RECIPE :: Homemade Healthy Fruit Snacks

Did I mention they ACTUALLY TASTE GOOD?

Cause they do!

I made my first batch of these earlier this summer and while, on first bite, they tasted "good"...after we continued through the batch they just got a little...nasty - I figured out it was the raspberries mixed in with the strawberries and the gelatin didn't smoothly dissolve as much as desired.  I knew there was potential here and the idea inspired me so I wanted to wait until the recipe was spot on before I shared it.

So here you go!

First, you need to order gelatin:

Here is where I purchased it.
These kinds of "health" foods don't freak me out like I know they do to some people, so if you would like to read up about it before purchasing here is some good information HERE.

And here is my amended recipe:

2 1/2 - 3 cups strawberries {I used frozen, could definitely use fresh}
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c orange juice
2 T honey
1/2 c gelatin

Combine strawberries, lemon juice, and orange juice in a saucepan with high sides.  Simmer until fruit is soft.  Add 2 T honey.

Remove from heat.
Using immersion blender, blend mixture until smooth.

Let mixture cool for around 5 minutes.

Slowly, very slowly, add gelatin a little at a time, whisking to completely incorporate.
** This is a very important step: the powder must be added slowly, in small batches, and whisked the entire time to make sure it is smooth **

Once all the gelatin is incorporated pour into 9x13 dish {or fun little molds} and let chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.  Cut into little squares and enjoy!

You can store at room temperature but we prefer them chilled :)

Notes:  Next time I will try blueberries or blueberries + strawberries.  I do NOT recommend blackberries or raspberries, as the bitterness and seeds don't give very good results.  Also, I have tried it with just OJ and prefer it with the lemon juice and OJ mixture.  It doesn't have to be exact on the ratios.  Just make sure there is 1/2 cup of the juice, however you want to mix it.  You can also pour mixture into a blender to combine vs using an immersion blender.  If you use the hand held kind just make sure the saucepan has high enough sides that you don't spray hot red dots all over your kitchen {been there done that}.

photo dump day

i seem to best write blog posts when there isnt one specific big thing to say.  just random ramblings.
and when im done, i feel very accomplished at covering such a myriad of topics. :)
so here goes:

when coloring this morning, bennett called me in to see his "potato bug on a skateboard"

excuse me??
anybody??


fabric inspiration for clients formal living room

4.5 yds just received for future project in casa de moi

our back to school supper happened the night before the second day of school, but it was memorable nonetheless because honestly when was the last time i a)set the table b)ate at the table c)cooked many things at once

stephens job is a crazy one.  he is on call every weekend of the month save one {so basically only has two days off a month} and generally walks out the door by 6am and is home 12-13 hours later.  we are blessed he has a great job but it does not come without sacrifices from all of us. however, as time marches on one little perk of his job is that every once in awhile we are able to "steal" a day...work is slow and he is able to manage his own time as a result.
take today.  after working all morning, he comes home and we decide last minute to venture out

lunch at bimini bobs {never been there} which was delicious.
it felt like a saturday but unlike any saturday weve had recently! gotta love that spur of the moment family time.  my babies sure do love this man

{i guess i kinda do too}

stephen took bennett while i was gathering all the GEAR from the table and, when i got up to pick up emory, the older couple behind us gasped and started whispering "honey! do you see that!" "aw yes she is getting the baby" "no look at her...she is pregnant AND has that baby AND i swear there was another little boy at the table!" "oh my i think youre right."
i didnt realize we were a spectacle but it makes me smile very happy blessed smiles.
{and dont they know that, while i may be pregnant yes and have many small children, i am not DEAF}

cause this pregnancy thing is FOR REAL
{sorry pic is in front of the shower...its the only place there is a mirror with good lighting in my house...}


emory is learning quickly

i obviously {OBVIOUSLY} waited too long to do any "pretty naked baby sitting still" pictures.

there was no staying on the white blanket and the paci props my assistant was supposed to be using to distract emory from crawling ended up just being used as she saw fit

i wish i had discovered this tea earlier in my pregnancy...or in either of my previous ones

seriously - the peaceful mama tea makes you feel like someone hit you upside the head with a two by four and it was the best experience of your life.  you just want to chill on the sofa and think pretty thoughts.

the heartburn tea really does work wonders on my poor squished tummy.

i just wish i had discovered this tea back in the first and early second trimester...

hope everyone is having a great week! i have a bachelorette weekend coming up for one younger sister of mine and i am so ready to bare this belly in all its pregnant goodness and strut the streets like i own them.
and by that i mean curl up in a hotel bed and watch a movie and sleep in {till 7:30 or so} and eat in restaurants and wander streets aimlessly with no inner clock i.e. child telling me its nap time.


till next time!

a little texture

you know i love it in interiors

Source: myhomeideas.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: None via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: simplyseleta.com via Natalie on Pinterest

texture added by natural woven shades, knubby throws, velvets mixed with linens mixed with natural fibers, weathered or worn accents, antiques, organic or living accents {i.e. house plants, living or once-living artifacts, "brown" or "green" items}, mixing metals, etc.

mmmm gets me all tingly inside.
;)

well i ALSO love texture when it comes to food.
while my daughter shys away from nearly anything with texture less than solid food, i on the other hand love the play of textures when it comes to edibles.
and in our quest to eat more natural, or whole, or less processed, or whatever you want to call it, i found this recipe that was definitely a reach into the world of food super texture.
stephen has always been a good sport when it comes to trying things...since marrying me he now regularly eats {and enjoys} things like couscous, edamame, sushi, mushrooms, and more recently hes traded in his oreos and lucky charms for things like these

and these

not too shabby, my processed food lover of a husband.
anyway, here is a recipe using an ingredient i have never cooked with before, wheat berries.



