Yogurt Parfait – my daughter’s favorite healthy snack or breakfast

A Seinfeld episode is what made me realize that we often give names to foods that make them sound better than they are (even if they are delicious). The example? (I’m paraphrasing). George says, “Crudités….they are just you know, like cut vegetables, right?!….”

 

 

Peaches are in season, but you can use berries.

Peaches are in season, but you can use berries.

Yogurt Parfait by any other name is layered yogurt and fruit. Oh well, maybe add some granola and honey. Doesn’t sound quite as enticing, does it? But I have to tell ya, when I pack the ingredients separately in a way that my daughter (and her friends if it’s after school) can layer together to make their own snack, and if I’m lucky, I happen to have some clean see-through glass options so there’s actually some sort of “presentation” going on….and I say, Hey, LOOK! It’s a Yogurt Parfait….it’s a winner!

 

 

  • Plain yogurt
  • Cut fruit (frozen or fresh Peaches or any type of berry, like fresh Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, MythicalBerries…..etc….)
  • Granola , or (simple oven toasted sugared oatmeal)
  • Honey 

 

 

Such an easy recipe, your kids can make it on their own after school.

Such an easy recipe, your kids can make it on their own after school.

Did you ever make sand castles as a kid? Or layer sand in a bottle or bucket? No different really. Just layer ingredients above in this order. So easy! Either make ahead of time for guests in crystal glasses with fancier ingredients (like crème fraîche) or, let your kids make their own in what appear to be crystal like wine glasses from either the Dollar Tree or 99 cents store (one dollar a piece, such a deal) or in a clear recyclable plastic cup that wants to grow up to be a bike some day and ridden on the strand.  

 

 

My Favorite Healthy Summer Snack – Jimmy Buffet & Shark Week

What is better when you’re in the hot sun either poolside or at the beach than frozen, seedless grapes?

 

Frozen Grapes are so delicious poolside or at the beach.

Frozen Grapes – easy, healthy snack option.

I love biting into the cold, sweet and somewhat crispy grape and I love the flavor. So much better than a popsicle! And needless to say, much healthier too.

 

Frozen grapes also make great “ice cubes” for Sangria when you’re on the go for Summer Concert in the Park series like the one we just went to at the Hermosa Beach Pier.

 

 

Jimmy Buffet #rocking away at the #Hermosa #Beach Pier on an August, #Summer evening. #California #Margaritaville

The concert was smartly sponsored by Shark Week – Jimmy Buffet played for free! So many younger kids knew all the words and sang along swimmingly (pun intended). Must have learned the words from their parents.

 

 Posh Spice also eats frozen grapes to stay thin. (But she also said in a different interview that she hadn’t had a brownie in like 20 years or something though. Poor Posh!)

 

 

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Roasted “Popcorn” Cauliflower

Our family is cutting down on ‘bad carbs’ so lately, I make South Beach Diet friendly recipes. This recipe is not only easy but amazingly delicious. It’s a great snack to have ready in the fridge to eat instead of chips. 

 

Roasted Popcorn Cauliflower

Roasted Popcorn Cauliflower

  • 1 Cauliflower
  • 3-4 Tablespoons Regular Olive Oil 
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Grated Parmesan, or if you’re a Vegan, Ground Cumin or Garam Masala spice.

 

Rinse and then cut Cauliflower into small pieces. 

 

Place on a large cookie sheet.

 

Drizzle oil over the cauliflower and mix it well with both hands.Add salt and pepper and mix it up again.

 

Roast in a 400 degree fahrenheit oven until nicely browned. It helps to mix it after about 10 minutes so all sides brown evenly.

 

While hot toss in the spice or cheese. Serve hot or cold.

easy, simple, recipe, low carb, south beach, phase 1, diet, vegetable, vegetarian, gluten free

Raspberries and Chocolate

One of my High School and Facebook friends posted this. I love recipes that can be explained with just a photo and with 140 characters or less on my Twitter account. Any kid could make these. 

These Raspberries filled with Mini Chocolate Chps are so easy to make and perfect for summer parties.

Raspberries filled with Mini Chocolate Chps are a perfect dessert for a summer party.

 

  • Raspberries
  • Mini Chocolate Chips 

 

Put the chips in the center of each Raspberry. Done!

easy, recipe, raspberries, chocolate, dessert, simple, party, summer, recipe