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Banana Swirl Ice Cream

June 5, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

This post is made possible with support from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program. All opinions are my own.

I remember when we had our first baby.  I was OBSESSED with whether or not she was meeting her milestones. Anytime like I felt she was falling behind on something, I panicked.  I would ask the same question in all 3,421 Facebook parenting groups I’m a part of and they would all tell me the same thing, “Breathe.”

Thankfully, I was just being a first-time parent in all of the circumstances I presented. It’s important that while milestones are critical, hitting all of them exactly the second they turn 3, 6, or whatever corresponding age bracket, isn’t always going to happen.  Much to my friend’s pleasure, I calmed down a bit with my second child. I realized that sometimes she would hit things much earlier than projected, while other things took a few more weeks. And that was okay. What is important is to find reputable sources of information on developmental milestones and keep tracking your child’s progress.

CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program offers developmental milestones that most children should reach by different ages. What’s great about this campaign is that parents can now know exactly which milestones their children should be reaching from birth to age 5 years old.

The “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program is geared towards early identification of children with developmental disabilities, including autism.  By detecting these concerns early, children and families are able to get the services, as well as the support, they need. Each milestone age gives targets for how your child should play, learn, speak, act, and move. By watching and tracking your little’s development, you are able to quickly act if something is not on track.

We recently hit the 18 month milestones, and are now gearing towards the 2 year old ones.

Some of the 18 month milestones she has been reaching are:

  • May have temper tantrums
  • May be afraid of strangers
  • Says and shakes head “no”
  • Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
  • Scribbles on her own
  • May walk up steps and run
  • Drinks from a cup
  • Eats with a spoon
  • and more...


       

One of my favorite milestones from this age was her learning to really use a spoon.  Mostly, because it meant that there was less mess to clean up. Don’t get me wrong, there are still messes and accidents, but her learning to use a spoon has helped so much.

Today, I wanted to share one of my favorite treats to make at this age is Banana Swirl Ice Cream.

Now, I know what you may be thinking.  Ice Cream at 18 months!? This isn’t healthy! But SURPRISE!  This Banana Swirl Ice Cream has just 3 ingredients, helps to meet the daily fruit serving size AND helps with teething. SAY WHAT!?  It’s true.  Frozen foods have always helped my girls when teething and these last teeth they get between 12-24 months are always the hardest in our house. It also helps with teaching them spoon skills.  What kid won’t practice spoon skills for some ice cream! 😉

Here’s the recipe for Banana Swirl Ice Cream

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Banana Swirl Ice Cream
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 6 large bananas
  • 2 cups frozen strawberries
  • 3 tbsp water
  • Chopped Walnuts Optional
Instructions
  1. On a baking sheet lined with wax paper, chop up bananas into large chunks and spread across sheet.
  2. Place in the freeze until harden.
  3. Meanwhile, place frozen strawberries and water in a suacepan and heat over medium heat.
  4. Stir often until the strawberries break down.
  5. Using a sieve, separate the strawberry juice from the pieces.
  6. Set juice aside and let cool. *You can throw away or compost the pieces.
  7. Once bananas are frozen, place in a food processor and pulse until the consistency of ice cream.
  8. This takes about 3 minutes and you may have to scrap down the sides of your food processor.
  9. Pour ice cream into a bowl and swirl in the strawberry juice.
  10. Serve immediately or place back in freezer until ready to use in an air tight container.

 

Looking for more information about where your little should be?  Head over to the Learn The Signs. Act Early page today! 

Filed Under: Desserts, Home, Kids In The Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: banana, desserts, ice cream, recipes, strawberry, the seasoned kids, vegan, vegetarian

Coconut Peanut Butter Banana Bites

March 10, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Both of my kids beg for bananas. Great, right?  I used to think so too. There’s so many great nutrients in a banana.  One large banana yields 20% of the daily Vitamin C and 25% of the daily Vitamin B6, a great source of fiber, helps with digestion, and a great source of potassium and magnesium.  Who doesn’t want their kid eating bananas?  But lately, they both take like three bites of the banana and then bring it to me and say they are done?  Umm, nope. What’s that saying?  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  Except, they’ve fooled me about fifty-eleven times now.  Up until recently, when I was like nope, no more bananas.

Of course, they keep asking. I needed to figure out a way that we could all be happy. I didn’t want to waste food (or feel like I needed to eat the leftovers–come on we all know moms eat the leftovers because we feel bad about wasting food). 

Insert these Coconut Peanut Butter Banana Bites.  It’s a way for me to not only split one banana between both of the girls, but I can also freeze whatever they don’t eat for later, thus always having a fun snack on hand all the time.  It’s a win/win for everyone.

Watch them make it, then keep reading & grab the recipe below:

On top of all of that, it’s something that our 4 year old can make completely on her own. She knows how to peel a banana, use can cut it using our nylon kid safe knives, spoon the peanut butter, and top with coconut. Voila! Done! The 1 1/2 year old has a little bit of work to do before she’s ready to make these on her own.  When she was done (as you can kind of see in the video below) it just looks like it’s supposed to be a topping of some sort. Either way she was happy with her progress.