Chicken Cranberry Wheat Berry

1 lemon
3.5 cups of water {more if needed}
2 cups wheat berries, rinsed
1/2 cup white wine {i just used organic veggie broth , bc its what i had}
1 bay leaf
2 chicken breasts {ok im being honest here, i used rotisserie chicken which may completely defile my all-natural recipe, but im having an intense aversion to chicken right now and this was all i could deal with. we take what we can get}
exra virgin olive oil
1 ear of corn, cooked and corn removed from cob {i just boiled an ear of corn, frozen corn works too}
2tsp dried rosemary
3/4 cup dried organic cranberries
1/4 cup pistachios, shelled and toasted
2-3 sliced green onions
s&p to taste

extract juice from lemon and set aside.  add water, wine {or broth}, wheat berries, and bay leaf to a pot. peel lemon and add peels to the pot {i just put the juiced lemon skin in the pot}. bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for around 2-3 hours, adding water if/when needed {you will}, until wheat berries have softened and start to split open a bit.
if you dont use rotisserie chicken, coat chicken breasts with olive oil, s&p.  bake at 400 until cooked through. shred chicken.
when wheat berries are done, drain water and discard lemon and bay leaf.
add chicken, corn, rosemary, and cranberries.
stir then add lemon juice.  add pistachios and sprinkle with green onions.

serve immediately warm, or at room temp, or cold!


it was a party of flavors and textures and absolutely delicious.  we had it warm and then i ate it for lunch the next day cold.  tastes great both ways!
note: i cooked half the recipe and it made plenty for two single-dish servings and then lunch the next day plus a little extra.

go and be bold! try something new!
{and three cheers for texture!}

au naturale

ive had myself a sort of food revolution recently.
ive always cared about what i ate, and before kids always watched my fruits and veggies and portions.
and then i had kids and all care as to what was entering MY mouth flew out the window, accompanied by daily showers, alone time, and the "perfect clean house."
now that i think about it, the time i spent carrying and breastfeeding my children should have been the most AWARE periods of my food-and-drink-consuming life, buuuuuut i didnt always have the time {or stomach} to do more than just grab a bag of chips.

SO, after grabbing said bag of chips a couple weeks ago for the kazillionth time....i decided i was disgusting and everything i ate probably had some form of red dye 40 or some cancer causing processed THING in it.

i decided i {and my children/family} needed to enter into a healthier, more conscious way of living.
organic as much as possible, and processed as little as possible.
{cause seriously how much processed junk does bennett eat? for real. too much.}

its amazing how many resources there are out there to educate you on things like this.  i definitely need to learn a lot more, but for now im doing what i can with the time and resources i have to help make us just that much healthier.
it definitely takes more effort, but i really believe this effort is some of the most important effort you could put forth, especially for your kids.
plus, you can buy organic at wal mart if necessary and it DOES taste better.

my first attempt to TRY a little harder came at lunch.  i made homemade little pizzas with whole wheat english muffins, organic marinara, sliced mushrooms, and cheese {all organic}.

emory and i ate them UP and bennett took a couple bites before gagging and asking for a pb&j.
*sigh*
i tried.
bennett has definitely NOT been my biggest cheerleader.
in fact he is either wanting mac and cheese or a cereal bar 99% of the time.
it comes with his age, i know...but i WILL keep working on him.

something else emory LOVES is carrot cashew spread.

Carrot Cashew Spread
{from wholefoodsmarket.com}

3 carrots, chopped
3/4 cup raw cashew pieces
15 dried apricots, quartered

put carrots in small pot and cover with 2 inches water. bring to a boil, reduce to medium low heat, and simmer about 10 minutes. add cashews and apricots and cook for about 5-7 more minutes. reserve 1/2c cooking water, and drain well.  place carrot mixture and reserved liquid in food processor and blend until smooth.  chill for at least one hour.  spread on whole wheat organic crackers, or emory likes it on toast and even just off a spoon :)

mmmm.
and healthy!

eating "organic" and "natural" i.e. less processed may not always work or be realistic, but i am serious in making this a conscious effort for my family and our daily eating habits.  its amazing what having children will do to your outlook/perspective on things!

ill let you know what other recipes i find but i would love any advice on kid friendly tips/methods for getting your three year old to eat more than cereal bars {which have been banned} and mac and cheese {oops! sorry bennett we dont have any}.


and thanks for your concern for our crazy ridic fourth of july.  i am happy to report that, after a late straggler caught a killer fever version of the mutant virus {stephen} we are all healthy and actually feeling better than ever {bout time this second trimester thing started to ACT LIKE IT}.

cheers to health!