Greek Yogurt Parfaits

These greek yogurt parfaits are a big hit in my home! My kids, who aren't normally yogurt eaters, can't seem to get enough! With the addition of fresh fruit with strawberry and blueberry preserves, how could they NOT love them? What's great about these, is that kids have a whole lot of fun making their own parfaits. I like to lay out some chopped fruit for them, along with the yogurt, preserves, and granola, and let them assemble it on their own. They have a blast doing it and it makes them feel like little chefs! :)


Ingredients:

plain greek yogurt(I like the Fage Brand)
granola(I like the Organic Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola by Nature's Path)
1 10 ounce jar of strawberry preserves
1 10 ounce jar of blueberry preserves
an assortment of chopped fruit
1 lemon

Take some strawberry preserves(I like to start with half of a jar), and place it in a small mixing bowl. Add a squeeze of lemon juice. Mix well and repeat with your blueberry preserves. Set aside.

Assemble your parfaits. Start with a dollop of yogurt, some strawberry preserves, some chopped fruit, then finish with some granola. Repeat steps(except this time use some blueberry preserves). Serve immediately.

Watermelon and Pomegranate Slushy Drink

Summer and sunshine calls for summer recipes!! I have so many ideas churning in my head that it's kind of overwhelming me! I mean, I can barely hear the voices in my head, anymore!

I had a ton of leftover watermelon the other day, and as I sat there drinking some pomegranate juice, I had the idea of putting the two together, to make a drink. And since watermelon is made up of mainly water, I thought about making watermelon ice cubes to make a delicious and refreshing drink! The addition of fresh mint make this drink not only refreshing, but beautiful as well!

Yum to pomegranate, right?!? This super fruit is packed with antioxidants and in some studies, have been proven to protect against diabetes and heart disease!

For the watermelon ice cubes:

4 cups of chopped watermelon

2 Tbsp of sugar

To make the drink:

7 watermelon ice cubes

1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of pomegranate juice

1 scoop of Pure Stevia Extract(http://www.amazon.com/Kal-Pure-Stevia-Extract-Powder/dp/B000VRSR84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370539596&sr=8-1&keywords=pure+stevia+extract

2 sprigs of fresh mint

A splash of lemon juice

Make your watermelon ice cubes and place them in an ice tray. Put them in the freezer and allow them to set overnight. The following day, place 7 watermelon ice cubes, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and Stevia powder(if using), into your blender and pulse until smooth. Add more pomegranate juice as needed, to get your motor running. Stop the motor and give it a little stir. Then proceed to add in your mint leaves and give it a few pulses. Don't overdo this, because you want to be able to see specks of green mint throughout your slushy. Repeat steps for another 8 ounce drink!

Note: This drink will begin to separate the longer it sits, so make sure to pour it into a glass and serve immediately! 

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Summer is quickly approaching, which means more BBQ's, right?? I had the sudden craving for some spare ribs which also prompted me to come up with my own BBQ sauce. I AM SO HAPPY, I DID! I will never again, go back to store bought! My version is kid friendly so I don't put any spicy seasoning in it, at all, but if you like spicy(like I do), then I would highly recommend throwing in some chili powder/flakes, cayenne, Sriracha sauce, or even some chopped jalapenos into the mix! You are probably going to read through my list of ingredients and say to yourself, "HEY LADY, WHERE IS THE WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE???" Sorry, folks but my recipe doesn't have it(nor need it)...plus, I think that my blend of hoisen sauce along with the concentrated tamarind pulp, give my BBQ sauce the perfect amount of tang and kick!