Blended Strawberry Basil Ice

It's strawberry season in our neck of the woods! My husband and I had this drink first while strolling around our historic downtown area on a date night. We had purchased from a little shop... and paid almost seven dollars for it. 

I was hooked from the first cool, refreshing sip. The sweetness of the berries and brightness of the lemon exude springtime. The basil (which is in the mint family) is complimentary but somewhat unexpected, adding a certain refinement to what would otherwise be a simple strawberry lemonade...  But seven dollars?? Seven dollars buys 21 diapers. Seven dollars buys ingredients for an entire family dinner. Seven dollars also buys 60 miles of gas for park trips during this beautiful weather. Seven dollars? NOPE! Not happening.

However, at home I had baskets of farm fresh berries we had just picked from the local strawberry patch and one giant basil plant bush taking over my kitchen garden. So I thought: "I have the main ingredients. Surely I can experiment and make this for less than seven dollars!" Here is the result! It's very much like the original and a huge hit for after mowing our lawn. Or for just lounging on patio soaking up some sun (and making sure the twins don't gouge each other's eyes out with sandbox tools.) In fact, it's such a favorite with adults that we now serve this blended ice whenever we have guests over in the spring or summer!

2 Tbs fresh lemon juice

2 Tbs honey

8 basil leaves

8 frozen strawberries

8 ice cubes

1 - 1 1/2 c water

Superhero Fuel

Today E tried his hand at naming a smoothie! I asked him what he thought our almond butter and jelly smoothie tasted like. He leaned back his head and closed his eyes for another gulp. He thoughtfully licked his lips. He cocked his head slowly to the side and said: "A superhero". And that's how Superhero Fuel got its moniker!

This is our classic nut-butter and jelly smoothie with a few modifications to boost the protein up to about 9 grams per serving. Little boys superheroes are constantly busy running around the yard when duty calls - today they "rescued" an earthworm in distress - and so the extra protein boost does their growing muscles good!

Unfortunately, this smoothie requires a little prep-ahead, but it's not too bad. Prep can be done the night before or, at a minimum, 1 hour before serving.

Superhero Fuel

1/4 cup old fashioned oats

2 Tbs buckwheat seeds

1 Tbs chia seeds

1 1/2 cups almond or walnut milk

1 frozen banana

2 Tbs almond butter

1 Tbs almond flour

1 cup frozen berries (or cherries work well too!)

1. At least one hour before serving, Pour oats, buckwheat, chia seeds, and milk into the blender and place in the fridge. Break the banana into chunks and put it in the freezer.

2. Add frozen (or cold) banana to the blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Blend on high about 3 minutes or until smooth.

The "Naughty Monkey" Smoothie

Around our house, smoothies are part of the daily routine. Around 3 o'clock every afternoon, the kids come wandering into the kitchen passionately declaring how hungry they are and looking to see what's going into the blender this time.

Seriously, my kids eat like hobbits. So after serving breakfast, baby breakfast, mid-morning snack, brunch, lunch for the baby, lunch part II, and  with dinner looming just around the corner, I've had it up to my ears with making people plates and wiping the table after them. Enter the:

Here-Kid-Drink-This-Concotion-In-A-Cup-And-It-Better-Fill-You-Up-Smoothie

But seriously, the smoothie is the perfect vehicle for cramming extra nutrients and calories into perpetually "starving" toddlers with little to no mess and in little to no time. They're even portable for those ambitious days I try to accomplish All-The-Errands in the meager two hours between baby's nap and dinner.

Normally, I give our smoothies cool names like "Green Monster Truck" or "Carrot Crusher" to try to get our three-year-olds to drink them with gusto. But it didn't dawn on me until today that I should try letting them name the drinks. I guess sometimes I get a little caught up in "running the house" and slip into "running the show" instead. It's my loss. It turns out, toddlers are pretty awesome at naming things.

Today I was dreaming of chocolate covered cherries while dumping frozen fruit and cocoa in the blender and admiring the pretty fuchsia color it was making. Of course the minions came running as soon as they heard the tell-tale "whir" start up. "What you makin', Mommy. I'm darrrrrving." E even fell on the floor in mock weakness to emphasize the point. "Well, I've got bananas, cherries, chocolate..." (Eruption of little boy giggles.) "I want to call dat a Naughty Monkey!"O announced.

And so the Naught Monkey (Cherry Garcia) Smoothie was born! And, my, is it good! O kind of has a point with the "naughty" part because there are no veggies in this sweet treat. But (and that's a big but), it IS worlds healthier than the doughnuts I actually was craving this afternoon. Here are the ingredients! Simply blend until smooth. Maybe one day I will update this with a little beet juice or a purple carrot to nutrient-it-up a little. Maybe. Probably not :)

Naughty Monkey Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 1/2 cups frozen cherries

1 cup almond milk

3 Tbs vanilla protein powder*

1 1/2 Tbs cocoa powder

1 Tbs plain almond butter

*Our protein powder is sweetened a little with stevia so -if omitting- you may want to add a dash of your own sweetener to get the full dessert-like effect.

Night Owl Chocolate Chia Pudding

This is my simple take on a healthy chocolate pudding. I have had some amazing, chocolatey vegan puddings since I started our family's health journey. Angela Liddon and Dreena Burton share decadent versions (with avocado, nut butter, and other rich and creamy ingredients) on their blogs that I highly recommend trying your hand at. They are to die for.

Unfortunately for me, it's not until the littles are squared away in their beds, the lights are dimmed down, and the kitchen has been cleaned that I start jonesing for dessert. Oh cruel fate! Why is it that the best chocolate puddings require a food processor or a blender? Have you ever run a blender at 11pm? Spoiler Alert: blenders wake children.

Oh purest chocolate craving, why art thou so untrue? Do not make me choose 'tween your fair comfort and the sorrow of rising my children from sweetest slumber.

So here is my less-creamy, but SILENT night owl chocolate pudding solution! Bonus: it can be made in 1 bowl in under 10 minutes. Perfect for occasional habitual the late night snacker. The flavor is reminiscent of chocolate frosting to me -which I could unapologetically eat out of the can with a spoon if tempted. (Note: I did try asking my husband - our resident food critic - his opinion on this dessert, but his pudding was gone before he could mumble: "Hmmm?" in response.)

1 banana, cut in half

1 cup coconut milk*

3 Tbs chia seeds

1 Tbs vanilla protein powder (optional)**

4 tsp cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp maple syrup

pinch of salt

pinch of cinnamon 

raspberries and/or toasted coconut for topping

In the bottom of a bowl, mash half a ripe banana. This will add thickness and sweetness to the pudding. Add the rest of the ingredients (except fruit and coconut) and stir well. The pudding will set in about 5-10 minutes. Slice the rest of the banana, rinse raspberries, and toast coconut very briefly while waiting. (A cookie sheet and oven broiler set to low will work well - but watch carefully! Coconut flakes go from toasted to burnt in lightening speed!) Once the pudding sets, top or layer it with fruit and coconut.

Enjoy! On your own. In the quiet. Without children.

(Although my kids would totally eat this).

NOTES: 

*I use canned coconut milk for the added creaminess. Because canned coconut milk tends to separate on the shelf, if I don't shake the can too much while opening the lid I can usually pour the needed cup off the top where it is creamiest for a thicker, richer consistency. 

**We use a vegan vanilla protein powder at our house that is sweetened with stevia, so this ingredient adds a dessert quality to the pudding. If you skip the protein powder, add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and an additional 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup.