Tag: side dish

November 12, 2021

Crockpot Candy Corn Potatoes and Carrots

Holidays aren’t just about the sweets. Candy corn potatoes and carrots is festive and healthy! You won’t have any problem getting your kids to eat vegetables when they look like dessert.

I love fall.

I wish it could last longer. Mild temperatures. Beautiful colors. All things pumpkin.

Fun, Fall Food

I recently shared my candy corn finger jello recipe as a nod to fall and a tribute to my grandparents. In that same spirit I have another fun play on candy corn today. But this time it is savory!

Candy corn potatoes and carrots is a fun and healthy side dish. You can modify it to meet your dietary needs too.

Fall Vegetables

The base recipe uses white potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots. But if you don’t want to use roots or don’t like quite that much starch (or have a crazy sensitivity/allergy to them like my daughter) then you can use pumpkin or squash (yellow/orange) and cauliflower (white)!

Quick Crockpot Side Dish

The preparation for candy corn potatoes and carrots is so simple because the crockpot does most of the work for you. Toss all of the veggies in the crockpot. Once they are cooked you simply puree and layer them.

The entire dish can be prepared in advance and just warmed before you eat. The warming can even be done in the crockpot!

Sweet and Savory Fall Vegetables

I love how versatile candy corn potatoes are. You can add any seasoning, spices or even sweeteners you like.

My kids love a little sweetnes on their carrots and sweet potatoes. So I add just a touch of maple syrup or honey to the bottom layersy . But if you like things really savory adding salt, pepper and herbs would be just as delicious. Or you can find a happy medium by adding a pinch of cinnamon.

Go ahead and choose which color to put in which layer. I like the dark to light effect. But you can go with the traditional candy corn yellow, orange, and white scheme too.

Kid-Friendly Holiday Side Dish

Are you wondering what to serve for a holiday dinner that kids will actually eat? How about roast beef paired with candy corn vegetables and candy corn finger jello?! Your kids will love it. Plus they’ll fill up on nourishing foods and won’t crave a bunch of sweets later (can I get an Amen?!).

You could even turn this into a one pot meal by adding seasoned ground beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey between each layer. Candy corn casserole!

Surprise the kids with this delicious treat. Candy corn potatoes and carrots (or squash and cauliflower) is a healthy way to enjoy the holiday.

Do you have any creative holiday traditions or treats?

If not, start one with a festive dinner your kids will request year after year that includes candy corn potatoes and carrots.

Crockpot Candy Corn Potatoes and Carrots

2015-10-22 05:25:39

Serves 6

A fun, fall side dish filled with vegetables.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

Orange layer: 3-5 sweet potatoes OR 1 orange flesh squash (pumpkin, butternut, kabocha)
Yellow layer: 6-8 large yellow carrots OR 1 yellow flesh squash (acorn, spaghetti)
White layer: 3-4 white potatoes OR 1 head cauliflower
unrefined sea salt to taste
water, broth or milk (enough to puree)
optional: brown cane sugar, maple syrup, honey, herbs, cinnamon, spices

Instructions

Peel and cut vegetables into large chunks.
Place the vegetables in glass containers with a small amount of water or broth. Place the containers directly into the crockpot.
Add about 1/2 inch of water to the bottom of the crockpot.
Cook on high about 3 hours, until vegetables are tender.
Remove containers from the crockpot.
Add salt and any sweetener, herbs or spices and puree with an immersion blender (or in a blender). Add water, broth or milk if needed.
Layer the vegetables in desired order in a see-through oven safe dish.
Serve immediately or place in the crockpot on warm or cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to heat (in a 350*F oven for about 20 minutes).

Notes

If using squash it can be roasted whole in the crockpot or oven, then cut open and the flesh scooped out. You can keep it as is or puree it at this point.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. It will not change the cost of any products or services for you.

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

September 8, 2020

How to Make & Can Pear Sauce | A No Sugar Added Alternative to Applesauce

Fall is a busy time of canning applesauce and freezing pumpkin. But don’t forget about preserving pears! With a short season and a busy schedule use this guide to stock your pantry with pear sauce before the pears are gone.

