fresh fruit – Pretty Little Pastimes

Just when I thought I was out of the woods, after a long fight with seasonal allergies, a new bug got ahold of me this week. Everyone around me seemed to be catching the virus, so I new it was a matter of time before the scratchy throat and stuffy nose found its way to me. When I am sick, I tend to be very stubborn. I usually refuse any cold medicine and just try to let me body fight the sickness on its own. I find that when I pay closer attention to how my body feels in its natural state, then I can better judge when fevers are coming/breaking, when I am hungry and when I need more rest.

Since I did not have a lot of energy, I whizzed up this simple Immunity Boost Smoothie to give my system a little kick in the right direction. This smoothie is a combination of fresh raspberries (you can also use frozen), yogurt, bananas and orange juice. The Vitamin C, antioxidants and flavonoids found in the ingredients will help boost your immune system … plus it’s delicious!

Immunity Boost Smoothie

1 cup vanilla yogurt – or vanilla soy milk
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup orange juice
handful of ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender. Cover and blend until smooth.

This cold drink was just what I needed to get me through the rest of my day. When I find myself ill during the winter months, nothing sounds better than warm soup, but during the summertime I always turn to something cold. Try this smoothie next time you are looking for a quick boost or a tasty treat. Cheers to good health!

Fresh Cherry Crisp

This time of year means a lot of things to me, backyard barbecues, trips to the beach and fresh fruit everywhere! Sometimes I get a little overzealous at the store and end up with more fruit than I know what to do with. If I knew that I only had a couple days left before it went bad, I used to always ask aloud, “What should I do with this?” The immediate response from the BF was, “Something easy, like a crisp”. I used to cringe at this statement, because the “something easy” crisp had eluded me for years. Without fail, it would cook unevenly or I would end up with a mouthful of pure sugar when biting into it, ick. But after multiple failed attempts, I finally ended up with a winning recipe. It is quick and easy (really this time), perfect for a weeknight menu. I have made this twice in the last month, once with fresh strawberries and again with fresh cherries. But this recipe is not just for those warm summer months, with the addition of a little cinnamon and clove to your fresh fruit, it is perfect for Fall! So keep it handy!

Fresh Fruit Crisp

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups fresh fruit; chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together oatmeal, flour, brown, sugar and walnuts. Cut in butter until crumbly. In a separate bowl, mix fresh fruit with white sugar. Grease an 8″ square pan and spread half of the crumb mixture in an even layer on bottom. Layer the fruit next, followed by the remaining half of the crumb mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve warm.

Topped with a little vanilla frozen yogurt or fresh whipped cream and this quick and tasty dessert will really hit the spot!