What to Do and Eat in Maine- Vegan and Kid Friendly!

     Recently, I made a trip to Maine with my family. We absolutely loved it! The weather was amazing, the sights unreal and the trip as a whole was super fun and relaxing! But, you may wonder what a vegan finds to eat in a seafood dominated state! Well, it actually wasn't as hard as you might think!

Healthy Peach Butter!

I love peaches! We are lucky enough to have a wonderful peach seller near us called The Peach Truck . A few days ago we bought a big box of peaches and we had to find ways to use them up! I wanted to try and preserve some of them for the months when they aren't in season, so I made some peach salsa and........Peach Butter!!

I'd never tried peach butter until now, but I love apple butter so, I thought 'Why Not?'! It is so smooth, sweet, velvety and delicious! The best part is, it tastes just like fresh peaches! This peach butter is super simple to make, only takes 3 ingredients and it is super healthy for you!

So, let's get started!

Ingredients:
12-15 Peaches
1 TBS Lemon Juice
2-3 TBS Honey

See! That's it! :)

Start by peeling, pitting and roughly chopping the peaches.

Add them to a pot with the lemon juice and place on the stove top.

 

Bring to a boil and cook for 25-30 minutes. Make sure to stir frequently. The peaches should become soft and mushy and there should be a lot of juice in the pot.

 

Use an immersion blender to blend the peaches to a thick 'pulp' consistency. Bring this to a boil and cook for 20 more minutes, stirring often.

 

 

Let is cool for a bit. Place your water bath pot on the stove, half full of water. Bring this to a boil while we move on to the next step.

 

Place your jam jars in your sink and pour boiling water over them to sterilize. Put your jar lids in a bowl and pour boiling water over them as well. Let them sit for 30 seconds or so.

 

Fill your jars with the peach deliciousness and wipe the rim clean. Screw on the lids and get them really tight! You don't want to lose any of this amazing stuff! :)

 

Its so beautiful! I just want to eat it now! You can, but to save it for later, we need to can it in the water bath!

Place the jars into the water bath pot with the water boiling. Cook for 10 minutes.

 

Place them on the counter and let them cool. You'll hear them pop when they seal as they cool.

 

Once they have cooled, store them in your pantry! Or, you can eat it right away on some toast, biscuits or scones!

Yum yum yum! This is so delicious and healthy too! You don't need sugary, processed jams when you can have this healthy, homemade and perfectly sweet peach butter!

 

I hope you enjoy this post! I really hope you try this recipe and see for yourself how amazing this peach butter is! I can't explain how perfect it is!!!

Please share this post with a friend and family member! You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett !

Check back every Monday and Friday for new posts on all things healthy!

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H. Banana

Father's Day + First Day of Summer

Father's Day falls on the first day of summer this year! I find this very cool, two wonderful and fun things on one day!

Father's Day
Father's Day is the time to celebrate our Fathers, Grandfathers, Great Grandfathers and so on. There are so many ways to do this! Giving a gift to your Father, to celebrate him and thank him for being such a great father, doesn't always have to come wrapped and tied with a bow. There are so many ways to celebrate and thank your father and I want to share a few ways to do that!

Make a Meal
Who doesn't enjoy a good, home cooked meal? Taking time to make a nice meal, and eat it, together with your father is very special. Try something you know he'll love, or let him pick out a recipe!

Table for 2
If you aren't into cooking, going out for a nice meal can be just as special. This gives you time to talk and enjoy time with Dad. Pick a place you love, or try something new!

Experience
Go out and do something new, or something you enjoy with your Dad. Go to the park, Zoo, museum, take a class together or something else you'll both enjoy. If you don't live close, sending a gift card for a particular activity is great too!

Pick Up the Phone
Sometimes life gets in the way and we all become a little too busy. Picking up the phone and calling your Father can be just what he wants. Talking to someone you love can lift the spirit and make your day!

Homemade Gifts
Homemade gifts are always better( in my opinion) because they come from the heart. You take special time to make them, so they are worth so much more! Pick something your Father loves and create a gift based on that. If he likes grilling or cooking, make him an apron or put together a grilling set. Maybe he likes to garden, make him a garden set or maybe paint a pot for him to plant in. Making a card is fun too! I love to make personal cards for family members! See? There are endless ideas for a personal, made at home, gift for Father's Day!


Celebrating Father's Day is so much fun! Make sure to take time and tell your Dad just how special he is to you! I hope this post has given you a few ideas on how to celebrate you Father on this special day!

First Day of Summer

I love summer for so many reasons! No school, long warm days, swimming, tanning, sunshine, fruit, farmer's markets, grilling....... Celebrating the first day of summer is so much fun! Let me share with you a few ways to do this!

