Recipe // honey cherry yogurt popsicles

August 9, 2012

This summer has been record heat in these parts, and it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon!  My children were begging me to make popsicles the other day, and when I opened the refrigerator, there weren’t many options as far as fruit goes, until I spied some dark cherries.  We decided to combine them with our favorite greek yogurt, and honey to make some tasty and healthy popsicle’s in no time!
{Dark Cherry Honey Yogurt Popsicles}
2 cups plain greek yogurt

1 cup dark cherries, pitted
2-4 tbs honey (to taste)

Place ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.  Adjust honey to get the sweetness you desire, and poor into popsicle molds.  Small cups and wooden sticks or spoons will also do the trick!
Place in the freezer for an hour or two to set up!
Enjoy!

olympic games free DIY art download

August 3, 2012

Team USA Free Printable Olympic Art for Kids

My children have really gotten into the olympic games this year!   They have been watching them everyday with their daddy asking all sorts of questions about team usa, and cheering when we get a gold medal!

We worked on some fun olympic art this week, and I thought I would share with you a free download so your children can make some too!

Team USA Olympic Art for Kids

I created an Olympic flag template to fill in with their favorite medium with blue, yellow, black, green and red.

Team USA Free Printable Olympic Art for Kids

I also made a team USA coloring page Flag download! <Click here to download>

You will need to download a free Olympic art page, and print it onto a white sheet of paper. Cardstock paper would work best if you plan to paint or use watercolors.

You will also need paint, watercolor paint, crayons, or colored pencils in blue, yellow, black, green, red and white.

Let your little ones choose what type of medium they would like to use, and fill in the Olympic rings in this order: blue, yellow, black green, and red.

For the USA Flag, alternate the stripes in red, and white, and fill in the stars with blue.

Team USA Free Printable Olympic Art for Kids

 

Team USA Free Printable Olympic Art for Kids

My little ezra hung them proudly in his room to show his support for the games!

Hope you are enjoying watching the games too!  Happy Olympics!

{all photos by caroline armelle drake}

Recipe // shallot herb vinaigrette

August 2, 2012

I love to eat a light salad for lunch on hot summer days.  I have been doing my best to take advantage of all the wonderful fresh herbs in my garden, so I decided to make a nice herb vinaigrette with shallots.
It is a great on any summer salad, and especially good on radishes and cucumbers!  Add it to a salad and serve it with your favorite summertime meal!

1 tablespoon dijon mustard [i prefer maille brand]
1/2 tsp coarse salt [like sea salt]
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp agave nectar
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp walnut oil [found locally at target], optional
1 small shallot, minced
1 tbs fresh chives, minced
1 tbs fresh oregano, minced
1 tbs fresh basil, minced
1 tbs fresh mint, minced
1 small clove of garlic, minced

{Shallot Herb Vinaigrette}
Makes about 1 cup [8 ounces]
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
In a blender at vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, agave, shallot, herbs and garlic.  Blend for a few seconds in incorporate.
Run the blender on low, and slowly drizzle in olive oil, and walnut oil.
Serve over your favorite salad.  It is great over radishes, cucumbers.  Salad above: Arugula, hard boiled eggs, radishes, peas.
Enjoy!

{photo by caroline armelle drake}