Enjoy!

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Coconut Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1 banana
  • peanut butter or alternative butter
  • shredded coconut
Instructions
  1. Cut banana into desired size chunks
  2. Spoon peanut butter on top of the bananas.
  3. Top with shredded coconut.
  4. Freeze for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Serve immediately.
  6. Store any leftovers in an air-tight freezer container in the freezer.

This things may help your littles make this recipe!


Filed Under: Home, Kids In The Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: banana, peanut butter, recipes, snacks, the seasoned kids

Banana Bread Breakfast Smoothie

November 17, 2016 by Andrew Leave a Comment

banana-bread-breakfast-smoothie-2

Is it just me or do you also feel too busy to try and figure out breakfast!? It’s like almost an inconvenience in the morning. You wake up with so many questions…

  • What’s the weather?
  • Where is the remote?
  • Which new channel do I like?
  • What am I going to wear?
  • What do I have to do when I get to work?
  • What do I have to do before I leave?

WAIT…. the kids….

  • Did they say the weather yet?
  • What am I putting on the kids?
  • Why are they crying?
  • Where is your shoes?
  • Why is your sister screaming?
  • Why do you want leftover pizza at 6am?

DARN IT!? WHAT IS THE WEATHER!!??

At this point, you have to head out the door in 5 minutes and adding one more task would make you feel like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. So you take off with nothing in your stomach but 2 1/2 slices of pepperoni from that leftover pizza your daughters were eating.

If this is you, put your hand up! (my hand is so high in the air right now)

Solution? Well, if you’re looking for the weather, then use your smart phone. As for breakfast…..

This Banana Bread Breakfast Smoothie is 100% the solution.

banana-bread-breakfast-smoothie-3

Breakfast is a must for numerous reasons, but I’m not here to preach to you. This banana bread breakfast smoothie will be one of those CONVENIENT solutions to such an everyday hassle.

With our Banana Bread Breakfast Smoothie I am able to make it the night before. I shove everything in the a container (or in our ninja blender cup) and refrigerate overnight. In the morning I go to the kitchen first and instead of starting coffee and walking away, I toss it in a blender and hang there for the few seconds it takes to blend.

This smoothie has such a great taste, your body can’t resist the urge to do the “Ju Ju”.

The smoothie is not titled “banana bread” because it sounds cool. It means comfort food and this is a comfort smoothie (my phrase I’m coining it)! The kids put the smoothie to bed quicker then their cold pizza! Everyone loves the taste.

And if you need another reason to try it, wouldn’t believe how much protein is in this bad boy if I told you. Well, believe it because I’m telling you. It’s packed with over 34 grams of NATURAL protein. Yes! Lean body I keep throwing pennies in the fountains for, HERE I COME (…don’t judge me)!

banana-bread-breakfast-smoothie-1

Keep in mind this Banana Bread Breakfast Smoothie is not only for breakfast. I usually use it to help me get my day started, but when I am looking for a meal replacement or an after workout shake, this smoothie is it.

Folks, thank you reading, try it out and tell me what you think in the comments below.

banana-bread-breakfast-smoothie-4

Watch us make it, then grab full recipe!

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Banana Bread Breakfast Smoothie
Author: Andrew
Ingredients
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder we use this one
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 1/2 cups vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • Optional: ice chopped almonds
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until well combined.
  2. If thicker texture desired, add ice and blend again.
  3. Pour into a glass.
  4. Top with chopped almonds if wanted.
  5. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Breakfast, Home, Recipes Tagged With: banana, breakfast, recipe, smoothie

Brown Sugar Banana Oatmeal Recipe

August 15, 2016 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Brown-Sugar-Banana-Oatmeal-recipe

We know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when we have school-age children, yet we struggle getting a quality, wholesome meal on the table in the morning more often than not. This brown sugar banana oatmeal recipe proves though that you can have easy, delicious, quick, AND filling, all in one bowl.

how to make oatmeal

Skibbles LOVES oatmeal.  No lie, she asks for it two to three times a day.  I think if I let her, she would eat it for every meal. I can’t say I mind too much though because it’s so simple to make. So simple that she can even make it on her own for the most part. At only 3.5 years old, she can measure out the oatmeal and milk, add in the brown sugar and cinnamon, and mash the banana. The only thing she needs help with is on the stove or pulling the hot bowl out of the microwave depending on how we make it.

Giving she can do all of that, not only is this brown sugar banana oatmeal recipe the perfect wholesome breakfast for back-to-school season, but it’s an amazing recipe to get kids into the kitchen and get them practicing independence and choosing healthy options.

Homemade-Brown-Sugar-Banana-Oatmeal

What I love about making oatmeal recipes for breakfast too is that the possibilities are really endless. Skibbles has added blueberries, even kiwi, to this recipe and I love letting her explore creativity in the kitchen, even if it may seem a little odd to me. 

