Recipe: Olympus Greek Yogurt Banana Toffee Fudge

The Creative Kitchen loves a scrumptious treat that is nutritious and simple to make! This recipe can be whipped up in a matter of minutes and can be stored in the fridge, so it is ready to go for an afternoon treat. Our favorite part is it is made with nutrient rich ingredients like bananas, walnuts and yogurt!

Ingredients

2 ripe bananas 
2 oz. walnuts (if desired)
1 lb. Olympus Vanilla Greek Yogurt 
5 oz. dark brown sugar
4 glass serving dishes (7 oz. each)

Instructions
1. Toast walnuts for 2 to 3 minutes under the broiler. Cool, then chop. 

2. Peel and slice bananas into thin rounds and place in a mixing bowl with yogurt.

3. Mix well and divide between serving dishes. Sprinkle sugar on top.

4. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for 3 hours. 
(The sugar will have turned into a fudge-like sauce.)

5. Sprinkle the nuts on top and serve.

A Mouthful from The Creative Kitchen

Aloha! Grilled Ham and Pineapple Pizza

Picture your family on a tropical island, the blue water of the Pacific sparkling in the sun and the palm trees swaying in the breeze...and then your ideal daydream is interrupted by your toddler playfully pouring sand into your drink... So, maybe the beach isn't such a picture perfect idea after all. 


Instead try bringing a little tropical inspiration to your family dinner table without the sand! We just love this spin on a Hawaiian pizza , the kids will loooove the sweetness of the pineapple and they may even get a giggle out of having fruit on their pizza! This tropical delight was prepared and reviewed by Matisse Reid, a food-saavy 11-year-old who knows what's cookin'! Matisse and her jury of tough critics (her friends and family) tell it like it is so you'll always know just how kid-friendly a recipe truly is.  

In the July issue of Cooking Light,  Matisse's grilled ham and pineapple pizza earned rave reviews among her peers.  In fact, it was such a huge hit that Megan, age 11, gave it 100 out of 10 --  "It was so good, she added an extra zero!"  Now, if that's not a seal of approval, I don't know what is!  

Check out A Kid in the Kitchen on Cooking Light for the full review and this tasty recipe!  Aloha! 

Time for Kids Big Book of What?

Time for Kids: The Big Book of What?

The Big Book of What: Book Review


Do your kids ever ask why jello is jiggly? Or what is an Adam's Apple after all? Do your kids often ask you questions that leave you stumped?


Well keep those noggins thinking, learning and growing with this razzle- dazzling, mind tingling caboodle of 801 facts, that kids of ALL AGES want to know!


From the Eyes of a Kid:
I never knew some foods were created by accident! 


From the Mind of a Parent: 
Both my child and I find the book fascinating! The book has a wide range of information and facts from food, to the human body, to the environment and weather, animals, and even inventions.


Icing on the Cake 


Good to Go?
This hard bound book is perfect for transporting, without the worry of bending or ripping! And although filled with 801 facts this book is narrow, small on size, and light weight enough to fit right into a backpack or the back seat pocket of the car. 

Recipe: Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes 

With Ginger-Lime Peanut Sauce

The Creative Kitchen loves Earth Balance Coconut Spread, as can be seen in our Parent Picked Kid Approved Review! We know that kids love butter, sweet potatoes and peanut butter so, what better way to combine these ingredients than in one yummy recipe?!

Ingredients

Potatoes

3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, halved
2 tsp. melted Earth Balance® Coconut Spread Filling
1 Tbs. Earth Balance® Coconut Spread
1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup fresh sliced shiitake mushrooms
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch kale or other leafy greens, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup water

Sauce
3/4 cup hot water
1/3 cup Earth Balance® Peanut Butter
2 Tbs. coconut aminos or tamari
2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice (1 to 2 limes)
1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
chopped peanuts for garnish
minced cilantro for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Rub potatoes with Earth Balance® Coconut Spread. Place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until a knife easily goes through the potatoes. Remove potatoes from oven and set aside. Leave the oven on.

To make the filling, melt Earth Balance® Coconut Spread in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned. Stir in mushrooms and garlic, cook 2 minutes longer.

Add kale and 1/2 cup water, cover and cook 4 to 6 minutes, until kale softens; uncover and set aside.

To make the sauce, whisk together hot water with peanut butter, coconut aminos or tamari, lime juice and ginger to taste. Add more water, as needed, to create a sauce. Set aside.

Scoop the flesh out of each potato, leaving about 1/4 inch around the inside of the potato. Stir sweet potato flesh into the vegetable mixture with about half of the peanut sauce. Spoon the vegetable mixture back into the potatoes, place potatoes on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes longer.

Serve drizzled with extra peanut sauce and topped with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Nutrition Info

PER SERVING: 200 CAL; 7G PROTEIN; 10G TOTAL FAT
(2G SAT FAT); 24G CARB; 0MG CHOL; 352MG SODIUM;
4G FIBER; 2G SUGARS

Earth Balance Organic Coconut Spread

Adding the natural sweetness and benefits of organic, extra virgin coconut oil into your diet just got a whole lot easier (and tastier). This satisfying, spreadable sensation smoothly goes where no other coconut oil product has gone before—everywhere you traditionally use butter. Cook with it. Bake with it. Just go nuts.

From the Mouth of a Kid:

Yum!  Tastes like butter and sweet like coconut!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

Lactose-free, gluten-free, non GMO, soy-free, made with extra virgin coconut oil and no transfat. 

Flavorful features

The Icing on the Cake:

Spreadable, melts like butter, great for baking and cooking.

Time to Eat?!

Anytime! 

Mix It Up!

For an additional flavor component to a traditional stir fry try substituting the oil for Organic Coconut Spread.  

Check back this afternoon for a great recipe idea using this product!

www.earthbalancenatural.com
facebook.com/earthbalancenatural

Taste Matters with Mitchell Davis

The Creative Kitchen loves giving advice on how to engage kids in the Kitchen!

This week's Taste Matters episode was all about the kids! Cricket taught Heritage Radio Network listeners some creative and fun ways to engage kids in the kitchen and get them eating more healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Find out how different age groups react to different educational approaches, and why tricking kids into eating good food is not the answer. Cooking should be fun, and Cricket is here to remind you of that! 

Listen to the Full Episode here.

"You learn more when you're having fun. You use all your senses while you're cooking. The reward is built in, you get to eat what you've made."

"I'm not a huge fan of the sneaky vegetable tricks. You hear about people hiding squash puree in mac n cheese. I think at the end of the day fruits and vegetables are colorful and delicious and should be exciting for kids!" 

"Most children's menus don't incorporate ANY vegetables. It's tragic."

 

                                                          This show was sponsored by Fairway Market. 

Lifeway: Probugs Push Pops

Now your kids can enjoy their favorite Probugs Kefir in a fun new frozen pop! Probugs Frozen Kefir is a creamy, nutritious and delicious dessert that packs 10 live and active probiotic cultures. Made with all natural ingredients and packed with excellent sources of protein and calcium, your little ones will love this tart and tangy treat! 

From the Mouth of a Kid: 
 It's sweet, tart and yummy...my hands a little cold! I have to eat it fast!    

From the Eyes of a Parent: 
It's a perfect cool down summertime snack that is not full of added sugar--with the nutrients of yogurt. 

Flavorful features

The Icing on the Cake: 
There are protein, calcium and live active probiotic cultures in every push pop.

Time to Eat?!
Perfect at snack time or for dessert.  

Mix it Up!
Squeeze two tubes together and mix 'em up to make your own yummy flavor!

www.lifeway.net