July 4th is next week...yessss!!! So today, we're sharing a simple but fun snack/dessert you can make and bring to a summer BBQ. We're calling them Mini Fruit Cookie Tarts. They mix fresh fruit and toppings with a crispy waffle cracker for a refreshing treat that tastes like summer!
I have the hardest time making time to eat breakfast during the weekdays because I'm so busy getting everyone else ready to go, go, go in the mornings! So anything that can be prepped in advance is always a big help. And since I love having a mix of different things, we want to show you how easy it is to put together a mini breakfast basket like this one!
You'll need:
A variety of easy-to-eat fruit and other healthy morning favorites like:
- Grapes
- Papaya
- Dragon Fruit
- Bread
- Yogurt w/ Kumquat slices
- Kiwi
- Banana
- Watermelon
- Mandarin Oranges
Then, simply assemble a variety of items mixing colors, textures, and variety. In some cases, you can prep them the night before so it's ready to go in the morning. And then, simply add any super fresh items like yogurt or sliced fruits right before enjoying.
These also make for a fun breakfast option to prepare for the whole family or for a having guests over. It's healthy, easy, and looks beautiful!
Items shown: Target napkin (past season), Local + Lejos turquoise & pink baskets (past season),Indego Africa pink woven basket, Indego Africa black woven basket (past season), Leif spoons (past season).
{Photos by Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, and crafting by Jess Hong.}
I've always admired those moms who make fun faces or shapes out of food for snack time—there' something so charming about it, but it also seems like it takes a TON of time. So rather than write it off and assume it would take too much time, we challenged ourselves to create a fun, healthy, and delicious afternoon snack for your little ones. Today, we've partnered with Wonderful Halos mandarins, who we've loved as a family snack for years, to bring some playful snacks to life!
1. Blow Fish — Snack time can be hard when your kids are need a boost of energy before dinner and you don't want them to fill up on heavy snacks that will spoil their meal. By turning a Wonderful Halos mandarin into this super cute blow fish, it provides just the right bit of sweetness they crave but in a healthy way. With half of a Halo, we added in carrot sticks to make the spikes, cucumber peels for the seaweed and fish's mouth, and blueberries for the bubbles! Finally, use sprinkles, rice, or sesame seeds for the eyes.
2. Palm Tree — For the summer or as an ode to an upcoming vacation, try making a Halos palm tree! This scene is a fun one that the whole family can nibble at. Use segments of the Halos to create the tree fronds, then add celery for the base, grapes as coconuts, and cucumbers and cucumber peel for the grass. This one is quick and easy and could be created in five minutes!
3. Happy Face — I love this sweet little face! Start by cutting off the very top of the Halo and then add in curled pieces of the rind. Add a sprig of celery leaf and cut eyes and a mouth from the cucumber peel. This one could be customized in so many ways to make the hair as crazy and outlandish as you want. It's also a fun one for kids to take part in help making snack time extra fun.
4. Pattern Play — If you want to get a little more serious, try using Wonderful Halos and some other fruit friends to make a pattern. This is a fun option if you're having a group of kids over after school to make something that feels special. Additionally, it won't take too long for multiple kids to create this one. Simply arrange segments of Halos along with blueberries and sliced kiwis in a pattern on a plate!
5. Puppy — How sweet is this little guy?! This one is guaranteed to bring a smile to your babe's face and award you the Best Parent Ever trophy for making snack time epic. Combined sliced Halos, segmented Halos, and slices of the rind to create the body of the pup with small grapes for the paw, blueberries for the nose, and sprinkles or rice to make the eyes.
When kids enjoy what they are eating, it makes a healthy snack more fun. We promise it will be as fun for you as it is for them!
*This post is brought to you in partnership with Wonderful Halos. All words are my own.
{Photos by Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, and food art by Jess Hong.}
As we start off the new year on the right foot, I asked our friends at Botanica to share a delicious, guilt-free snack that we could have any time of the day. Their yogurt mousse brings yogurt to a whole new level! Here's how to make it...
A few notes: In order to do this mousse justice, you’ve gotta start with good, thick yogurt. Our go-to is Aris, a thick sheep’s milk variety available around California. You can also use Greek yogurt purchased at any local grocery store. As long as you get your hands on a yogurt that has some heft (and tang!), you’re golden. Also important? Good eggs. Keep in mind you’re eating the whites raw, so you want them to come from a happy place!
You'll need:
Makes 2 ample servings (or 4 smaller servings)
- 3 happy eggs
- 2½ tablespoons honey (or more, if you want it sweeter)
- 1¼ cup delicious plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon orange or lemon zest
- 1 vanilla bean, halved, seeds removed
Here's how:
1. First, separate your eggs. Add the whites to the bowl of a stand mixer or a big mixing bowl (if you have a handheld mixer). Save the yolks for another use (aioli, namely).
2. Beat the whites until light, fluffy and semi-firm.
3. Pour the honey into a small saucepan set over medium heat. When it bubbles, turn your mixer back on and stream the honey very slowly into the egg whites, beating all the while, until a stiff meringue forms. It should be glossy and form stiff peaks if you dip a finger in it.
