Creamsicle Creations

Both the boys and I LOVE these. These are (now) what I sneak as treats during the day and the boys beg for them after dinner for their treat. They are a serious new fave. You have GOT to try these! I got this recipe from on of my friends Jami and just tweaked it a bit.

½ ripe banana, mashed
1 cup plain yogurt
1/3 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tsp vanilla

Directions: Mix together and pour molds. (I found that it was too much if they were too big so we like them in ice trays.) Freeze until hard.

Using a spoon drop into Ice Tray.
Place a piece of foil over the tray and using a sharp knife poke small lines over each hole. THEN, place Popsicle sticks through each hole. (you can find them at dollar tree).
Place in freezer until frozen hard. It is perfect size for both adults and children. I did make some bigger ones for me and my husband but it seemed too much, even for us. We preferred the smaller ones.

Avocado Dip

Avocado Dip

2 avocados
2 tsp lemon Juice
1/4 sweet onion, grated
1 clove garlic, shredded
1/2 vine ripe tomato, diced (optional)

Directions: Peel and seed the avocado and place in a bowl with the lemon Juice. Mash the avocado until it is fairly smooth. Grate onion with a large grater into the bowl with the avocado. Shred the garlic with a small grater into the same bowl. Add tomato and mix.

Roasted Green Beans and Tomato

This is one of my absolute Fave.or.ites! This comes from one of my friends Mindy. Not only is SHE great but her recipes are great too!

Roasted Green Beans and Fresh Tomato

4 cups Green snap beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces

2 cups grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quarters

¼ cup fresh basil, cut into ribbons, divided

2 tsp minced garlic

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper, freshly ground

Cooking spray

Directions: Preheat oven to 450. Coat a large roasting pan with cooking spray. Coat green beans with garlic, salt and pepper and cooking spray. Place green beans in a single layer in prepared pan. Cover and roast until desired doneness, stirring once or twice about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine tomatoes and ½ the basil. Set aside. When beans are finished, remove from oven and spoon tomato mixture into pan; toss thoroughly. Serve hot, room temperature, or chilled, top with remaining basil.

Black Bean Burgers

Thes were SO good. My hubby loves hamburgers but I am not so excited about them. This was a happy medium and a healthy solution. This (once again) is a recipe my momma shared with me.

Beef and Black Bean Burgers

1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

¾ lb ground beef

¼ cup diced red onion

1 tsp chili powder

½ tsp ground cumin

¼ tsp dried oregano leaves

½ tsp salt

Coarsely ground black pepper

Directions: Place drained beans in a large bowl and mash, leaving some whole and some mashed well, with a potato masher. Add beef, onion, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, mix to combine. Shape into 4 burgers and grill.

Hint: Make sure you make them REALLY thin and REALLY big around. I am not kidding you will think it is going to be SUPER thin and huge but I promise you it won't. I thought I made mine thin enough and big enough around and look how small and thick my was.

Children: Cut the burger into fourths or in half.

Babies: This is very good broken into pieces on its own. You could add some shredded cheese and veggies.