I’m a big fan of hardy produce. You know, the kind that can sit on the counter or in the fridge for weeks and still be OK? Like carrots, potatoes, apples, rutabaga, parsnips, cauliflower, and cabbage.

I love all kinds of fruits and veggies. But some of them are a bit demanding.

One day an avocado is not quite ripe. The next day it’s mushy.

The same goes for pears. You check and check for ripeness. Then all of a sudden you’ve missed the window and they over ripe.

Personally, I like to be in control instead of my produce. But it just doesn’t work that way for everything.

So I always get anxious when it’s pear season. I want to preserve them. But I just don’t have time any old day. Will I time it just right? Will I be stuck peeling hard pears? Or will I let them go too far because we were busy with soccer and band?

It’s a gamble.

I try to do a fair amount of canning each fall. How much I do depends on my kids’ ages and how I’m feeling.

Regardless, I don’t like to spend hours on end in the kitchen each day to keep up with produce preservation.

How to Can Pears

I already take the easy route when it comes to canning peaches. That is a life saver!

Then I get to pears. There is really no way around it.

Canning pears takes a lot of time.

Lots of peeling and slicing (especially if the pears are small). It can take up to sixty pears just to do one round of canning! That is a lot of peeling.

So I stopped doing it years ago. Much to my husband’s disappointment. I just don’t have time.

But I still want to preserve this amazing fruit to enjoy it all winter.

How to Can Pears Without Sugar

Enter pear sauce.

It is just like applesauce but with pears. Honestly, I would take pear sauce any day over applesauce. It is that good.

There is no need to add any sweetener as pears are plenty sweet on their own.

The other thing you don’t have to do – peel them!

Preserving pears is quite easy when you can just wash, quarter, cook and puree. Then either can or freeze the pear sauce.

Pear Sauce for Baby

One of the reasons I love having pearsauce on hand is that it makes a super easy first food for little ones six months and up. You can serve it plain or turn it into a nutrient dense baby porridge. Warm the pear sauce slightly and mix in coconut oil and an egg yolk. Stir and serve!

My big kids love pear sauce too! Sometimes I even make it extra special by adding strawberries, raspberries or blueberries from our freezer stash. As they melt and let off juice it colors the pearsauce and adds an extra burst of flavor.

Serve it cold. Serve it warm with a pinch of cinnamon. Add it to oatmeal. Mix it in yogurt.

You really can’t go wrong. You also don’t need to spend days on end making pear sauce.

Pear Sauce Canning

Here is my busy mom’s solution to preserving pears. I am able to work through a half bushel in one day (with four young kids, including a nursing little one) and still manage to do our school work, go to activities, and get healthy meals on the table.

It only takes about twenty minutes to wash and slice one batch of pears. Then you can let it cook for a bit while you tend to something else. Being able to make pear sauce in steps is so handy!

A full batch (seven quarts) takes about 30 – 35 medium to large pears. So figure out how many jars you’d like to can and then figure out how many pears you need. I usually get one bushel of pears. It makes three rounds of pear sauce with some pears left over for eating fresh.

Pear sauce makes a great alternative to applesauce. Variety is key to any diet, especially if you are implementing a rotation diet for food allergies. So this is a nice change of pace! My kids actually prefer it over applesauce.

Have you ever tried preserving pears? I encourage you to try pearsauce!

Are you new to canning? Check out my step-by-step tutorial to get you going.

What to do With Extra Pears

Depending on the size of the pears and the quantity you buy, sometimes you end up with a pile of extra pears. And like I said before, they can go from almost ripe to mush pretty quickly. So what do you do with those extra pears?

Of course you can eat them fresh! Pears are a sweet treat on their own. But you can only eat so many. Here are a few other options for using up extra ripe pears.

pear butter
frozen pears
pear lime jello salad
gluten-free pear muffins
gluten-free pear crisp
pear fruit leather
pear pancake topping
spiced pear ice cream

Homemade Pear Sauce Recipe

Homemade Canned Pear Sauce

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Servings 7 quarts

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

30 - 40 medium ripe pears
1 cup water

Instructions

Making Pear Sauce

Wash pears (this can be done in a clean sink full of water).
Add 1 cup water to a large stockpot and turn on high heat.
Quarter and core pears, placing them in the stockpot as you go.
Adjust heat to simmer and cook the pears until soft, stirring periodically, about 15 minutes.
In batches puree the cooked pears and their juice in a high-powered blender until smooth.

