Strawberry-Watermelon Infused Water

We're slowly adjusting to our new school routine but I refuse to toss summer aside. This strawberry watermelon infused water was just the ticket to lift my spirits and hold onto the season a little longer. One sip of this drink and I knew summer was here to stay for a little while longer. And the sweet watermelon and tart strawberries balance each other perfectly!

Infused waters are a great way to consume beneficial vitamins without a ton of extra calories.  Watermelon is full of antioxidants and amino acids while strawberries are a Vitamin C powerhouse. Did you know watermelon may even assist with soothing sore muscles? With most of my infused water recipes, I try to squeeze a little lemon in for the detoxifying effects. Feel free to get creative with your infused waters and use whatever you have laying around or growing in your summer garden!

***** Strawberry Watermelon Infused Water *****

// Ingredients //

1 cup strawberries, stems removed

1 cup watermelon, cubed

Juice of half a lemon

32 oz. water

// Instructions //

1. In a blender, combine strawberries, watermelon and lemon juice. Puree until smoother. Then, pour juice through fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and seeds. (You may have to use the back of a spoon to work it through.) You should have about 1/2 cup of fruit juice.

2. Add fruit juice to 32 ounces of water and chill. When ready to serve, pour over ice and leftover fresh fruit.

*Photography and styling by Amy Mikkelsen

Strawberry Banana Muffins

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Valentines Day is coming!!!!  Okay, I know people either love it or hate it, but I kinda love it.  We keep the holiday simple at our house with thoughtful gestures and lots of snuggle time.  I personally like to say "I love you" with food.  Big surprise right?  I also love setting the table in shades of pink and red because, quite frankly,  Valentine's Day is the only time I can really get away with it in a house full of boys!  Since Valentines Day falls on a weekday this year, I wanted an easy yet festive breakfast to serve the boys before school.  When I found this recipe for strawberry-banana muffins, I knew I had a winner.  They are so moist and delicious! Not to mention, I love finding ways to sneak more fruit/veggies into the boys.  Do you have any special V-Day recipes you make for your family?

*****Strawberry Banana Muffins*****
serves 12, adapted from here

// Ingredients //

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2  tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

// Instructions //

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or line with paper liners.

2.  In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter.  Let cool to room temperature.

3.  In a medium sized bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla extract and mashed bananas.  Add the melted butter and stir to combine.

4.  In another large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Gently fold in strawberries, making sure they are coated with flour.  (This prevents the berries from sinking during baking.)

5.  Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are just combined.  Do not over mix batter or tough muffins will result.

6.  Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups.  Bake 20 minutes or until golden in color.  Transfer to wire rack to cool.

*I topped our muffins with an easy icing mix of powdered sugar and milk.  Simply combine 1/4 cup powdered sugar with 1 tbsp. milk.  Adjust proportions to desired consistency.

*photos by Amy Mikkelsen

Strawberry Pie

Photos by YSP

A few weeks ago a fellow yogi brought this pie to share after class and I've been wanting to make it ever since!  I remember eating this pie as a little girl at Shoney's restaurant.  Anyone else remember that place?

The one thing I love about this pie is that it doesn't require the oven.  Can I get an amen to that with this heat spell we've been having?

Assembling this pie is easy.  You do need to plan ahead to give it time to set in the refrigerator.  

Here's what you need:

1 lb. fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

1 cup water, boiled

2 tbsp.cornstarch

1 box strawberry flavored gelatin mix

1 ready made graham cracker pie crust

Instructions

Yields: 1 pie, 8 servings

1. Remove stems from strawberries and slice the berries horizontally.  Place them into the graham cracker crust.

2. In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch and combine completely.  Add boiling water and dissolve mixture.  Next, bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently until slightly thickened.  Once thickened, remove from heat and let cool.

3. Once cool, add gelatin mix and stir until combined.  Pour mix over strawberries until filled just below the rim of the pie.  (You will most likely have a small bit of mixture left over.)  Cover pie and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until pie is set.