Maybe There is Such a Thing as a Strawberry Cow

A while back, I was really craving something sweet.  I'm not above caving to my cravings, so, off to the pantry I went.  Knowing that I'm a slave to my whims, I don't generally keep a lot of sweets in the house.  However, this craving wasn't going anywhere.  I had to get creative.  I grabbed some cacao powder (100% ground cacao and nothing else), agave and some milk.  I blended it all together, and viola! chocolate milk.  Seemed strange that I hadn't thought of this before.  I love chocolate milk, but not some of the stuff in the store bought kind.  

It doesn't have to end with chocolate.  Why not strawberry?! Blueberry?! Snozzberry...wait...   

Not only can you use any fruit you want, but you don't have to stick with traditional milk.  If you or the munchkins have a lactose intolerance, try almond, rice, soy, goat's, or my personal favorite, coconut milk.

Recipe:

Serves 2

1 Cup fresh or frozen Strawberries (or fruit of your choice) and/or 1 Tablespoon 100% Cacao Powder

1 Cup Milk (any kind)

1 Tablespoon Amber nature’s agave™

Equipment: 

Blender or immersion blender

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the blender or a large vessel.  If you want your milk to be more like a milkshake, a handful of ice.  Puree all ingredients together until smooth. 

There is a debate in our house, pulp vs no pulp OJ.  If you like pulp you can keep the beverage as is, if you aren't a fan then you might want to strain it through a fine sieve. Pour into a glass, add a bendy straw and have at it!

Feel good about serving this sweet treat.  Each serving contains a half a cup of glorious fruit, no added refined sugar, and a hit of protein. 

Everything is Possible with a Full Belly.

Let's Hydrate! Flavored Water

I love lemons.  I always have.  When I was a kid my mom had me drink water with lemon and I was hooked.  Later, I tried lemonade and immediately dismissed it.  The sugar simply ruined my cherished super sour lemon flavor.  I admit...I was a strange kid.  Over the years, the fabulous Toni (my mom/GB Co-Founder/inspiration behind oh so many of these posts and if we beg enough maybe she'll post something too) got bored with simple lemon water and started creating adventurous aquatic inventions for everyone to enjoy.  Suddenly, my friends weren't asking for soda, but instead the healthful hydrating treats in our refrigerator.  Not only are they delicious, but when contained in a clear vessel, they are pretty too!

Some of our favorite flavors include, lemon/lime, grapefruit/orange, kiwi/strawberry, mango/peach, cucumber/mint, and cucumber/watermelon.


Add your washed fruit to a pitcher of your choice, if you have little ones you might want to stick with BPA Free plastic so it is easier for them to lift. Fill with filtered water.  Citrus can generally be left alone for 5-7 days, just keep refilling your pitcher with filtered water.  The ingredients that are a bit more delicate will need to be refreshed every few days.  Usually, we stick with citrus during the week and save the more exotic flavors for the weekend when we have a little extra time on our hands.


The benefits of hydration are endless, younger looking skin, reducing blood pressure, satiates your appetite, keeps you regular...want me to keep going?  If you enjoy the flavor of your water, you'll be inclined to drink more.  


Everything is Possible with a Full Belly.

Scrub-a-dub-dub, It's Good For the Grub

Washing our fruits, veggies, meats and fish before we eat them is really important, even if you are buying organic.  Travel, pesticides, grimy hands and other factors are all decent reasons for a good scrub.  Just giving them a quick rinse with tap water doesn't always do the trick.  Our suggestion?  Fill your sink about 1/3 of the way with cold tap water.  Add about 1/4 cup of white vinegar (I say about a 1/4 of a cup because in our house we measure by "glug."  You know, that noise liquid makes when it is being dumped out of a jug...two glugs is about a 1/4 cup.  Clearly this is not an exact science.)  Feel free to use generic white vinegar...the brand at my store is call No Thrills...I kid you not.


First victims: Dump your hearty produce into the sink, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, apples, pears, root veggies, et all.  After they have gone for a swim for at least 30 seconds, give them all a good scrub with a veggie brush (the more fun the scrubbie the more fun the job and the more likely you'll be able to recruit little helpers - Bed Bath and Beyond and Target always has fun ones in store), rinse with water and dry on a clean towel.  


Next up, more delicate fruits and veggies like berries, lettuces, etc.  Only keep them in the water for a short while (under 30 seconds).  Skim them out using a slotted spoon or colander.  Rinse, and place on your clean towel.  


Finally, your meats or fish.  Again, only about 30 seconds in the water should do fine and then give them a rinse.  Dry on paper towels, or a specific clean towel that will immediately get placed in the laundry after its job is completed.  Just because we are washing our meat, doesn't mean we still shouldn't be careful to avoid food associated diseases like Salmonella. Yuck.


Timetable tips:


-Hearty produce can be washed after purchase and used for the entire week.  I say, get it all done at one time and then it is ready for you when you want it!
-Delicate produce can only stand to be in the fridge for 1-3 days after washing.
-Meats and fish should be washed the same day you want to use them.  


One last tip on cleaning, then I promise to get to the more fun kitchen stuff, but food safety is important.  You can also use this concoction (water and several glugs of white vinegar) to clean your counter tops.  It is a great alternative to chemicals and works to disinfect and get your counter tops sparkling.  We keep a spray bottle under the sink and use it instead of chemical alternatives.  Not only is it better for you, but it is better for our environment.  


And remember, everything is possible with a full belly.

Destination: Kitchen!

Welcome to the Green Bellies™ Kitchen.  

Green Bellies™is a food development company dedicated to improving the quality of nutrition provided to schoolchildren. We develop, test and bring to market all-natural, kid-approved, complete meals that schools can afford. 


We are thrilled and honored to feed kids in schools.  We also love feeding our own families.  Within this blog, Green Bellies™ Executive Chef / Chief Formulator Nicole Derrick along with the Green Bellies™ team will bring you a more personal look inside our home kitchens.  These recipes and tips are handy hints from our day-to-day lives.  Our goal is to engage and encourage you and your young cooks to experiment and succeed in the kitchen.


Since we spend so much of our time in the kitchen, almost everything we produce comes with a little story.  Please allow us to share our memories as you create your own.


Visit our website www.greenbellies.com for further information about the company and how you can bring Green Bellies™ food to your schools.  Become our fan on Facebook page and receive new and updates.  Additionally, visit us here for tips, tricks, and ideas for making your kitchen the most fun room in the house.


Everything is Possible with a Full Belly.