Blueberry Lemonade Popsicles

We're still settling into our new home even though it's been a year since we moved. New community, new climate... . It takes a while, and I'm all about giving myself and my family all the time and space we need to adjust. Blogging, I'm afraid, has taken a back seat to the scramblings of every day life in our new place. That said, I just had to carve out a few moments to practice taking blog photos in our new home (I am way rusty) and bring you our favorite summer popsicle.

These Blueberry Lemonade Popsicles are the perfect summer treat!

These Blueberry Lemonade Popsicles are everything you want in a summer treat. Fresh blueberries - tart and sweet. Juicy fresh lemon adding just the perfect amount of pucker. Goodness, my mouth is watering already. Let's get started.

Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars

I am TOTALLY in love with these Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars. Can't get enough of 'em. They're nutty and figgy and packed with good-for-ya ingredients. They're great with milk for the kiddos and great with coffee for da mamas and da papas. 😉 They are snack heaven in my book.

I have to admit, these Honey, Walnut, and Fig Granola Bars are a little addicting.

The trick to these yummy (and slightly addicting) snackies is toasting the nuts and oats. It makes for fabulous texture and amazing flavor. I also love that I can get my anti-nut eater to eat them. I process the walnuts so they blend in perfectly with the oats and he's none the wiser. Tricky mommy. 😉

Fresh Orange Popsicles

My sister-in-law brought us a big bag of homegrown oranges recently. What a treat. My kids are fruit fanatics and this bag of bright, fragrant oranges was just what we needed for some popsicle inspiration. Ever since I learned how to make popsicles the right way from Alana Chernila in her cookbook, The Homemade Kitchen, we have had a lot of fun experimenting with different fruit and yogurt combinations.

These oranges were very sweet so we didn't need to add any additional sweetener. We ended up making two batches of these vitamin C packed popsicles. The boys helped to peel while I zested. I made them pause as I took pictures along the way, which they did not like. Maybe not the best time to practice blog photography.

Practicing my photo styling and editing here. Still got a whole lot to learn.

You'll need a zester, popsicle molds, and a high speed blender. You could omit the zest, but it really boosts the orange flavor. A food processor may work in place of a blender.

I like this slightly styled mess.

Fresh Orange Popsicles

(This recipe makes about 12 medium sized popsicles)

INGREDIENTS

8 to 10 oranges

DIRECTIONS

1. Zest 2 of the oranges.
2. Peel all of the oranges and fill a high speed blender to the max fill line with the fruit.
3. Add the zest and zap on low to blend up the fruit. Then move up to high and blend for a couple of minutes until frothy and you can't see little flecks of zest anymore.
4. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze 3 to 4 hours or until solid.

More practicing.

These guys are in total heaven. Thank you Auntie Ramona for the lovely oranges!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

We love us some snackies around here. I don't do a whole lot of homemade snacks apart from sweet treats, granola and sometimes yogurt(which I have no time for these days), but some recipes are worth their weight in gold (or chocolate in this case).

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are one of our favorite snackies!

My neighbor gave me a huge jug of chocolate protein powder her family didn't care for and I've been on the hunt for a good protein bar recipe to put it to good use. This is a snack I like to make at home since protein bars are so pricey.

I found a recipe I liked on Wanna Bite and modified it to suit my pantry. Most of us around here are nut fanatics so this recipe works well for us.

Step 1: Start by zapping a couple of cups of whole oats in a food processor until fine.

Step 2: Zap in peanuts and protein powder.

Step 3: Add in peanut butter, maple syrup, chia seeds, and raisins and process all together.

Step 4: Add in milk and process until the mixture comes together.

Step 5: Press the mixture into a parchment lined 9 x 9 inch square pan. I like using a rubber spatula to smoosh it down nice and compact.

Step 6: Melt a cup of chocolate chips with a teaspoon of coconut oil in the microwave and spread evenly over the top.

Make their day with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars.

Step 7: Refrigerate until cold and firm, and then cut into bars. I like square - but that's just me.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole oats
1 cup salted peanuts
4 scoops chocolate protein powder
1 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup raisins
2 Tbsp chia seeds
2/3 cup soy or almond milk
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1 tsp coconut oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Zap oats in a food processor until it resembles a fine powder.

2. Add nuts and protein powder and process to combine.

3. Add chia seeds, peanut butter, raisins and maple syrup and process until thoroughly mixed.

4. Add milk and process until mixture comes together.

5. Pack mixture firmly into a parchment lined 9 x 9 square pan.
6. Use your microwave to melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl in 30 seconds increments, stirring after each time. Spread evenly over pan and refrigerate until cold and firm.
7. Lift bars out of pan and cut into bars.