Dark Chocolate Covered Frozen Banana Bites

July 22, 2014April 28, 2018Leave a comment

As promised, I’m brining you some delicious and pretty healthy summer treat options using that delicious Homemade Dark Chocolate Magic Shell! These are seriously so amazingly delicious! Frozen banana offers such a creamy texture, if blind folded, I wonder if you would honestly think you were eating ice cream. So, to have it covered in chocolate . . . . yeah, pretty awesome!

These are a cinch to throw together. All you do is cut up your bananas, freeze them for a bit and then dip them in the Magic Shell. Since that Magic Shell takes all of about 2 minutes to complete, you can have you a delicious summer treat in no time.

I gotta tell you. . . sometimes I fear dipping stuff in chocolate because it seems like every time I do, it’s a disaster. The chocolate never sticks, and if it does, it looks like my two-year-old did it. I was THRILLED when I simply dipped my bananas, pulled them out, and found that they looked absolutely beautiful.

After dipping you can sprinkle them with other toppings if you want. My little babe is loving sprinkles as of late, so we did some with sprinkles just for fun. Think of how fun it would be to use sprinkles that are centered around a particular holiday (like red, white and blue for Independence day). Oh . . . so cute!

While I think these make for a perfect summer treat or snack, don’t be thinking that they wouldn’t be good year-round. Oh, I’ll be making these quite often . . . regardless of the season. I’ve been using these babies for a quick fix when I’ve wanted a treat. You know . . . instead of running out for a triple sundae, or sneaking a full size candy bar, I’ve just popped one of these Banana Bites in my mouth and my treat fix has been cured. My banana bites are slowly disappearing, but I’m happy to report that my waist size isn’t growing. LOL!

Go! Make you some Frozen Banana Bites! You’ll be glad you did.

Dark Chocolate Frozen Banana Bites
Mimi’s Fit Foods
Adapted From Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients:
3 medium ripe (but not soggy) bananas
1 batch Homemade Dark Chocolate Magic Shell (follow link in blog post)
popsicle sticks
sprinkles, optional

Directions:
Cut the bananas into six equal bite-sized pieces. Place on a foil- or parchment-covered baking sheet. Then poke them with the popsicle sticks. Freeze for at least 2 hours or until frozen.

Remove and dip each banana in the magic shell until covered. (I used a tall jar . . . the one pictured in the Magic Shell post . . . so that it would be easier to dip.) Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired, and place back on cold baking sheet until dried.

Serve immediately or re-freeze.

Yields 18.

Homemade Dark Chocolate Magic Shell

July 16, 2014April 28, 20182 Comments

Here’s a sweet, little indulgence you may want to add to your recipe box. It’s made with dark chocolate chips (and we’ve all heard how healthy dark chocolate is, right!?) and coconut oil. That’s it. It’s dangerously easy to make and it adds just a little special touch to your frozen treats (you know . . . frozen yogurt or frozen fruit).

When my parents bought Magic Shell when I was a kid, I thought it was the cat’s meow! I was so fascinated with how it would harden up when poured over my ice cream. I loved the stuff. This homemade version does EXACTLY that, but it tastes WAY better. I also love that I was able to make it with dark chocolate.

Stay tuned . . . I have a couple “healthy” summer treats headed your way where I’ll put this Homemade Dark Chocolate Magic Shell to good use.

Homemade Dark Chocolate Magic Shell
Mimi’s Fit Foods
Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients:
1 cup dark chocolate chips (mine were 63% cacao – brand was E Guittard)
2 tablespoons virgin organic coconut oil

Directions:
Stir together chocolate chips and coconut oil in a large microwave-safe bowl. Place in microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Continue microwaving and stirring in 15 second intervals until all of the chocolate is melted. Remove and let sit until the chocolate reaches room temperature.
Serve with ice cream or fruit. Can be covered and stored at room temperature (not in a refrigerator) for up to 1 month.

Serves 11.

Lime Kissed Fruit Salad

July 9, 2014April 28, 2018Leave a comment

Lime Kissed Fruit Sald | Mimi's Fit Foods

With it being summer and having all this lovely fruit in season, fruit salads are all the craze! I absolutely love eating fresh fruit in the summer and find that it makes a delicious, light, and beautiful side dish to almost any meal. That being said, this has become my most favorite way to serve it as of late!

This fruit salad is oh-so-simple, takes very little time, and seriously takes that fresh fruit up a gazillion notches to SUPER awesome! I’ve been toting this fruit salad to family and friend BBQ’s all summer long and every. single. time. I am asked how to make it because everyone is drooling over every bite.

I’ve found that the fruit options are endless. I typically make it with whatever fruit I have on hand or with whatever fruit I am in the mood for. Being summer . . . there is usually melon and strawberries in it for sure. Then, I add others. You can change things up to your liking.

One little note that I must mention is that you should not “dress” this salad until it is time to eat it. It only lasts a couple of hours before going “mushy” and gets all juicy. (I mean, the mushy and juicy fruit is still to-die-for, but you know . . . not the most optimal to serve.)

All I’m saying is that if you want to be praised for your little-to-no-effort salad, this is it folks! Make it for your next BBQ. Or, if you don’t have a BBQ, make it for yourself. You’ll be in heaven! And, keep it in mind for the fall/winter months too because it’s even delicious with canned fruit. No kidding!

Lime Kissed Fruit Salad
Mimi’s Fit Foods
Adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon, cubed
2 cups strawberries, quarters
1 cup grapes, halved (red or green)
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained well
1 banana sliced
zest from one lime
2 tablespoons honey

Directions:
Combine the fruit in a medium-large serving bowl. Add the lime zest and gently toss.
Drizzle the honey over the fruit and again, gently mix until the fruit is evenly coated with the honey. Serve.

