diy

DIY Basil Berry Popsicle Recipe

July 29, 2015 by Jessica Leave a Comment

Who is ready for summer to startup? These Basil Berry Popsicles will certainly get you in the mood. Picture it: sitting poolside, cooling off with with a basil berry popsicle. These are super easy to make and you’ll be able to enjoy them all weekend long. Using fresh or frozen berries both work well. If you have some sitting in the fridge that are about to go bad, toss them into this popsicle recipe to get the most you can out of your food! The basil and berry combo is super refreshing.

You can use any berries that you like! I chose blueberries and strawberries for mine. Berries are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body protect against diseases such as cancer. They are also a great source of fiber. You can use blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, you name it! Studies have found that a regular consumption of berries have been linked with improvements in HDL or “good” cholesterol, increased heart health, and lower blood pressure. Making your own popsicles from natural, whole fruit calms your sweet tooth while providing many healthy benefits! Whip these up instead of buying prepackaged sweets.

This recipe is super simple to make. Just start by blending your berries, almond milk, vanilla, basil, and sweetener Add the blended mixture to a popsicle mold and freeze overnight! Viola! Your popsicles are ready by the morning. Play around with different berry mixtures. What are your favorite berries? Let us know in the comments below! xo

Basil Berry Pops

5 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 cups of berries, I used blueberries and strawberries
1/2 cup of almond milk
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
8 leaves of basil
Optional: 1/4 teaspoon of maple syrup

Instructions

Blend ingredients, add to popsicle mold, and freeze overnight

Recipe Notes

You will need a popsicle mold for this recipe

Blueberry Oat Bars

April 14, 2014 by Jessica 30 Comments

I do not know about you, but I am a bar junkie so this Blueberry Oat Bar recipe screams my name. I love bars because I can grab them quickly when running out the door and sometimes they replace sweets for my lunches or afternoon cravings.

To make these bars, start by mixing the applesauce, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowl. Toss the oats, nuts, and dried fruit into a food processor and blend until it is an even consistency. Add in your applesauce mixture and pulse together until everything is evenly blended. Line an 8x8x2 inch pan with parchment paper. Add the oat mixture to the pan and bake at 350F for about 20-30 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Remove from the pan and slice into bars once they have cooled.

I love having homemade bars on hand for those days on the go or making them for those road trips when you know you’ll be looking for a yummy snack. Have you made your own energy bars before? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Blueberry Oat Bars

Total Time

35 mins

Servings: 10

Ingredients

2 cups of oats
1 cup of dried blueberries or dates
1 cup of almonds
1 cup of applesauce
1/3 cup of honey
1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions

Mix applesauce, honey and optional cinnamon and vanilla in a bowl
Toss oats, nuts and dried fruit to food processor, blend until it is an even, chunky consistency
Add in applesauce mixture and pulse until evenly blended
Line 8 x 8 x 2 inch pan with parchment paper
Add oat mixture to pan
Bake at 350F for 20 to 30 minutes or until the edges are brown
Remove from pan and slice into bars

Recipe Notes

You will need parchment paper

Creamy Mint Infused Avocado Dressing

March 10, 2013 by Jessica 1 Comment

This Creamy Mint Infused Avocado Dressing is the perfect thing to make ahead of time and use on dishes for the rest of the week. It is super easy to make and is also a great option for that produce that might be on the verge of going bad. All you need to do is whip it together in a blender and throw in a jar for the rest of the week.

Avocados have tons of healthy fats and potassium and may even help lower cholesterol levels. They bring so much flavor to anything you add them to. The high fat content (keeping in mind they are healthy fats!) helps keep you full for hours.

How many of you have trouble finding the perfect avocado? There are a couple tricks that I use to try and get the perfect little green guy each time. First, I begin by looking at the color of the exterior of the avocado. The deeper green is usually a more ripe avocado. Second, you can feel the firmness of the avocado. You don’t want one that is super mushy but you don’t want one that is too firm either. Try to find one that is just slightly soft to the touch. And my for my final trick, I pop off the brown stem of the avocado to see the color inside. Usually, if the tip comes off easily and has a nice shade of green, that can indicate the ripeness of the avocado.

Take one avocado, a jalapeno, some garlic, diced tomatoes, limes, onion, water, and mint and combine all together in a blender or food processor. I love to use this dressing on salads or on my favorite taco recipes. Check out our 5 Minute Pepperjack Protein Tacos. You can store the remaining dressing in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container. What would you put this creamy avocado dressing on? Let us know in the comments below!

Creamy Mint-Infused Avocado Dressing

Total Time

5 mins

Servings: 16

Ingredients

1 small hass avocado
1 jalapeño, de-seeded
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of fresh tomatoes, chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup of water
6-7 fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Blend away.

Recipe Notes

One serving=2 tablespoons