies around here. If you happen to follow my #healthyhappyandfree Instagram account, you probably have picked up on that. Smoothies really are an easy way to pack in nutrition. They're also great when you're on the go. (Or just too lazy to use a plate and a fork. hehe.) You've probably heard me mention that Green smoothies are my most common go-to. And it's true. But here's a little insider-info about me...(shh, I don't always confess this
(Easy) homemade ranch dressing. {Getting kids to eat their veggies}
Somehow we raised three (out of four) little boys who ate their vegetables willingly. I mean, they ate their vegetables gladly. Like: no battles. Sure, they avoided a few specific varieties: mushrooms and beets I believe, but from asparagus, to steamed broccoli, to spinach and kale salads, they were all in. In fact, raw onions were a favorite to those first three. Of course those first three were born during my husband's medical school and residency years, when Dave was especially aware of
4 Ingredient, 5 Minute (no bake) Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Our boys are currently going through a stage called eating everything all of the time. I'm not sure what's going on, but it's testing both my creative cooking abilities and our budget. So it may not surprise you that I'm a sight to behold at Costco. You can't miss me: I'm the one with groceries piled high and spilling over the edges of my wagon. (I know most of America calls them "shopping carts" but here in Hawaii they are "wagons.") I've never been gifted with
Tropical Mango Salsa.
Isn't this such a great time of year? The sun has been popping out all over the place, (I mean, besides just in Hawaii) and everyone seems to be a little extra happy. Plus, Mother's Day is just around the corner, and despite the fact that my five-year old accused me of making up the holiday ("Mother's Day isn't a real holiday MOM!") indeed it is a real holiday and it's an important one, and I'm not gonna let any smarty-pants five year old take that away from me. (amen?) Well, spring and
The Best Gluten Free Muffins: Banana, Berry, or Your Choice Add-ins
So, it seems that I'm surrounded by Gluten free folks these days. My poor bread-loving father was diagnosed with Celiac disease five years ago. My dear friend Jules, who I spend a lot of time with, is also gluten-free. And we've recently brought into our crazy family life a part-time helper ("family assistant" though her title is still up in the air) named Morgan who is also hashtag-gluten-free. (and yes, you'll hear more about Morgan here in the days to come, and yes, you'll adore her.)
Tropical Smoothie Bowls: Make your own Acai, and Super Green Bowls
So, let's start this one with YUM!.... If you're not hooked on tropical smoothies and smoothie bowls yet, then let's just get this party started, shall we? Smoothies and smoothie bowls have been popular in Hawaii for years, and if they haven't hit your neighborhood yet, then just give it some time and...they likely will. But no need to wait, you can start making your own smoothie bowls right at home! A smoothie bowl is basically all of the goodness of a fruit smoothie, with a little more