Lucky Lime Creamy Protein Shake

March 14, 2014March 18, 2014Leave a comment

Oh man! I might be a little biased because of my love for anything citrus-flavored, but this shake seriously made my day yesterday!

I wanted to bring you another healthy “green” recipe that you can use on St. Patrick’s Day and this is what I decided on. I had originally hoped to make something with mint, but when this idea entered my mind . . . . I couldn’t let it go! I’m yearning for warm, summer weather and this shake just might have given me a taste of it. It’s SO refreshing! We had a nice 55ish-degree day yesterday that was filled with sun. After making this shake, I put the babe in the stroller, walked to the park (without a jacket, mind you), and sipped this the whole way there. Sunshine, a creamy lime shake, and a happy toddler going down the slide . . . . I think summer is coming! I’m totally feeling lucky about that and this shake definitely helped!

This shake comes out with a slightly green hint. If you really want it to look more green, add a drop or two of green food coloring. Feel free to make this on your St. Patrick’s Day. It will definitely bring out the fun mood of the holiday and it might even make you feel like it’s summer for a day. Worked for me!

Lucky Lime Creamy Protein Shake

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (100 Calories, 15g Protein)
1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
sweetener, to taste (I used 2 packets Stevia)
fresh juice from 2 limes
zest from 1-2 limes
1/2 cup plain 0% Greek yogurt
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
ice, to desired consistency
1-2 drops green food coloring, optional

Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Serves 2.

Nutritional Information Per Shake
Calories: 200.5
Protein: 29.3g
Carbs: 12.7g
Fat: 3.8g (1.3g = Sat.)
Fiber: 2.1g
Sugars: 7.7g

Roasted Cabbage Slices

March 12, 2014March 18, 2014Leave a comment

St. Patrick’s Day is in a matter of days and I know several of us are on the lookout for recipes, so I decided to share another one for you to consider. There are LOTS of fun recipes out there for this lovely green-inspired holiday, and of all the recipes, I decide to share with you Roasted Sliced Cabbage. Stay with me, here! Stay with me!

While this may not appear “fun,” I promise I would not share this with you if I didn’t absolutely love it! This is seriously crazy yummy when it comes to the cabbage world. Roasting the cabbage helps to bring out a level of sweetness you don’t get otherwise, and it offers a bit of crunch on the edges (my favorite part). Seriously! If you’re not a fan of cabbage, this could certainly be one of the cabbage dishes that could possibly sway you!

Besides that cabbage seems to be popular in Irish-inspired St. Patrick’s Day dishes (for example . . . Corned Beef and Cabbage), it’s also green! Why not make this a side dish at an all-green dinner? It’s a great way to make sure you get something healthy, it’s green, and it’s deeeeelish!

Roasted Cabbage Slices
Adapted from Wellness Mama

1/2 head of medium-sized cabbage
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Slice the cabbage in 1/4-1/2 inch slices.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, or use a Silpat liner. Place the cabbage on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. If desired, evenly brush drizzled oil over cabbage.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast for 30-35 minutes or until tender in the middle and sides are just starting to turn golden brown. Remove and serve.

Serves 4.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Calories: 58.4
Protein: 1.6g
Carbs: 6.2g
Fat: 3.8g (0.5g = Sat.)
Fiber: 2.6g
Sugars: 0g

Berry Heart Skewers

February 12, 20142 Comments

Since Valentine’s Day is in two days, I thought I would share a fun and easy idea into the mix. These Berry Heart Skewers are so EASY, but beyond that I think they are so super adorable.

There’s not a real recipe that goes with this post as it’s more of a simple method to ensure you get a heart shape out of your strawberries. It’s pretty simple since strawberries already come in a shape that resembles a heart.

All you do is core the strawberries. Then, taking a paring knife, simply cut a v-shape out of the top of the berry. I cut one slant down, and then I make my other cut on the opposite side. I found that the strawberries look best if the cut is not too deep.

That’s it! You can skewer them however you wish. I thought the addition of blueberries was way fun and festive.

You can put these out as a snack for the kids, put them in your hubby’s lunch, or you can have them as a side dish for dinner or lunch.

My sweet little toddler has been enjoying them with her PB&J for lunch! And, because it’s Valentine’s week . . . her PB&J is shaped like a heart too (using a cookie cutter).

Most importantly, I hope you have a love-filled Valentine’s Day!

Top 5 Healthy, No Candy Valentine Ideas

February 10, 2014February 10, 2014Leave a comment

I know that Valentine’s Day is totally centered around LOVE, but next comes all the candies and the goodies. I’ve found some super cute ways to send Valentine’s Day Love without the candy. These ideas are creative, so cute, and still tasty! All the photos are taken from the sources I’ve mentioned.

These are my favorite TOP 5 ideas I’ve seen!

This first idea comes from Tutto Bella. I think it’s great!

This next one comes from Craftaholics Anonymous and, as a bonus, you can even download the Fruit Tags for free! This makes this Valentine WAY easy to put together.

This next one also uses fruit, but a bigger variety. It’s from Alpha Mom and she also has the Fruit Labels available for downloading. She mentions putting these cute little tags on the fruit and throwing them in your kiddo’s (or hubby’s) lunch boxes, which is a fantastic idea! However, these are adorable for Valentine’s Day too!

This next one is from Bless This Mess. She has several fun and healthy ideas, but I really loved this one. It uses a stick of string cheese!

And, last, but certainly not least (as this might be my favorite of the bunch), is “Love Juice” from At Second Street, via Tatertots & Jello. This idea is so fun and she’s made it SO adorable. She even has a free printable so that you can make it cute too without even trying!

So . . . there you have it! You can create and deliver healthy Valentines and feel totally awesome about it! What other ideas have you had? Please share!!

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Category: Holiday