4. In a medium bowl, mix the yogurt, orange or lemon zest and seeds from the vanilla pod. Then gently fold the rest of the meringue into the yogurt in a few batches (we use a silicone spatula), making sure everything is incorporated, being very careful not to deflate it. Stir through a spoonful of meringue to loosen the yogurt a bit. The mousse should be light, fluffy and hold together well.
5. Spoon it into your serving vessel of choice (ramekins and teacups are nice), then chill in the fridge for at least an hour (preferably more, if you want it nice and cold -- but note that it will separate a bit as it sits and will need a gentle stir before serving).
We serve it with whatever fruit is in season — berries or stone fruit in summer, fresh citrus segments in winter — and any toasted nuts and seeds we have lying around. Feel free to experiment with different zests and spices, and serve this with any and all fruits and compotes. You seriously can’t go wrong with this one.
{Photos and recipe by Botanica}
As a mom of two, it’s a daily struggle to figure out new and healthy things to make for my kids that they will actually eat. Inspired by the new Curate Kids bars, today, we’re going to create a few versions of a Bento Box Tray that your kids will love. Check out our video below to see how to make one!
// CREDITS //
Creative Direction: Joy Cho
Video: Jenner Brown
Music: "Let's Go" by Handsome and Gretyl
Production and Styling: Julia Wester
Production Asst: Jessica Hong
Graphics: Angie Stalker
Still photos: Casey Brodley
{Sources: White tray by Poppin, Animal forks from CuteZCute, Silicone cups from IPOW.}
...fresh passion fruit! My friend Catherine dropped off a bag of passion fruit from the tree in her backyard, and while I have always loved passion fruit-flavored things, I have never really eaten straight from the fruit! Yesterday, I had it simply over yogurt and mixed with some champagne grapes, and it was perfection. So I scoured Pinterest for a few others on my "must make with passion fruit" list that I wanted to share with you...
Passion Fruit Cheesecake Ice Cream by The Kate Tin
Passion Fruit Popsicles by Sweet Style CA
Passion Fruit sandwich cookies from Gourmet Traveller
Passion Fruit Meringue Pie by Drizzle and Drip
Passion Fruit lemonade by Love & Olive Oil
Clearly, I'm obsessed...
{Top photo by Oh Joy, other photos credited below each image.}
Few things are more refreshing then a berry tart on a summer day. Today, our friends Claire and Laurel from Sweet Laurel are sharing this beautiful dessert with us that takes only 15-20 minutes to make! And what's even better, for those of you have food allergies, this tart is gluten, grain, dairy, refined sugar free! Here's how...
With summer in the air, icy cold treats are one of my favorite indulgences. I came across some pink lemons at Trader Joe's and knew we needed to make something with them. So today, we're sharing a recipe for pink lemon and grapefruit granita! Granita is pretty fool-proof because you don't need an ice cream or sorbet maker, and you can make it ahead of time and serve when you're ready. It's fun to eat (or sip) on a hot summer's day...
You'll need (makes 4-5 servings):
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup agave syrup
- 1 tsp grapefruit zest
- 1 tsp pink lemon zest
- 1 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice (about 1 grapefruit)
- 1/2 cup pink lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- a dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 3/4 cup water
Here's how:
1. Combine sugar, agave syrup, water, cayenne pepper, grapefruit zest, & lemon zest in a small sauce pan. Stir frequently over medium heat until it reaches a steady boil. Let boil for 1-2 minutes.
2. Pour syrup into a small bowl and let sit for 20 minutes.
3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Pour syrup through a mesh sieve to remove zest.
5. Add grapefruit & lemon juices and mix well.
6. Pour the liquid mixture into a shallow baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and place in freezer. Let freeze until solid, about 8 hours.
7. Use a fork to scrape it into fine ice crystals, and scoop out to serve. Top with extra cayenne if desired and some basil leaves.
Enjoy!
{Photos by Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, crafting by Julia Wester & Jess Hong} White ceramic bowl by 1882 Ltd..
Even though I live in Los Angeles (the land of the super healthy), I can't say I live that gluten-free, macrobiotic, eat-some-oxygen-for-breakfast kind of life. I like being healthy when I can, but I also love things that taste good (hello donuts and fried chicken). And the combo of those two things can be hard to find.
In walks Amazebowls, a company I came across at a recent event and fell in love with their açaí bowls. If you're not familiar with açaí, it's a berry from South America that has been coveted for its health benefits. And, it actually tastes good (like blueberries mixed with a touch of chocolate). So we asked Amazebowls to share a recipe for Açaí Bowls with us so we can all recreate this deliciousness at home. This was the best and most beautiful breakfast ever (I ate two the day we did this shoot)...and makes for a great snack or pick-me-up pretty much any time of day...
Today, my sassy and spunky Ruby turns four. Over the weekend, we celebrated with a small party at a local dance school where the kids learned some fun hip hop ballet moves and shook their booties to T.Swift, Justin Bieber, and Meghan Trainor. It was pretty cute to watch...