Freezing Pear Sauce

Chill the pear sauce.
Put the pear sauce in freezer-safe containers.
Label and freeze for up to a year.

Canning Pear Sauce

Return the pureed pear sauce to the stockpot and keep warm.
Prepare the water bath canner (filled with water and jars and get the jars hot).
Ladle the hot pear sauce into hot jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.
Wipe the rims of jars and place the lids and bands on.
Can in hot water bath for 30 minutes (quarts) or 25 minutes (pints).
Remove the canner lid and let the jars sit for 5 minutes.
Remove jars from the canner and place on a towel to cool, untouched for 8 hours.

Recipe Notes

One batch of pear sauce makes 6-7 quarts or 12-14 pints.
A half-bushel of pears will make 2 rounds of pear sauce, with a few pears left for eating fresh.

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

February 10, 2019

Easy Homemade Chip Dip

Chips and dip make a great side dish for any party or picnic. Make it real food style with this easy homemade chip dip. Just ONE ingredient plus seasoning.

One of the easiest side dishes any time of year is chips with dip. I know, you may be thinking that doesn’t sound very healthy. But it can be!

Buy your favorite kind of chip (we like the potato chips made with avocado oil or olive oil) or make a batch of homemade chips. Better yet swap the chips for some homemade teff crackers or gluten-free Wheat Thin® style crackers. You still get the crunch without eating chips. Then all you have to do is take one minute to mix up a quick dip.

What is in Homemade Chip Dip?

This chip dip reminds me of my favorite childhood dip – french onion. What’s great about this homemade version is what it’s missing…namely MSG (read about the dangers of MSG here) or anything artificial. Just a few simple ingredients.

This is also not a dip full of spice. We keep it simple for the oral sensory issues in our family. But that doesn’t mean it’s low on flavor. This simple chip dip tastes great and packs a punch of flavor.

What Can you Dip in Chip Dip Besides Chips?

If you don’t eat chips, this dip works very well for fresh vegetables. Our favorite is cucumbers. We even enjoy it on a burger whether it’s with a bun or simply as a dip when going bun-less. That’s what my kids do most of the time since gluten-free buns are expensive. Plus it’s just easy for kids to dip!

Homemade chip dip is very versatile.

Easy Dip for Kids

Chip dip works well for packing school lunches. A tasty dip is a great way to get kids to eat fresh vegetables. Serve a combination of chips or crackers and veggies. Even if you have reluctant veggie eaters you might be surprised that they eat it all when served together.

Making chip dip is also a great activity for kids. Even the little ones. You really can’t mess it up (the recipe is very forgiving…and you can always add extra sour cream if they go a little overboard with seasoning).

My four-year-old LOVES to help in the kitchen. I like to put her on dip duty. It keeps her hands busy, and she feels so proud that she is helping.

All of my kids know their way around the kitchen thanks to the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. We’ve been doing it since 2016! Check it out HERE if you’re interested in getting your kids cooking.

Is Chip Dip Dairy-Free?

This version of chip dip is made with dairy. While my kids are mostly dairy-free, they do tolerate butter and a small amount of cream. So we still use a little sour cream.

But if you can’t have any dairy you could make this with coconut sour cream or almond milk sour cream. Both sound delicious!

The next time you are in the mood for chips and dip try this simple homemade version of chip dip. It takes less than one minute to make and will be a family favorite.

Easy Homemade Chip Dip

A simple chip dip made with real ingredients that only takes a minute to prepare.

Prep Time 1 minute

Servings 8

Author Mary | Just Take A Bite

Ingredients

2/3 cup organic sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. organic garlic powder
1/2 tsp. organic onion powder
1 tsp. organic dried dill weed (optional - not allowed on VAD Diet)

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a glass jar.
Mix until well combined. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve with chips, crackers or vegetables.
Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

August 12, 2018

Simple Baked Beet Fries

Every summer our garden is loaded with beets. My husband just did our THIRD planting! There are so many reasons to eat beets. But not everyone is a fan. Until now. You’ll have even your picky eaters going for seconds with these simple baked beet fries!

