Healthy Snack - Apples with Peanut Butter

This has been one of my favorite snacks since I was in 2nd grade!  That's a long time!

Evidently, my second grade teacher had suggested this as a healthy afternoon snack.  My mother remembers that I came home one day wanting to try it!  I loved it, and probably wanted it all of the time.

It is a snack that I have shared with all of my boys, and I think my youngest enjoys it the most.  (Actually, my oldest loves it too, but hasn't been able to eat it this way while having braces the past two years!)

Super easy...all you need is an apple and a scoop (or 2) of peanut butter.

Cut the apple in half, cut out the seeds and the stems. 
Place a scoop of peanut butter in each half.

Enjoy!

***If you (or your child) has braces, cut the apple in slices, place a scoop of peanut butter in a dish, and dip the apples in it. 
***If you have peanut allergies, I am sure this would be delicious with other "butter" varieties (sunflower, almond, etc.)




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This post is linked to:
Delicious Dishes
Tasty Tuesday Pin It

Chex Muddy Buddies....easy Christmas treat or gift!

This is such a yummy and fun snack to make!  Whether you call it Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies....yum!!

This was part of our homeschool day today....you know, a little reading, a little math....

Here is the recipe from the Chex website

This is a great and easy gift to give also.  Just put portions in cute little cellophane bags, tie with a ribbon, put on a gift tag and there you have a great gift for a neighbor, a teacher, anyone!

Get $1 off 2 boxes of any Chex cereals
(Coupon on 2nd or 3rd page)

Enjoy!!!

Linked to:  Tempt my Tummy Tuesdays Pin It

Peanut Butter Honey Yogurt Dip

Mmmmmmm!!!!  My youngest was having some apple slices for lunch.  I mixed up a little creation, and it is really delicious!  Very easy too!  :)

Peanut Butter Honey Yogurt Dip

*1 spoonful of creamy peanut butter
*2 spoonfuls of plain yogurt (vanilla yogurt would be really good too)
*honey, to taste

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Enjoy with sliced apples.

This post is linked to:
$5 Dollar Dinners
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Mouthwatering Mondays
Delicious Dishes Pin It

Garden Overflowing???? Make Salsa!!!

Is your garden overflowing with tomatoes??

Here is an easy, and tasty Freezer Salsa recipe that I found a year or so ago.  It is a GREAT way to take your garden (over)abundance and put it to good use.  I like it too, because you can easily double, triple, or quadruple it to make a HUGE amount and freeze it.  I never knew you could freeze salsa....you can!  :)

Freezer Salsa (original recipe here)
*4 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and cubed (or 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, if you don't have fresh someday)
*1 medium onion, diced fine (or dried minced onion, reconstituted)
*3T. fresh lime juice (or 1 fresh lime, juiced)
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*5 jalapenos or serrano peppers, minced & seeded (I use one large red pepper from the neighbor) :)
*2 - 3 oz. fresh cilantro, washed and chopped (or dried parsley)
*2 tsp. salt
*If using crushed tomatoes, add 1/3 c. water


Place cubed tomatoes in a large saucepan.  Crush the tomatoes.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer until desired consistency (at least 30 minutes).  Keep crushing tomatoes as they are simmering.  Divide into jars or containers.  Freeze salsa, or refrigerate for 24 hours to allow flavors to blend before serving.  (IF you can wait that long!  I eat it warm sometimes!  LOL!)

Makes 1 1/2 pt.

This post is linked to:

Tasty Tuesdays
Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays
$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Mouthwatering Mondays



Speaking of chips and salsa.... if you haven't signed up for the Chili's Email Club Program that I mentioned earlier this month, you might want to do so and treat yourself to some FREE Chips and Queso on your first visit.  Your reward just for signing up. 

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Frugal Fresh Pineapple Salsa

I am not sure when this recipe first appeared in Family Fun magazine, but I saved it to make someday.  Well, as I have been "De-frazzling my Fridays", one of the things I am doing is sorting through recipes.  Like I have mentioned in previous posts, I am a "recipe hoarder"!!  LOL!!

Rainbow Foods had fresh pineapple on sale this last week.  Even better, the deli had already cored and peeled a whole pineapple for the same price.  I could afford a little convenience!  It was now time to try this recipe!  :)

Fresh Pineapple Salsa

*2 cups fresh pineapple, cut in chunks
*2 T. fresh lime juice (I had to substitute lemon juice because I forgot to buy the lime)
*1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
*1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded & chopped (I used 1/4 of a green pepper)
*1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or less for more mild taste...I used 1/4 tsp.  that was plenty for me)
*salt

Place all ingredients, but the salt, in a blender or food processor and pulse until the ingredients are mixed but still chunky.  Transfer the salsa to a bowl and salt to taste.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Makes 2 cups.

My husband and I thought this was very tasty.  My boys have to get over the fact that salsa does not have to be red with tomatoes!  One of them actually got brave and tried it, and actually said, "this is pretty good!" 

This post is linked to:
$5 Dollar Dinner Challenge
Tempt my Tummy Tuesday
Tasty Tuesdays at Balancing Bedlam and Beauty
Mouthwatering Mondays at A Southern Fairytale Pin It

Frugal Homemade Grape Pops

Have you ever tried a frozen grape?  It is amazing how the texture resembles a popsicle when you bite into it.  An easy frozen treat for summer in our house, is to simply freeze some grapes.  When you are feeling hot, and a little hungry, you can go grab a few frozen grapes out of the freezer!

They are very easy to make, and your children will have fun helping out.  You can either put grapes in the freezer alone, or make them into "grape pops" by using toothpicks.

PLEASE USE CAUTION IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN.  I wouldn't want anyone choking on them!!!!  If you don't feed them grapes....please don't feed them frozen grapes.  They could always be sliced in half the long way before freezing too.


This post is linked to:
Tempt my Tummy Tuesday
Mouthwatering Mondays at A Southern Fairytale
Tasty Tuesdays at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam Pin It

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

These have become a favorite in our house.  I found the recipe on the Designer Whey protein website.  They are a great alternative to store bought granola bars.  They are also healthier for you and your family.

Here is a link to the recipe, Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
This is what I did:
2 cups rolled oats (I have made them with quick cooking also, and that worked out fine)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat would probably be great!)
1/2 cup French Vanilla Designer Whey protein powder
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1.2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 13 pan.  Mix dry ingredients.  Make a well in center and add liquids.  Mix well, use your hands if needed.  Pat the mixture evenly into pan.  This can be sticky!!!  :)  Bake for 30 minutes (watch this...I baked for 25 min. and that was good).  Cool for 5 minutes and cut into bars while still warm, or they will be too hard to cut, if you wait too long.



Last time I made them, I didn't have raisins, so I added chocolate chips.  HUGE hit with my family!  :)  I would also recommend checking them at 25 minutes, as this was enough baking time for mine.

Designer Whey can be expensive.  They often have coupons available however, check here.
This post is linked to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam Pin It