Frozen Treats Archives - Page 2 of 4

Spicy Tropical Fruit Skewers {Grilled}

I must confess, grilled fresh, sweet, ripe fruit is truly one of my favorite summertime desserts! The naturally occurring sugars are enhanced via the grilling process – transforming the fruit into an irresistible treat that pairs beautifully with the creamy, cold addition of some homemade ice cream.

On my recent trip to the beautiful state of Tennessee to visit family, my Mom and I found a gorgeous selection of fresh tropical fruits at a local market and decided to create a grilled dessert kebob with a “kick!” That’s because, we secretly added a dash of cayenne pepper to the grilling glaze to give these tropical fruit skewers a hint of heat that leaves you begging for more – or maybe it’s just me?

The boys and I hanging out on my Mom’s porch enjoying a beautiful Tennessee summer with our new favorite dessert! Thanks, Mom! We love you!

P.S. For an incredibly luscious breakfast treat, double the recipe and refrigerate the leftover grilled fruit. Then layer the chilled fruit in individual serving dishes with Greek yogurt and homemade granola for an unforgettable Tropical Fruit Parfait! YUM!

Spicy Tropical Fruit Skewers {Grilled}

Ingredients

Spicy Fruit Glaze:

1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (or more for extra kick)

Fruit Skewers:

1-2 cups of fresh pineapple chunks
1 fresh organic mango, peeled and cut into chunks
1-2 kiwis, peeled and thick-sliced
1 large banana, peeled and thick-sliced
Optional: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Instructions

Preheat grill to medium-high heat making sure grill is thoroughly preheated before you begin grilling.
In a small bowl, whisk together the Spicy Fruit Glaze ingredients; set aside. (If using bamboo skewers, be sure to soak them in warm water while you’re preparing the rest of the ingredients.)
Cut fruit into cubes/slices that can be easily thread onto a skewer. Be sure to keep them all about 2×2-inches in size, so they’ll cook evenly. (Speaking of which, feel free to add additional tropical fruits as well – papaya and starfruit are also delicious options!)
Brush sweet-n-spicy glaze evenly among fruit skewers, making sure to generously brush both sides.
Cook fruit uncovered over medium heat just long enough to form grill marks (about 1-2 minutes). Then, carefully turn the fruit skewers over and brush with remaining glaze, if desired. Cook for about another 1-2 minutes, until lightly browned and caramelized.
Serve with a scoop of your favorite homemade vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle top with some toasted unsweetened shredded coconut, if desired.

Notes

Since grill temperatures can vary dramatically, be sure to keep a close eye on your fruit skewers. The goal here is to simply sear the exterior of the fruit to produce a rich caramelized flavor, not to cook the fruit through. Enjoy!

https://thenourishinghome.com/2013/07/spicy-tropical-fruit-skewers/

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Tips for Making Healthy Homemade Frozen Pops {Plus, Free Healthy Pops eBook!}

By Kelly · 1 Comment

Growing up, there were few things more exciting during summer than hearing that little ditty playing that meant only one thing … the Ice Cream Man is coming! Sadly, we now know that these tempting treats are chock-full of unhealthy preservatives and harmful additives.

So what’s a real food lovin’ momma to do? Why not say goodbye to the ice cream man and hello to the “Ice Cream MOM!” with a FREE copy of my Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats eBook. The fact is, there is no need to rely on the ice cream man (or store-bought goodies either) to bring a smile to your kiddos faces. Making homemade frozen ice pops and treats is so easy, delicious and economical! And it’s a super FUN way to get your kids in the kitchen this summer too! That’s why I’m not only sharing my “top 10 tips for making healthy frozen pops” below, but I’m also giving away a free copy of my popular eBook, Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats when you Subscribe to The Nourishing Home.

10 Tips for Making Healthy Homemade Frozen Pops

Chocolate-Covered Banana Pops are just one of more than a dozen healthy ice pop recipes in my free eBook for subscribers.

1. As mentioned, there are all kinds of delicious ingredients that can be used to make healthy homemade frozen pops. Some of the best options for creating successful ice pops include: 100% fruit juices, smoothies, yogurt, pudding, ice cream and sherbet. You can also use other healthy options such as coconut water, kefir, kombucha and herbal or green teas.

2. Additionally, frozen pops are a great opportunity to add an extra boost of nutrition – especially for those picky eaters. Adding ingredients like yogurt, kombucha, or dairy/water kefir can add a healthy dose of probiotics. Similarly, you can sneak in a bit of pureed veggies into most pop recipes without significantly altering the flavor or texture of the ice pop.

3. Since all ingredients expand during the freezing process, be sure to leave at least 1/4-inch space at the top of your pop molds when filling them. Also keep in mind that ingredients with more air content (such as smoothies) expand more than solid ingredients (like yogurt).

4. Speaking of pop molds – there is no need to purchase fancy ice pop molds (unless you want to and your budget permits). You can make ice pops out of everyday household items, such as dixie cups, ice cube trays, candy molds, etc.

5. And the best method for ensuring your popsicle stick remains securely centered in your ice pop (if you’re not using pop molds), is to simply cover the top of dixie cup (or whatever you’re using as your mold) with a small piece of foil after pouring in your ingredients. Then, cut a small slit in the center of the foil and carefully insert a popsicle stick into the center of the mold.