Beets. You either love them or hate them. Some (like me!) love their earthy sweet flavor. Then there are others that think they just taste like dirt.

I am happy to say that I’ve converted my whole family into beet eaters! Especially freshly roasted golden beets from our garden. They are so sweet!!

But I know not everyone is so fond of them.

It’s a shame because they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Just look at that rich color! Plus they are powerhouse helpers for your liver, assisting in detox.

There must be a way to get beet haters to enjoy them (besides trying to hide a tiny bit in a smoothie), right?

Yes, there is!

Beet Fries.

My three year old will eat a mountain of beets. But my son, although willing, really only cares for a few pieces. Until I made them into fries.

All it takes is cutting beets into sticks and rolling them in flour. Bake for an hour and sprinkle generously with real salt. And presto. Beet fries.

Suddenly my son will fight over them!

You don’t even need ketchup for dipping. They are great as-is. Perfect for keeping the added sugar out of your diet.

I love that this is also a great alternative for anyone that can’t have potatoes due to allergies (like my sons) or a nightshade sensitivity. We also make a lot of carrot fries to avoid potatoes.

My kids will eat these warm or cold. They do tend to go for the golden ones first. Like I said, golden beets are so sweet. But they like both varieties. If you think you don’t like beets, try golden. You might change your mind.

Grab some beets from your local farmer’s market (or grow your own!) and make these picky eater approved beet fries. Easy to make and fun to eat. Plus they are so good for you! It’s a win all around.

Do your kids like beets? Would they eat them as beet fries?

5 from 2 votes

Simple Baked Beet Fries

A delicious way to serve beets to picky eaters.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings 5

Ingredients

3-6 medium to large beets
1/2 cup rice flour, cassava flour or tapioca flour
1 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1 Tbsp. olive oil or avocado oil

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Peel and slice beets into 1/2" sticks.
Combine flour and half of the salt.
Lightly coat beet sticks with flour and line them up on the baking sheet.
Drizzle the olive oil over the beets.
Bake in heated oven for one hour.
Sprinkle on remaining salt while fries are still hot.

January 29, 2018

Instant Pot Turmeric Rice (with Liver!)

Need a simple side dish that boosts the nutrient content of your meal while still tasting great? This Instant Pot turmeric rice is kid-friendly and so easy to make!

When you are a gluten free family, you eat a lot of rice (except when you have a child allergic to rice…so glad he healed from that!). It’s easy. And it goes with just about everything.

I’m the boring mom that usually just cooks plain white rice (it’s much easier on our tummies than brown rice). Then my family gets to add whatever seasonings they like. My kids usually opt for cinnamon and a little sprinkle of organic cane sugar. I personally like just butter and salt.

Flavor Boost

My poor husband was getting pretty sick of plain rice. He grew up eating Rice-A-Roni and was missing flavor in his meal.

I went to my cupboard to see what I could add to the rice for some flavor. There was a bag of turmeric that I had purchased quite a while back…but never opened because I had no idea what to do with it! I had never even tasted turmeric myself. But I heard how good it is for you.

I decided to just take a leap and add some to our rice with a mix of other seasonings. Wonder of wonders…my kids LOVE it! And so does my husband.

They were all hesitant to try it at first. “Why is my rice yellow?!” But after the first bite, they were hooked. And they aptly named it “yellow rice.”

There is definitely no lack of flavor in this rice. And it’s loaded with good stuff from turmeric to broth to liver (this is the brand I love)! It’s so good my mother-in-law served it for the whole relation when we visited for the holidays.

Interested in trying Instant Pot turmeric rice? Head over to Kitchen Stewardship where I’m sharing my quick and easy recipe!

January 8, 2018

Grain and Nut Free Mineral Rich Hummus

Grain and nut free mineral rich hummus makes the perfect snack or lunch box addition. This is will soon become a kid favorite for dipping veggies!

