October 5, 2017

No Guilt Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stuffed Apples

An easy fall pumpkin pie inspired dessert with a healthy twist? Grab a spoon for these No Guilt Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stuffed Apples, a delicious treat for the pumpkin and apple obsessed that also gives back! This post is sponsored by Produce for Kids. All delicious opinions are my own.

No Guilt Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stuffed Apples

One of my best family memories is the time when we all went apple picking in Massachusetts. The air was cool, the kids were happy, and we left that day with arms full of delicious freshly picked apples. I cling to that memory often, especially the days when I’m still sweating in my 90 degree Florida heat. Can send your fall down this way, please? With it officially October, I’m obsessively overusing and overeating everything pumpkin. And with the apples in their prime at my local Publix, I’m ready to celebrate fall with these No Guilt Slow Cooker Pumpkin Stuffed Apples. Perfect for those wanting to watch their sugar intake (yay for clean eating!) but still enjoy a perfect fall dessert, these apples are a delicious indulgence that the whole family can get behind. Find out how this recipe is doing so much more than filling bellies this fall, by giving back with Produce for Kids, Publix and Feeding America.

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September 25, 2017

Pumpkin Apple Pops for a FUN Fall Snack Idea

Written by christie 19 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Need a festive snack that your kids will love? Try these Pumpkin Apple Pops for a FUN Fall Snack Idea! This post is sponsored by G.H. Cretors as a Flavor Obsessed Five Ambassador. All delicious & festive opinions are my own.

Pumpkin Apple Pops for a FUN Fall Snack Idea

I’m all about themed snacks these days. With my favorite season right around the corner, I couldn’t help but bring a little pumpkin sweetness into our snack time. Who can resist a apple pops in the shape of Jack-O-Lanterns? Not my kids! Check out how we made adorable, delicious and kid-friendly Pumpkin Apple Pops for a FUN Fall Snack Idea and how crusting with G.H. Cretors popcorn made ALL of the difference!
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August 15, 2017

Solar Eclipse Bento Box Ideas

Written by christie 12 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Ready for an out-of-this-world school year? Head back-to-school with these Solar Eclipse Bento Box Ideas. This post is sponsored by Produce for Kids. All delicious opinions are my own. May contain affiliate links.

Solar Eclipse Bento Box Ideas

What does a solar eclipse and back-to-school have in common? Deliciousness! In case you haven’t heard, a”big deal” in our universe is coming on August 21, 2017. A solar eclipse, where the moon passes between the earth and the sun will cause a period of time where the moon will literally block out the sun. Not to be seen again until July 2, 2019, your family will definitely want to experience this beautiful and rare phenomenon. Not wanting to miss out on this exciting time in the sky, I thought it fitting that I bring a little space learning into our back-to-school lunchboxes with these Solar Eclipse Bento Box Ideas. Grab these delicious, healthy, and adorable ideas as we get ready to watch the skies this August. And find out how your Solar Eclipse Bento Box can donate $1 to Feeding America – by taking the Produce for Kids Power Your Lunchbox Pledge.

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August 10, 2017

No Bake Breakfast Tarts for Back to School

Written by christie 26 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Need some kid-friendly breakfast ideas for the busy school season? Try these Easy No Bake Breakfast Tarts for Back to School. This post is sponsored by Family Dollar. All delicious opinions are my own.

No Bake Breakfast Tarts for Back to School

“Where are my shoes?”

“I can’t wear that!”

“Have you seen my homework?”

“We have to leave N-O-W!”

Ah, the sounds of back to school. It’s hard to believe that we’re only a few weeks away from one of the busiest times of the year. The busiest time for me? Mornings. I can feel the panic set in as I try to get my son ready and out of the door on time. Now with 2 children going back-to-school this season, it’s time to change up the breakfast routine with these easy No Bake Breakfast Tarts. Only a few ingredients, a few minutes and a few bellies are needed to make this a power-packed breakfast a part of your daily back to school routine. Find out how easy this delicious breakfast/lunch/snack idea is to make, with some essentials I found at Family Dollar.

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July 6, 2017

Easy Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole with Sweet Orange Glaze

Written by christie 29 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Say hello to summer mornings with this Easy Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole, complete with a homemade sweet orange glaze.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

Easy Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole with Sweet Orange Glaze

I’ve got the summer bug. And the only cure is more cinnamon rolls, please! I’m saying hello to summer mornings with this Easy Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole with Sweet Orange Glaze, paired perfectly with my favorite summer iced coffee. Find out how easy it is to make this delicious twist on the cinnamon roll (a perfect breakfast idea for lazy summer mornings or even dessert!) and how I pair it with big savings on Dunkin’ Donuts® coffee.

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June 30, 2017

Kid-Approved Fourth of July Cheese Platter

Written by christie 17 Comments
Recipes

Celebrate Independence Day with your family and this Kid-Approved Fourth of July Cheese Platter, perfect for a party! This post is sponsored by Frigo® Cheese Heads® String Cheese. All delicious opinions are my own.

Kid-Approved Fourth of July Cheese Platter

Ready to celebrate Independence Day with your family? We’re going red, white and blue for the summer holiday with delicious Fourth of July inspired eats and this Kid-Approved Fourth of July Cheese Platter. Find out how Frigo® Cheese Heads® String Cheese became the stars and stripes of this adorable American flag inspired snack, perfect for your family’s 4th of July celebration!

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June 9, 2017

Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles with Pistachio Crumble

Written by christie 23 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Sweeten your summer with these Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles with Pistachio Crumble. This post is sponsored by Produce for Kids. All delicious opinions are my own.

Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles with Pistachio Crumble

Nothing says summer like popsicles. Am I right? But then you combine sweet, tart, crunchy and savory – with a hint of healthy (say what?!) and you have these delicious Chocolate Raspberry Popsicles Recipe with a Crunchy Pistachio Crumble. Find out how these sweet treats are doing more than filling my kids’ bellies this summer, they are also helping to feed local families in need too.

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May 4, 2017

Easy Cucumber Sushi for Kids

Written by christie 88 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Fuse healthy snacking & fun with gluten-free & Easy Cucumber Sushi for Kids. Perfect lunch/after-school snack idea for little hands, this delicious combo will have your children gobbling “sushi” in no time! May contain affiliate links

Easy Cucumber Sushi for Kids

How does your family fuse together healthy and delicious? We are in the home stretch for the school year and I’m ready to help my son finish strong with after-school snack ideas that keep him full, happy and focused with this gluten-free Easy Cucumber Sushi for Kids (don’t worry kids, no seaweed in these rolls!). Crunch, taste and FUN make this the ultimate kid-friendly fusion snack!

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April 17, 2017

Easy Grilled Blueberry Crisp Recipe

Written by christie 14 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Say hello to grilling season with this Easy Grilled Blueberry Crisp recipe. Perfect for your next cookout! This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Easy Grilled Blueberry Crisp Recipe

Sniff, sniff sniff!

There is nothing like the smell of grilling season, y’all! There are definite perks to living in Florida, especially when you can pull out the grill All. Year. Long. And with some delicious Fresh from Florida produce in season right now, you’re going to definitely want to fire up the grill for this Easy Grilled Blueberry Crisp Recipe. Only a few ingredients are needed for this sweet and gluten-free dessert idea.

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February 17, 2017

Easter Chick Apples “Surprise”

Written by christie 138 Comments
Recipes & Reviews

Surprise your kids’ lunches this spring with simple Easter Chick Apples – with a sweet surprise inside! This post is sponsored by Opal® Apples. All delicious opinions are my own.

Easter Chick Apples “Surprise”

SURPRISE! Easter is just around the corner, can you believe it? With another fun holiday almost here, now is the perfect time to send my son to school with a fun lunchbox surprise! Make these adorable Easter Chick Apples for an easy snack idea for your kids lunches with a special “surprise” treat inside. Plus I’m sharing my secret to non-browning apples in our lunchboxes with Opal® apples with a FUN giveaway!

Opal Apples Are Perfect for Kids’ Lunches

There’s nothing worse than a brown apple, especially when you have picky eaters like mine. As soon as they spot a color change, it’s an instant YUCK! And if you know me, I hate wasting perfectly good food. My solution? Opal® apples! These naturally non-browning apples are the perfect addition to my kids’ school lunches. They stay yellow and fresh all the way up to lunch time! How is this possible? You have to slice it to believe it!

Naturally resistant to oxidation and browning
Non-GMO Project verified
Crispy texture
Sweet and delicious, a cross between Golden Delicious & Topaz
Certified organic

Opal Apples Video

Sounds unreal, right? I was definitely a skeptic before slicing into my own Opal Apples. So I put these little yellow fruits to the test! Check out this Opal Apples video time lapse to see if Opal Apples stand up to the non-browning challenge after FOUR hours.

Easter Chick Apples

So let’s get to the cuteness, shall we? I’m always a big fan of little surprises in my kids’ lunches. And with Easter around the corner, it’s the perfect time to add adorable Easter Chick Apples to the lunchbox rotation. With adorable faces and a sweet surprise inside, my kids cannot resist these lunchtime treats.

What You Will Need

Yellow non-browning apples, like Opal Apples!
Chocolate Chips
Dried Orange Fruit: such as mango, peaches or apricots
Butter of choice – I used peanut butter. But sun butter, almond butter, etc. would make great allergy-friendly alternatives!
Popsicle sticks
Ribbon

Directions

Begin by cutting the top off the apple. Scoop out the core – but leave the bottom of the apple intact.
Place your “surprise” sweet goodies inside – consider mini chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, dried fruit.
Replace the top of the apple.
Now let’s glue the little face onto the Easter Chick. Using chocolate chips for eyes, use your butter adhere to the front of the apple.
Cut your dried orange fruit into a small triangle. Attach your “beak” of the baby chick to the apple using more butter.
Now for the finale! Tie a ribbon around a popsicle stick. Carefully poke a hole through the top of the apple and insert your popsicle stick. Replace apple top on top of your Easter Chick Apple!

You now have an adorable Easter Chick Apple – perfect for lunches, parties and play dates!

And SURPRISE! Chocolate chips inside for another fun treat! Looking for another sweet snack idea for your kids? Try these Healthy Apple “Doughnuts” for a delicious treat.

$1 Opal Apples Coupon

Ready for a sweet apple deal? Grab your $1 Opal apples coupon now while supplies last! Hurry and stock up on Opal apples now through March (peak season!) at your favorite Opal apples retailer. And be sure to follow Opal apples via Facebook and Twitter for the latest recipes, offerings and more.

Opal Apples Giveaway

It’s no secret that I just LOVE Opal Apples. Naturally non-browning, GMO-free, organic and sweetly delicious, these little yellow apples make the perfect Easter Chick Apples for lunches! Want to give Opal Apples a try? Enter to win an Opal Apples Prize Pack including:

Opal Apples Bento Lunchbox
Box of Opal Apples!

Perfect for adding to your kids’ lunchboxes this spring! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 3/3. Here’s how to enter:
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