The summer time is the season of relaxation! It’s the time when most people go on vacation, when the kids are off school, and when the sun is out and the evenings are long. There’s more time to relax and do things for yourself, and there’s less pressure to get things done when it’s too hot and sweaty for any real work!
Kate’s healthy ice cream and fruit popsicles
Kate’s healthy ice cream and fruit popsicles
Summer is officially here…..!
Schools are winding down, holidays are beginning to be had, and life feels kinda back to normal post Covid. But, the question that I think many parents will face – I know I’m slightly concerned about this – is what on earth are we going to do to entertain our brood for the summer holidays?!
Well, we’re lucky enough to be going away for 2 weeks but we’ve a whole heap of time afterwards that will require planning activities, working things around work, yet still making sure the kids don’t spend days indoors sat on their Xbox. Sometimes that has to happen, I get it, believe me, and mum/dad guilt will probably set in at some point, but let’s not worry about that too much. Our kids aren’t that bothered; mine are just ecstatic to not be in school! This perception of having to be perfect in every aspect of life lies in each and every parents mind, and it’s a little internal battle of what we’re ‘supposed’ to be doing; rather than what we want to be doing and what actually works for us. We need to give ourselves a break!
Of course, I will be encouraging my boys to look up from their iPads/phone for a while and join me in making delicious food together, eating and spending more time outside, seeing friends and family and to try not to kill each other!
Did you know that July is National Ice Cream month? So, there’s no better excuse to get the kids involved in making healthy ice cold treats! Also, there’s one for us grown ups – National Cheese and Wine day on July 25th – it would be rude not to celebrate our appreciation for two of the finer things in life, wouldn’t it?!
Here’s a couple of quick and easy recipes to make healthy ice cream and fruit popsicles which will hopefully keep your brood entertained, if only for a little while, and help keep their constantly hungry tummies full with healthy treats, a little bit longer.
Easy Peasy Banana & Strawberry/Banana, Peanut butter & Cacao Ice Cream
You will need:
- Baking trays
- Parchment paper
- Food processor/blender
Ingredients:
- 5 ripe bananas (must be ripe)
- Fruit of your choice 450g – I recommend strawberries/mango/mixed berries or cacao & peanut butter (1 tbsp of each)
*Optional – Caramel Sauce to accompany the banana, cacao and peanut butter version:
- 7 medjool dates – pitted and chopped
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
- Add all the above ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth
*Optional – Raspberry Sauce to accompany the fruit version:
- 200g fresh raspberries – heat slowly in a saucepan, stirring gently, until smooth
- 1 tbsp desiccated coconut – stir into the raspberries once cooled.
Method:
- Chop the bananas and fruit of your choice into 4cm pieces
- Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper and place all fruit on both trays in single layers
- Freeze for 4 hours or over night
- Once frozen, place all the banana and fruit/cacao and peanut butter, into a food processor until smooth. This make take a while – the texture will go from solid to bitty and eventually smooth. Add a little coconut milk, or milk of your choice, if you find the consistency too thick. You will need to regularly scrape the fruit from the sides
- Serve immediately and drizzle over either of the optional sauces above if necessary
- If you require a thicker consistency, freeze for a few hours then place in the fridge until you get the desired consistency.
Blueberry & Basil Popsicles – makes around 10
You will need:
- Food processor/blender
- Popsicle moulds & sticks
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of blueberries
- 2 cups of live yogurt/Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp roughly chopped basil
Method:
- Place all the ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth
- Evenly distribute the mixture between the popsicle moulds and insert the stick 3/4 of the way into the mould
- Place the moulds in the freezer and freeze overnight
- When ready to eat, run the end of the mould under hot water to loosen the popsicle slightly then pull slowly with the stick until free
Enjoy!
written BY KATE DEVINE
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