It’s time to get back to routines, back to school, back to nourishing lunches! If you haven’t set any goals, a good one is to make sure your kids are being nourished every single day at every meal.

It may sound daunting, but it’s not. Real food is actually quite simple. Want a snack? Have a pear. Have some pepper slices. Simple.

Want to know what else is simple?

My grain and nut free mineral rich hummus!

It’s so simple my kids can make it themselves. Just a few ingredients tossed in the blender. Done in less than five minutes.

If you want to avoid using canned beans, the easiest way to cook chickpeas is in your Instant Pot!

But what makes it mineral rich?

In addition to the usual chickpeas and oil, I like to add pumpkin seeds. They are loaded with zinc, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus and vitamin E!

The seeds are ground right into the hummus, so you’d never know they’re there. But they really boost the nutrition. You could also use sunflower seeds and/or hemp seeds to vary the minerals.

Allergy Friendly Hummus

I like to keep my hummus very allergy friendly. No grains, nuts, dairy, eggs, soy or corn. Veggies with hummus is my go-to dish to bring to a family gathering. I have kids with allergies and a niece and nephew with allergies. So I try to make sure I bring something everyone can (and will!) eat.

My kids will eat hummus by the spoonful. I like to keep some on hand for easy snacks and lunch additions. If I have pepper and cucumber slices prepared, my three year old will grab a pile with the whole container of hummus and start dipping away.

This year make nourishing food a priority. But don’t stress yourself. Keep it simple with easy foods like fruits, veggies and my five minute grain and nut free mineral rich hummus. You never know, it might just be the trick to turn your kids into raw veggie lovers!

Are your kids adventurous eaters? They might like my pesto hummus!

Grain and Nut Free Mineral Rich Hummus

2018-01-07 05:26:39

Serves 10

A simple, mineral rich dip for veggies or crackers.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups chickpeas (cooked, boxed or canned), drained, liquid reserved
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
6 Tbsp. bean liquid or water
2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds (or sunflower or hemp)
1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. dillweed (optional)
1/4 tsp. desiccated liver (optional)

Instructions

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender.
Blend on high until smooth. Add extra liquid/water if needed.
Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve immediately or refrigerate (up to one week) until ready to serve.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

May 24, 2016

Creamy Orange Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

Nothing says spring like a fresh fruit salad. Top it with this creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing for a treat the whole family will love.

It’s no secret. I LOVE salad. I could (and sometimes do) eat it every day (I’ll be sharing my secret super food dressing soon!).

But my family…not so much. For my husband a “big” salad is about ten pieces of lettuce. So when I was challenged by Stonyfield and The Cookful to create a new salad dressing it took some real thinking. What could I make that my family would actually like?

Skip the lettuce.

Instead of going the traditional lettuce salad route I opted to create a fun fruit salad! Use any fresh fruit you have on hand (especially what’s in season!). Add a burst of flavor with Stonyfield vanilla Greek yogurt (now available in full fat!!), freshly squeezed orange juice and poppy seeds.

I used what we had on hand in the house – Fat Free Vanilla Greek Yogurt. You could also use whole milk yogurt combined with a little maple syrup. But the Greek yogurt really adds a nice thickness.

This creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing is so easy to make. My big kids can make it by themselves (they are learning to do so much from The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse!!).

Great for oral sensitivities.

My oldest has a very sensitive mouth. Any hint of tartness or tough skin in her fruit and she won’t eat it. One fruit she usually does not like is grapes. She makes some pretty good pucker faces when she tries them.

But the other day all I had in the house was a bowl of grapes. I gave her a dish topped with creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing. Not a single complaint! She licked the bowl clean. It’s that good.

Spruce up your salad.

If you like sweet salad dressings (like me!) you could even use this on a lettuce salad. Add some crispy pecans, dried cherries and feta cheese. Delicious!

Looking for some other great salad dressing recipes? The Cookful has plenty to choose from . I think the No Egg Caesar Dressing would be great.

Ready to add some extra flavor to your fruit salad?

Try this super easy creamy orange poppy seed salad dressing. No more boring fruit.

