Peach-y Keen Ice Cream

~Peach Ice Cream

1 1/2-2 cups fresh pureed peaches (about 4-6 peaches)

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups half-and-half

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring (extract)

In food processor/blender, puree peaches (peeling the peaches is optional).

Blend peach puree and all ingredients until very smooth.

Chill ice cream mix until cold, about 1-2 hours.

Pour mix into your ice cream machine and process according to manufacturer's directions.

It may be necessary to continue the"chill/beat" cycle for 15-30 minutes after the first cycle stops.

Note: Since fresh Peach Ice Cream is very soft, it maybe necessary to put it in your ice cream maker for an additional 45 minutes (or place in a bowl in freezer) if you prefer a firmer ice cream.

BLT Sushi

4 leaves of Romaine Lettuce
4 slices of cooked bacon
1 large tomato cut into strips
2 cups of cooked rice
Toothpicks
Ranch dressing (optional)


Chop bacon.  On each flattened piece of lettuce, evenly scoop 1/2 cup of the cooked rice.  Sprinkle 1/4 of the bacon on top of the rice.  Place tomato strips down the entire length of the lettuce.  Tightly roll the lettuce width wise.  Cut into sushi-sized pieces and secure each piece with a toothpick.  Optional: Drizzle with ranch dressing.

Cinnamon Granola

Whether you eat it as a cereal, a part of your parfait, or by the handful, this granola is a delicious way to fill you up in the morning!



3 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup apple juice
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup raisins


Preheat oven to 300°
Combine the oats, almonds, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Set aside.
Next, combine the apple juice, honey, brown sugar, and canola oil in a small saucepan, and cook until the honey is dissolved. Add the vanilla and salt to the mixture.
Drizzle the apple juice mixture over the oats, and mix just until moistened.
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Spread the oat mixture evenly on the large baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes. Stir well, and then bake an additional 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and stir in raisins. Cool completely, and then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Fruit Kabobs

A wonderful, cooling summer snack, side, or dessert comes in the form of a kabob.  Fruit on a stick isn't the most creative recipe, but when the fruit is this good, you don't need to be creative!


Skewers
Chilled Fruit, such as:
Grapes
Blueberries
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Peaches
Apples


Cube or melon-ball the fruit.  Once all your fruit is cut, begin to skewer the fruit, alternating selection types.  Chill the fruit skewers.

Aloha Grilled Chicken Sandwich

I love a grilled chicken sandwich in the summer.  Top it off with pineapple and bell peppers and you have a culinary masterpiece!


For each sandwich you will need:
A grilled chicken breast (seasoned with season salt)
A pineapple ring
Diced roasted red pepper
A whole wheat bun
Pineapple sauce


Coat a grill pan with cooking spray. Grill the pineapple rings for 1 minute on each side.  Cut the pepper in half vertically and de-seed it.  Place the pepper skin side down on the grill pan until it is turning a dark color.  Remove any charred skin and shop the pepper.  Take the juice from the can of pineapple rings and combine in a sauce pan with salt (to taste), pepper (to taste), a dash of cumin, a teaspoon of cornstarch, and paprika (to taste).
Assemble your burgers and drizzle the pineapple sauce over the chicken!

Made-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Milk

What's better than chocolate milk in a carton?  Homemade chocolate milk.  What's better than homemade chocolate milk?  Made-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Milk, of course!  What is Made-in-Your-Mouth chocolate milk you ask?  Well, read on to find out...


Made-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Milk
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/8 cup sprinkles (decorators sugar, multi-colored, etc.)
1 cup milk


In a double broiler, melt the chocolate chips, stirring constantly.  Dip the rim of a glass in the melted chocolate.  Dunk the chocolate-coated rim in the sprinkles.  Place the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes until set.  Pour the milk into the icy glass.  As you sip, your milk will be magically transformed into a classic chocolate treat!

Watermelon Cut-outs

This is a great way to jazz up your normal fruit plates.  This was how the fruit appeared on our table for our 4th of July celebration!


Slice a fruit of your choice (honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc.), take a cookie cutter and cut the shapes out.  


In this case I topped the watermelon with blueberries.  


Squeeze the juice of a lemon over your fruit salad to keep the fruit fresh.

Wake Me Up! Granola Bars

Did you know that apples are more effective than caffeine at waking you up in the morning?  These granola bars are full of delicious apples to get you moving!

Source: 
Serving Size: 9

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups Rolled Oats
1/16 cup Walnuts, chopped
¼ cup Raisins
¼ cup Apple, chopped
¼ cup Brown sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Salt
1 ½ cups Skim Milk
¼ cup Egg Substitute
¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In two separate bowls, mix dry ingredients, then wet ingredients. Pour wet into dry, mixing until combined.

Pour batter into a 9 x 9 baking dish lined with parchment paper.

Bake 30 minutes. Once cool, cut into squares.

Patriotic Pies

These are easy, quick, and delicious.  REALLY delicious.  No more explanation needed.


Strawberry/Blueberry Pie


1 package of refrigerated pie dough
1 container fresh strawberries
2 teaspoons of corn starch
A sprinkle of sugar
A handful of blueberries


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  


With a circular cookie cutter, cut out pie crust and place them into a greased muffin pan.  


Bake for 10 minutes.  Allow the crusts to cool.


Remove the strawberry stems and chop them.  Coat in sugar.


Take half of the strawberries and saute them with the corn starch until soft.


Add a spoonful of this mixture to the crusts.  Top with the rest of the strawberries and blueberries.