Frozen Food Month

Did you know that the month of March is frozen food month? Just last week I was made aware of this little known fact. I know what you are thinking—lets celebrate! Right?! Go out and buy ice cream, frozen pizzas, cookie dough, microwave meals aka tv dinners! Just go crazy! No way. How about if you make it to your grocers freezer and stock up on some of the GOOD for you items that are out there. Here are some of my favorite staples from the freezer section:

Frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, blends) for smoothies or as a dessert
Frozen veggies of all sorts (favorites are cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts)
Quick heat able weekday meals like burritos by EVOL and Michael Angelo’s fine Italian products*
Desserts like Diana’s Banana Babies and Coconut Bliss Ice Cream
*“With a standing commitment to using only the freshest, high quality ingredients in their meals, the Michael Angelo’s family uses vine ripened tomatoes and fresh garlic from reputable farms around the U.S. It’s the freshest taste you can find right out of the freezer.”
Now tell me what you stock in your freezer!

Bliss by the spoonful

It seems like you keep hearing more and more about the health benefits of using coconut milk and oil—well I found an even better way to do it! Coconut Bliss ice cream! I chose the vanilla flavor to try out first so that I could get the full coconut experience even though they have a full range of flavors including chocolate (yes, I passed up chocolate). I was happily surprised when I open the container to find specs of vanilla beans in the creamy, dreamy, ice cream. On first spoonful, I was sold. I love coconut in any form and this ice cream is no exception. The vanilla flavor was perfect, simple and pure tasting. I could detect the coconut milk as expected but it was really light and just added to the creaminess factor of the frozen dessert. Even someone who isn’t keen on coconuts would love this ice cream—it is delish and needs no doctoring to make it taste gourmet.

Flavors:
Pineapple Coconut (will be my next one they compare it to a pina colada OMG)
Naked Almond Fudge (needs no more explanation)
Chocolate Peanut Butter (the ultimate combo)
Dark Chocolate (my true love)
Naked Coconut (for die hard coconut fans- count me in!)
Mint Galactica (sophisticated mint-chip)
Cappuccino (better than coffee)
Cherry Amaretto (interesting)
Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge (sounds fantastic)

Lifeway Kefir + Ice = Heaven

Last night I opened up my strawberry Kefir by Lifeway and stared in the bottle. Kefir is not the most common item in the USA. We typically have yogurt or milk—not an in between. I took a smell of it though and I could not wait to try it! I took a little sip and my tastebuds were jumping up and down. It was so good. A little tart like yogurt but sweet, creamy and a perfect strawberry flavor. I thought wow this is better than ice cream! Oh wait—this could be a healthy ice cream in no time. So I got out my blender and did this:

1 cup Lifeway Strawberry Kefir
½ cup water
A few packets of sweetner
Dash of Xanthan Gum (thickener optional)
Ice Cubes
Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Even yogurt haters aka crazy people would love this. It is my new “thing”!
Lifeway is really the only brand of Kefir that I ever see—and for good reason. Their blend is amazing. They have a bunch of flavors that I am dying to try—peach, blueberry, mixed berry etc… Imagine the ice cream possibilities. Tomorrow though my kefir will be on top of my cereal! I could make overnight oats with it… WOW!