Creamy Orange Poppy Seed Salad Dressing

2016-05-09 20:06:00

A creamy fruit salad dressing with a pop of orange flavor.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup Stonyfield vanilla Greek yogurt (fat free or full fat)
juice of 1/2 - 1 orange (depends how strong you want the orange flavor)
1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
pinch unrefined sea salt

Instructions

Mix all of the ingredients.
Chill for 10 minutes.
Serve over fruit as a salad, on the side as a dip or on a lettuce salad.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

This makes enough for a large fruit salad.
You can replace the vanilla yogurt with plain yogurt and 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Have you heard of The Cookful?

It’s a great new site that really digs deep into specific food topics. They came up with some great salad dressing recipes!

I am working with Stonyfield and The Cookful on this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment, but I have not been paid to post positive reviews. Opinions are my own.

November 23, 2015

Creamy Cranberry Jello

Looking for a kid-friendly spin on cranberry sauce? Try some creamy cranberry jello! It is packed with nutrients and kids will love the taste.

I am working with Stonyfield for this post. I have been compensated for my time commitment. But the opinions and ideas are my own. I have not been paid to post positive reviews.

I’ll be honest. I always skipped the cranberry sauce growing up.

Tart, gelatinous red stuff shaped like a can…not really my thing. I’m not even sure I ever actually tasted it!

It looked that bad to me.

Not much has changed.

Fast forward thirty years. I’m still not entirely sure I’ve ever tasted cranberry sauce. I honestly couldn’t tell you what it tastes like. Even though it sounds really good…assuming it’s not out of a can.

I’ve never made it or served it to my family (though this homemade version from Raising Generation Nourished sure looks good!)

So when challenged by Stonyfield to recreate a holiday dish using yogurt I figured I should try to improve on the one Thanksgiving dish I never even bother making.

I turned cranberry sauce into creamy cranberry jello!

Sweet success.

My kids love it.

A little sweet. A little tart. A little creamy. Perfect.

Creamy cranberry jello really couldn’t be any easier to make either.

Five ingredients. Five minutes of hands on time.

The cranberry comes from pure cranberry juice. The creaminess comes from Stonyfield Plain Greek yogurt or strained whole milk yogurt. And the jello comes from quality grass-fed gelatin.

I love the simplicity of this dish and that it is very kid-friendly. I also love that you can make it up to a couple days in advance. One less thing to think about the day of Thanksgiving or Christmas!

If your kids tend to be hesitant to try new foods and flavors like cranberry try using these fun Thanksgiving printables.

They can be printed out on a self-adhesive paper and placed on soup bowls, paper plates, napkins and glasses. Cute illustrations can sometimes motivate children to eat, but if that’s not enough, writing out funny rhymes or riddles about food can really do the trick.

They can also be used for labeling each dish so those with allergies know what’s safe.

Are you still finalizing your holiday meal plans?

Be sure to keep cranberries ON the menu this year. Nobody will pass them up in the form of creamy cranberry jello. Not even the kids!

Creamy Cranberry Jello

2015-11-18 05:38:06

Serves 8

A creamy, kid friendly twist on cranberry sauce.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups pure cranberry juice (NOT cranberry juice cocktail)
1 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or 1 cup whole milk yogurt, strained
1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp. grass-fed gelatin

Instructions

In a medium saucepan combine the juice, sugar, salt and yogurt. Whisk until combined.
Add the gelatin while whisking to prevent clumping. Let sit one minute.
Heat over medium heat, whisking frequently, until the sugar and gelatin are dissolved (about 3 minutes, mixture will be warm).
Pour into a heat-safe serving dish.
Refrigerate until firm.
Serve cold.

Notes

If you like your jello on the softer side use 1 1/2 Tbsp. of gelatin. If you like it firmer use 2 Tbsp. of gelatin.
You can turn this into finger jello by using 2 1/2 - 3 Tbsp. of gelatin.
You can add whole cranberries to the jello before refrigerating.
You can replace half of the sugar with honey. You may need to increase the gelatin slightly.
You can substitute coconut yogurt to make this dairy free.

By Mary - justtakeabite.com

Just Take A Bite https://justtakeabite.com/

Looking for more delicious jello recipes for the holidays? Give these a try!