6. Delicious additions – Adding whole or diced fruits suspended in your ice pops makes for interesting textures and flavors, such as in my Fruit & Cream Bars. You can also add other ingredients such as carob/chocolate chips, or even nuts and cookie bits. Similarly, layering ingredients, such as in my Banana Split Pops recipe, is a great way to combine flavors and create pretty striped pops.

7. And speaking of layering ingredients, it’s important to be sure each layer freezes solid before adding the next layer. Also, like ingredients stick together better. For example, layering several types of fruit juice bases together works better than trying to layer juices with ice cream.

8. It’s also important to keep in mind that different ingredients freeze at different rates. For example, fruit juice pops freeze faster than yogurt based pops. And of course, freezing time also depends on the size of the ice pop. For best results, pops should be frozen overnight, or at least for a minimum of 6-8 hours. And as far as storage goes, pops left in molds generally stay fresh for about 1-2 weeks.

9. To unmold an ice pop without the pop sticking to the mold, it’s best to either let the pop sit out at room temp for a few minutes, or run the mold under water for a minute. Then remove the mold and enjoy!

10. Get creative! There are lots of ideas and inspiration to be found via pinterest and google searches for healthy ice pops. And, just a friendly reminder that you can always download a FREE copy of my Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats eBook, simply by becoming a subscriber to The Nourishing Home.

Wishing you and your family a healthy, happy summer!

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly

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Healthy Fruit & Cream Bars!

By Kelly · 18 Comments

Healthy Fruit & Cream Bars

“I Scream, You Scream! We All Scream for Ice Cream!” … especially when it’s fresh fruit covered in wholesome creamy goodness!

Making homemade frozen treats like these fabulous Fruit & Cream Bars is not only a healthy and delicious way to celebrate summer, it’s also a great way to keep the ice cream man at bay!!

And who hasn’t been tempted at one point or another by the ice cream man? I’d like to say that my kids have never succumbed to his wiles (or more accurately, that I’ve never caved in to their pleas for “just this one time”). But the truth is, we have done business with the ice cream man, and frankly my boys did enjoy the indulgence, while I wrestled with the thought of all those chemicals and preservatives entering into their little bodies.

That’s why, I set about on a mission to become The Ice Cream Mom! So each summer I take a little time to make the most fabulous frozen treats – so tempting and tasty that even the ice cream man doesn’t stand a chance!

P.S. Looking for even more fabulous frozen treats your family will love? Be sure to check out out my “Top 10 Ice Pop Making Secrets of Success” and just a friendly reminder that you can always download a FREE copy of my Healthy Ice Pops & Frozen Treats eBook, simply by becoming a subscriber to The Nourishing Home.

Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly

Strawberry & Cream Bars (GF, DF option)

Yield: Six 3- to 4-ounce size pops

Ingredients

1 pound fresh ripe organic strawberries
1 cup coconut milk or whole milk yogurt
2-3 tbsp raw honey (we prefer sage due to it's mild flavor)
1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Remove stems from strawberries.
Finely dice four of the strawberries; set aside.Cut the remaining strawberries into halves and place them into your blender or Vitamix. Then, add the remaining ingredients to the blender, except for the finely diced strawberries. Blend until thoroughly combined.
Next, add the finely diced strawberries and blend on low just a couple of seconds to mix together.
Pour mixture evenly into six 3- or 4-ounce pop molds making sure to leave at least a half-inch of space at top for expansion that occurs during freezing. Freeze for at least 6-8 hours.
When ready to serve, run the pop mold under warm water for a few seconds to loosen before removing the mold.
What a fun and healthy way to enjoy summertime with your kiddos without compromising good nutrition.

Notes

Wondering about the super cute pop molds shown in the photo? They're called Tovolo Groovy Ice Pops. They come in a set of six and are super durable and fun!

Please note: Ripe fruit is much sweeter and more flavorful. So be sure to use only fully ripened fruit in your ice pops for the best flavor. Also note: When fresh ripe fruit is not available, you can use frozen fruit to make ice pops. However, it's best to allow the frozen fruit to thaw first, before blending it. That's because you may need to add more liquid to get frozen fruit to blend properly and this will change the flavor and texture of your ice pop.

https://thenourishinghome.com/2013/06/healthy-frozen-fruit-cream-bars/

Peaches & Cream Bars

Ingredients

4 large fresh ripe organic peaches
1 cup organic whole milk yogurt (or coconut cream)
2-3 tbsp pure maple syrup (or raw honey)
1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Remove skins from peaches.
Cut one peach in half. Finely dice the peach half; set aside. Cut the remaining peaches (including the leftover peach half) into slices. (Be sure to slice them right over your blender or Vitamix container to catch all of the juices in the container.) Then, add the remaining ingredients to the blender, except for the finely diced peach half. Blend until thoroughly combined.
Next, add the finely diced peach half and blend on low just a couple of seconds to mix together.
Pour mixture into pop molds and freeze for at least 6-8 hours.
When ready to serve, run the pop mold under warm water for a few seconds to loosen before removing the mold.
What a fun and healthy way to enjoy summertime with your kiddos without compromising good nutrition.

Notes

Wondering about the super cute pop molds shown in the photo? They're called Tovolo Groovy Ice Pops. They come in a set of six and are super durable and fun!

https://thenourishinghome.com/2013/06/healthy-frozen-fruit-cream-bars/

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