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Brown Sugar Banana Oatmeal Recipe
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup quick oats
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 ripe banana mashed
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
If making on the stove
  1. Add in milk, over medium heat, until just starting to boil.
  2. Add the oats.
  3. Cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Pour into a bowl.
If making in the microwave
  1. Add milk and oats to a microwave safe bowl.
  2. Cook for 2 minutes.
  3. Carefully remove.
Finish up
  1. Add in the mashed banana, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  2. Stir until combined

As with all our recipes, we truly hope you enjoy!

Brown-Sugar-Banana-Oatmeal

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 8 fabulous bloggers! Read how Mini Chef Mondays started, plus how to link up!
Join our facebook group to find even more recipes and share recipes too!

Join the Mini Chef Mondays newsletter to get the latest recipes delivered to your email each week! Don’t worry, we will only use your email for Mini Chef Mondays recipes, pinky promise!

Get featured and follow us too!
  • Pinterest: Each post/recipe linked up will be added to our Mini Chef Mondays board
  • Instagram: Use our hashtag #MiniChefMondays so we can repost your mini chef
  • Twitter: We retweet every post with #MiniChefMondays

Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well!

    1. Strawberry Banana Yogurt Recipe // Courtney’s Sweets
    2. 3 Easy Back to School Breakfast Ideas // Momma Lew
    3. Homemade French Toast Sticks // Finding Zest
    4. Brown Sugar Banana Oatmeal Recipe // We’re Parents
    5. Microwave Omelette To Go Recipe // Eating Richly
    6. 10 Quick and Easy Back-to-School Breakfast Ideas // Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps
    7. Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches // Vegging at the Shore
    8. Healthy Zucchini Cookies // O’Boy! Organic
    9. Fresh Rice Krispies Treats Lunch Box Notes // My Mini Adventurer

An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Breakfast, Home, Recipes Tagged With: banana, breakfast, oatmeal, recipes

Coconut Cashew Strawberry Banana Smoothie

March 28, 2016 by Larisha Campbell 4 Comments

coconut cashew strawberry banana smoothie

This coconut cashew strawberry banana smoothie may be our family’s newest favorite flavor combination. Slightly nutty + slightly sweet + a bit like an original classic, it’s guaranteed to be a hit.

I’ve always loved smoothies myself, but must admit that up until the last few years most of my smoothies weren’t very exciting.  Strawberry Banana, Berries and citrus, strawberry and pineapple…that was pretty much the sum of my smoothie experimentation.  Once I had Skibbles and she started eating more, I got a little more adventurous after realizing that I could pretty much put anything in a smoothie and she would eat it that way. Coincidently, I would also eat pretty much anything put into a smoothie I found out. Thus, our love and adventure of smoothies began. We experiment all the time and daddy actually came up with the recipe for this one, but Skibbles loves it!

mini chef mondays smoothie

She is just getting into “girly” things like her doll house and princesses, so she loves pink smoothies. Lucky for Andrew and I, this smoothie is loaded with great nutrients and lots of protein, so we are happy to let her have it as often as she wants too.

Click play to watch us make this one!

The other amazing thing about smoothies is that she can easy make this herself for the most part.  I typically pre-measure things out for her, but other than that she’s on her own. She loves pushing the buttons on our blender.  It’s such a feeling of accomplishment for her! The facial expressions she makes are enough to light up any room, am I right?

mini chef mondays coconut cashew strawberry banana smoothie

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Coconut Cashew Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Author: Larisha Campbell
Ingredients
  • 8-10 strawberries
  • 1 banana
  • 1 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1/4 cup coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/8 cup chia seeds
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to a blender.
  2. Blend until well combined.
  3. Pour and serve.

I’d encourage you to not only try this smoothie, but if you are having trouble getting fruits or veggies into your little ones, to try it in a smoothie form.  Berries can mask a lot of flavors and things like sweet potatoes or carrots have a sweet enough taste to help with flavor too.  Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite smoothie combo!

coconut cashew strawberry banana smoothie recipe

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 10 fabulous bloggers! Read how Mini Chef Mondays started, plus how to link up!
Join our facebook group to find even more recipes and share recipes too!

Get featured and follow us too!
  • Pinterest: Each post/recipe linked up will be added to our Mini Chef Mondays board
  • Instagram: Use our hashtag #MiniChefMondays so we can repost your mini chef
  • Twitter: We retweet every post with #MiniChefMondays

Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well!

  1. Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops // Courtney’s Sweets
  2. Outback Copycat Coconut Shrimp Recipe // Momma Lew
  3. Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl // Baby Loving Mama
  4. Coconut Cashew Strawberry Banana Smoothie // We’re Parents
  5. Five Ingredient Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad // Frugal Novice
  6. Toddler Science Experiment Baking Soda Art // Eating Richly Even When You’re Broke
  7. Restaurant Style Crispy Wonton Strips with Homemade Duck Sauce // Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps
  8. Yummy Orange Apple Cider // Step Stool Chef
  9. Apple Noodle Kugel // Vegging at the Shore
  10. Quiona and Oat Granola // O’Boy! Organic
  11. Kid Approved Chicken Fried Rice // Can’t Google Everything

An InLinkz Link-up


Filed Under: Home, Kids In The Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: banana, coconut, mini chef mondays, smoothie, strawberry


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