Candy Corn Finger Jello

Pear Lime Jello Salad

Strawberry Lemon Jello Salad

Cherry Rhubarb Jello

October 28, 2015

Easy Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

No need to stand at the stove making mashed potatoes at the last minute when hosting a holiday gathering. Let your crockpot do all the work! Crockpot mashed potatoes are easy to prepare and can stay warm and ready to serve whenever you need them.

We are quickly approaching the holiday season. That means big meals and lots of great food.

If you’re like me you prefer to host rather than travel.

But that is a lot of work!

Now you can take one thing off of your last minute to-do list. Crockpot mashed potatoes let you prepare a staple side dish in advance and forget about it until dinner is served.

It really doesn’t get any easier.

Head over to Super Healthy Kids to find out just how easy these crockpot mashed potatoes really are. Then add them to your Thanksgiving menu.

October 20, 2015

Candy Corn Finger Jello: KS Post

Candy corn finger jello is the perfect Halloween treat. It has bright colors and fruit flavor without anything artificial.

I’ve never been that crazy about Halloween.

Don’t get me wrong, getting dressed up is fun. Spending time with friends is great.

Of course as a kid the candy is the real star of the show.

An adult perspective.

But on the whole it’s more of a hassle than anything, especially as a parent. Scrambling to find a costume (I’m cheap and just get creative with what we have on hand…anybody with me?). Spending half the week’s grocery budget on junk food for the neighborhood. Not my cup of tea.

But there is one part of Halloween and fall in general that I have always loved.

Candy corn.

I liked the taste. But more than that it reminded me of my grandparents. They lived on a farm and always kept a chicken feeder on the kitchen table to feed their little chicks – their grandchildren!

For some reason I was more into this tradition than any of my siblings or cousins. If my grandparents knew I was coming they were sure to stock it with candy corn for me. I ran to it first thing when I entered the house to check and have a little chicken feed.

My days of visiting the farm are coming to an end as my grandmother passed away earlier this year and my grandfather is in hospice. But when I do get there the chicken feeder is still sitting there on the table as soon as I walk in the door.

A new tradition.

I am honored that it will soon be the centerpiece of my own table! I can carry on the tradition of feeding my kids and someday grandkids just like little chicks.

But in a different way.

My candy corn will not come out of a bag. It will not have artificial flavors and food coloring.

Instead it will be full of nourishing gelatin!

Want to see how I made this fun treat? Head over to Kitchen Stewardship! I’ll show you just how easy and healthy candy corn finger jello is.

If you’re looking for more holiday treats check out these great real food dessert books:

This post is linked to Savoring Saturdays.

Fun, Fall Food

Fall Vegetables

Quick Crockpot Side Dish

Sweet and Savory Fall Vegetables

Kid-Friendly Holiday Side Dish

Do you have any creative holiday traditions or treats?

How to Can Pears

How to Can Pears Without Sugar

Pear Sauce for Baby

Pear Sauce Canning

Have you ever tried preserving pears? I encourage you to try pearsauce!

What to do With Extra Pears

Homemade Pear Sauce Recipe

Homemade Canned Pear Sauce

Ingredients

Instructions

Making Pear Sauce

Freezing Pear Sauce

Canning Pear Sauce

Recipe Notes

What is in Homemade Chip Dip?

What Can you Dip in Chip Dip Besides Chips?

Easy Dip for Kids

Is Chip Dip Dairy-Free?

Easy Homemade Chip Dip

Ingredients

Instructions

Beet Fries.

Do your kids like beets? Would they eat them as beet fries?

Simple Baked Beet Fries

Ingredients

Instructions

Flavor Boost

Want to know what else is simple?

But what makes it mineral rich?

Allergy Friendly Hummus

Skip the lettuce.

Great for oral sensitivities.

Spruce up your salad.

Ready to add some extra flavor to your fruit salad?

Have you heard of The Cookful?

Not much has changed.

Sweet success.

Are you still finalizing your holiday meal plans?

Looking for more delicious jello recipes for the holidays? Give these a try!

An adult perspective.

A new tradition.

Pin It on Pinterest