Liquid Refreshment Week – Sangria

It’s hot hot hot outside…

And we can all use a little something to cool down with.

This week we’re concentrating on the refreshing.

First up, a little spirit for Moms and Dads.

Sangria anyone?

featured   Liquid Refreshment Week   Sangria

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 Bottle of red wine (I suggest a Rioja but you could also use Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, or Shiraz)

1 Lemon sliced

1 Orange sliced

1 Lime sliced

1 Apple slice

1 pear sliced

1/4 cup  sugar

1/4 cup  brandy

2 T triple sec

2 cups club soda

WHAT TO DO:

In a large pitcher combine all ingredients with ice or frozen grapes and berries.

Stir.

Pour.

Enjoy!

featured   Liquid Refreshment Week   Sangria

Did you know I used to be a bartender?

Well, I was.  It’s actually how I met the hubs.  Yup, I was slinging drinks in Beantown and he walked in one night.  That’s a story for a different day.

So I used used to tend bar so lemme give you some variations on this one.

Don’t drink?

You could make this up with some grape juice or cran-grape cocktail instead of the wine?

Just leave out the brandy and triple sec.

The kids’ll love that version!

More delicious drinks up later this week!

Fruit Week – Groovy Smoothies

This has to be one of Brady’s favorite things in the world!

He LOVES to make and drink the smoothies!

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Groovy Smoothies

And if he didn’t love it enough before.

Now I have to listen to this bunch…

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Groovy Smoothies

Do these kids haunt you too?

It’s the Fresh Beat Band and they like to hang out at the Groovy Smoothie and drink fruity concoctions.

And if that’s not enough….

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Groovy Smoothies

That iCarly crew loves the fruity smoothies too.

So with the help of these shows…all my kids are into the smoothies!

Granted Brady loves fruit all kinds of ways but this is a treat for him.

And since he’s still milking the tonsil thing I’ve been making a bunch of these bad boys.

Now I’m all for making these with all those fresh berries that you can get at your local farms this time of year.

But I think smoothies are better with Frozen Berries!

That way I don’t have to use ice cubes to make them all nice and frothy!

FYI – those frozen berries work great for frozen margaritas too!

Just saying…

It is Friday after all…

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Groovy Smoothies

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIES

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 cup frozen organic strawberries (or blackberries or any other kind of frozen fruit you have)

1 cup frozen organic blueberries

1 cup organic skim milk

1 cup organic low fat vanilla yogurt

2 T honey

1 t flax seed oil (this I just toss in because it’s just so darn good for you!)

WHAT TO DO:

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender.  Blend on high for a minute or until smooth and creamy.  Enjoy.

Feel free to try any combo of fruit you have.  Bananas would make a great addition!  Mango, pineapple, raspberry!

If you don’t have frozen fruit, just add a bunch of ice cubes to make it thick and smooth.

If you have picky eaters this is a great way to get some fruit into them.  Who doesn’t love a smoothie?

And if you want…this is a fantastic place to add in a bit of frozen spinach for a little extra healthy punch.


Fruit Week – Breakfast Berry Parfait

Today is officially the first day of summer!

Can I get a wooooo hooooo!!!!

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Breakfast Berry Parfait

Now if you’ve been neglecting the gym…

Eating yourself into oblivion over this foolishly long winter…

And lackluster spring…

Or just plain forgot to look at the calendar til today…

Yes, I’m totally talking about myself if you’re wondering…

You are in luck!

Because we’re celebrating FRUIT WEEK here at Ma What’s For Dinner.

So come and get your yummy on…

Today is a breakfast that the boys and I love…

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Breakfast Berry Parfait

BREAKFAST BERRY PARFAITS.

A take off on the dish my dad used to make me when I was a kid with nectarines, sour cream and sugar.

This is our version with our favorite berries.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 pint blackberries (organic & local if possible)

1 pint blueberries (organic & local if possible)

1 pint strawberries, sliced (organic & local if possible)

1 cup plain greek yogurt (we like FAGE)

1 bunch fresh mint

4 t sugar in the raw

WHAT TO DO:

On the bottom of four glasses, layer in your washed blueberries.

Spoon on some yogurt to cover the berries.

Next layer in your washed strawberries and cover with another layer of yogurt.

Top off with washed blueberries and a dollop more of yogurt.

Sprinkle with sugar in the raw and top with a mint leaf.

Breakfast of champions!

Want to get fancy?  Sprinkle with a bit of granola or honey.

Want to make this dessert?

Top with chocolate shavings or caramel sauce!

Don’t have fancy glasses???  Never fear…make it on a plate.

breakfasts   Fruit Week   Breakfast Berry Parfait

 

Tasty Tidbit – Berries

Tis the season…

For fruit!

Next week we’ll be whipping up some fantastic fruit recipes for your almost summer pleasure.

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbit   Berries

But for now here’s a little tasty tidbit about some of our favorite berries.

This is the time of year that berries are at a bargain basement prices!

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbit   Berries

Perfect time to hit the farmers market and stock up!

But what if you can’t get through all those beauties?

Ok, well that’s about as common as leftover wine around here…

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbit   Berries

But hypothetically speaking, lets say you have some leftover.