Party Time
Go big and throw a first day of summer party! Invite some friends and get the grill going, make some lemonade and ice tea and have a good time! Since this year Father's Day falls on the same day, double up and make the party and Father's Day party too!

Try a New Recipe
This is a favorite for me! Pick a summer themed recipe and try it out to celebrate the day. I made a watermelon Fresca the other day, it was amazing!

4 cups cubed watermelon
2 cups coconut water
1 cup lemon or lime juice
4 tbs honey

Blend in a blender until frothy. Drink right away for pour into an ice cream machine for a slushy!

Get Sun Tattoos
No, its not what you think! Sun tattoos are great fun, and naturally temporary! Apply sunscreen all over and then pick a spot where you want your tattoo. Get some Elmer's Glue and paint a picture, design or word on to the desired area. Lay out in the sun and let the rays do the work. You'll tan every where but where the glue is, so you are left with sun tattoo!

H2O
You don't have to have a pool for this one, though swimming is fun! Turn on the sprinklers, have a water balloon fight or get out the water guns! Have fun and get soaked!



I hope, what ever you chose to do to celebrate summer, that you have a wonderful First Day of Summer! I also hope that you and your Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Father figure and so on, have a great Father's Day!

Please share this post and my blog with a friend! Follow via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Check back often for healthy living post every Monday and Friday!
ps. This post isn't on a Monday or Friday, but they'll return to normal after this special post!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

Layered Fruit Pops!

   Summer is approaching very fast! The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer!  And what better way to cool off than with a delicious popsicle!?! This recipe is super easy to make, healthy, and you only need 2 ingredients!!

 

Don't they look delicious? I love the contrast of the colors!

 

Ingredients:

2 Cups Mango Chunks

1-1/2 Cup Berries

 

and that's it! Can you believe how simple this recipe is?

 

First, if you are using frozen fruit(I did) you need to let them thaw a bit.

 

 

Mangoes are my favorite fruit!

 

 

Place the mangoes in a blender or food processor. Blend until creamy and smooth!

Then, get your popsicle molds ready! I got this super cute one at TJMAXX the other day!

Fill the molds half way up.

 

Now we need to show some love to the berries!

Place the berries in the blender.

 

Blend to a puree

 

Now fill the molds to the top with the berry puree.

 

Place the lids and sticks in the molds. Put them in the freezer for at least 4 hours, but over night is better. Once frozen, take them out of the freezer.

 

Run under warm water to lose the mold from the pop.

Now they are ready to eat! Enjoy them on those hot, sunny days or anytime when you're craving a summery treat!

I love the flavor combo of the berries and mangoes! The mangoes are sweet and the berries have a hint of tartness that just make these pops, pop!

To store, place back in the molds and keep in the freezer.

These pops are healthy, beautiful, easy to make, and delicious! Perfect for a snack by the pool or to cool off after spending time outside in the sun!

Let me know what you think of my Mango and Berry Popsicles! Please share this post with your friends and family!

Follow the blog via email or/and Google, on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett .

Stay tuned for more post on all things healthy lifestyle. New post every Monday and Friday!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

 

Summer in a Smoothie!

Yes, the weather is getting colder here, and for the most part I love it , but every now and then I miss the warm sunshine of summer! So, I made a recipe for a delicious and refreshing smoothie to soothe my craving for summer!

Ingredients:
1 cup of frozen fruit ( I like to use a mix of strawberries and peaches or pineapple)
2 tbsp. Lemon or Lime juice
1 packet of Truvia (Optional)
1/4 of a ripe banana
Ice ( I added about 1/2 a cup or so, but go to your own taste with the ice)
1/4 cup coconut water.

The first step is to put your fruit and lemon juice together in a bowl and microwave, yes microwave, your fruit until it begins to juice. You don't want to warm your fruit, just juice is a bit. Mine took about a minute.

Add the banana to the blender along with the juiced fruit and blend until smooth.

On a side note: I love this blender!! <3 ( Its a Ninja, just so you know!)

Now its time to add the Truvia (If using), Ice and Coconut water. The reason I put the Truiva as optional is because the banana make this smoothie plenty sweet on its own. The Truvia is just to add extra sweetness.

Blend this up until smooth and yummy!

Give is a stir if needed and add a straw! Sipping this reminds me of the beach...sunshine.... well, Summer all together!

I love this smoothie, and I hope that you do too! Please let me know of you tried this recipe and what you thought about it!

My family loved this smoothie as well. I made one for my 21 month old brother and he drank it down so fast, I was amazed and after he wanted more! This smoothie is great for a nice refresher during the day, I like to have it after a work out, or even in the morning(Which is when I had it today!)

Keep it Healthy and Safe!

H.Banana