Pina Colada Smoothie - Kid Friendly

There is nothing like laying on the beach with a pina colada in your hand. This however, is far from my reality. Next best thing I guess will be sipping on this pina colada smoothie while trying to block out sounds of screaming and arguing voices of my children. If I focus really really hard I can hear the waves crashing, or is that my temples throbbing?! All joking aside this smoothie is delicious and kid friendly. Feel free to make this an adult only version - just add a little rum!!

This picture came out funny when editing it. It is almost like in a dream or fantasy.

I had to keep it this way...I am on an island, on the beach, drink in hand...

 

 

 

 

Recipe:

 

1/2 cup yogurt (any kind - I used vanilla)

1 cup fresh pineapple

1/8 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (I buy it at Whole Foods)

1/4 cup coconut milk

5 or so ice cubes

 

Place all of the ingredients in the blender, blend until smooth and enjoy.

Garnish as desired. Add rum as needed or as the day calls for it.

 

 

 

 

Raspberry With Clementines

This is not by any means a recipe, but I had to share this.

 

I had raspberries that were due to be eaten or tossed and I hate throwing away food. On a whim I poured the raspberries and all of their juices over a clementine I had pealed and separated.

 

 

 

 

The combination of these two fruits together is absolutely delicious. It is perfectly sweet but tart.

This could absolutely be eaten for dessert.



Hide the Veggies - Meatloaf

I don't know about you, but it can be difficult to get vegetables into my children, at least a variety. My daughter Shelby loves red peppers, my son Liam hates them. Liam loves carrots, Shelby hates them. My youngest Ian doesn't eat any vegetables; at least so he thinks!!!

I can up with this recipe not to be sneaky, but to prove a point; you don't know you don't like something if you don't try it.


How to get this into your children's bellies...

 

 

 

Ingredients:

2lbs ground hamburger (can sub ground turkey)

1 small onion

2 medium carrots

1/2 red pepper

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup zucchini (water squeezed out)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1 egg

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1tablespoon Italian seasoning

salt & pepper to taste (I used 1tea salt & 1/2 tea pepper)

 

Now most meatloaf recipes have you combine all the ingredients together, place in a pan, cook and serve. Well, my children would not be impressed with eating vegetables they "don't like!"

Here is how I get around that...hide them!

 

Get out your box and micro-plane graters. Yes, it takes a little muscle but the end result is worth it. Make sure to be careful and watch out for your fingers!

I used the box grater for the carrots & zucchini on the smallest grater side. I used the microplane over a bowl for the red pepper, onion and garlic. I did this to catch all of the juices from the veggies. The juice holds too much flavor and nutrients to just throw away!

 

 

This is how it should look; no clumps. It almost looks  just like baby food.

 

 

 

 

Now mix everything else together and transfer to a loaf pan.

 

 

 

Place in oven at 350 degrees and cook for about 1 hour or until the internal temperature is 180 degrees F. I use a meat thermometer to insure proper temp.

 

 

Yum Yum!! This meatloaf is so flavorful and moist from all of the hidden vegetables.

I didn't tell my kids what was in it, even when they asked. I would respond and say it is just like a big burger cooked in a pan. I had to put cheese on Liam's to get him to eat it, but Shelby ate two servings! Yeah!!