How about freezing them for use later?

But, Alex…you say.

Whenever I freeze my berries they get all mushed and stuck together…

Well fear not…

Here’s a new way to freeze your leftover berry goodness!

Pour your berries evenly out on a baking sheet.

Cover with plastic  wrap.

Put in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Pour into a freezer safe plastic bag.

Voila perfectly frozen berries…

Perfect for summer berry flavor in

Smoothies…

Oatmeal…

Margaritas, Daquiris, and Sangria all year long!

cooking tips   Tasty Tidbit   Berries

 

Don’t forget to hit your local farms and farm stands for the best prices on summer berries.

Always remember to Buy Local when you can!

Support your local farmers and your economic community.

St. Patty’s Day – Pots of gold at the end of the rainbow

These refreshing little sipsters are good all year round

But your little leprechauns will be drinking them up this time of year for sure!

featured   St. Patty’s Day – Pots of gold at the end of the rainbow

WHAT YOU NEED:

strawberries

oranges

pineapple

kiwi

and

blueberries

WHAT TO DO:

Layer chopped fruit into an ice cube tray.

red = strawberries

orange = oranges

yellow = pineapple

green = kiwi

blue = blueberries

featured   St. Patty’s Day – Pots of gold at the end of the rainbow

Top each cube with seltzer water.  Freeze.  Serve with pineapple juice and fun straws.

We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

Look at Team Fitz!

We’re hanging out on our local ABC station WTNH Channel 8 on Connecticut Style.

If you just found us from the show, welcome!

Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a seat the Fitzpatrick’s kitchen table…

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

We had an awesome time hanging out with the gang there in New Haven and we made some great recipes!

If you missed the live show or are looking on how you can make these with your kids, take a look!

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

So Chic Sushi Rolls

2 whole  Spinach sandwich wraps

1 c  cooked white rice

1 c  grilled chicken thinly sliced

½ c carrots thinly sliced

½ c red peppers thinly sliced

½ c alfalfa sprouts

½ avacado sliced

Mayonnaise or mustard (for sticking)

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style Lay out the wraps on your cutting board.  Spread just a thin layer of mayo or mustard over the wrap to help everything stick.  Lay half of the rice down into the center of one of the wraps and press it out so it thinly covers the the wrap.  Do the same for the second.  Evenly distribute your chicken between the two wraps laying it in a straight line through the center of the rice. Follow suit with your carrots, red pepper, sprouts and avacado.  Now fold in the right section of your wrap over the ingredients and slightly pull back toward you, then continue to roll over and make your self a tube.

Cut your tube into sushi roll looking slices.  You can cut them straight or on an angle then arrange them on a plate.  Serve these with edamame or even edamame chips!  You’ll have your kids yelling, “Arigato.”

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

I’m a Hungry Caterpillar – Dinner Style

1 tube refrigerated pizza dough (or buy some from the local pizzeria)

1 c pizza sauce

1 c pesto sauce

1 8 oz package mozzarella cheese

1/2 c sliced mushrooms

1/2 c sliced peppers, red yellow and green

1/4 c sliced olives

1/2 c chopped tomato

1/2 c sliced onions

shredded lettuce

basil leaves

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  Cut your pizza dough into different shaped circles using a mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Stylecookie or biscuit cutter.  Arrange the circles in a long curving line so it looks like a caterpillar.  Alternate each circle between the pizza sauce and the pesto sauce. Top each with cheese and allow the kids to decorate each part of the caterpillar with the toppings.

Bake on 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese is nice and melty.  Take it out of the oven and arrange your caterpillar on a bed of shredded lettuce and basil so it’s sitting in the “grass.”

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

Last up, the awesome after school snack that we didn’t have enough time for…

Nacho Mama’s Nachos!

1 c  peanut butter

½ c cream cheese

2 T honey

1/4 c orange juice

2 large apples, sliced

2 large pears, sliced

½ c strawberries, sliced

1 large banana, sliced

1 kiwi, sliced

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 cup raspberries

1/4 c walnuts

½ c shredded coconut

Heat a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add peanut butter, cream cheese, honey and orange juice.  Mix together and allow to simmer over low heat.

Arrange apple and pear slices on a plate (like corn chips in regular nachos).  Pour the peanut butter mixture over the apples and pears (like nacho cheese sauce).  Arrange strawberries kiwi and banana on top (like nacho toppings) and sprinkle with blueberries, raspberries, and shredded coconut.  These are definitely not your Mama’s nachos!

If you have a nut allergy household you can make this with sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter!

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

If you just found us on Connecticut Style, we’re so glad you stopped by to have a look around.

While you’re here check out some features of our site.

Watch our hysterical Webisodes

Check out some of our Recipes of the Day

Pick up a copy of our Ma Whats For Dinner Cookbook – 15% of all proceeds go to Fight SMA

We hope you enjoy your time here and come back often.

Please sign up to keep up to date with all thing Fitz here at Ma What’s For Dinner…we wouldn’t want you to miss a thing!

Lots of yummy love,

Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

mas memoirs   We’re Styling – Connecticut Style

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