Wild Blueberry Bruschetta Recipe #wildblueberryside #momsmeet

*I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Blueberries have to be my favorite fruit. When I was a kid it was grapes but as an adult I realize that blueberries are much tastier and full of nutrients. Wyman's Frozen Wild Blueberries are my favorite to buy because of the intense flavor and more nutrient value per serving than other blueberries. I like to buy frozen fruit since I do not want to lose any fruit going bad by not eating it fast enough. Plus frozen fruit is the best to use when making smoothies, which we do almost daily.

Here are some great facts about the difference in Wild Blueberries vs regular blueberries:

Wild Blueberries are wildly different from the regular blueberries you normally find in the produce section. Don’t be fooled by their size—they pack more into their tiny blue bodies than any other blueberry on the planet!

• Wild Blueberries have a more intense flavor than regular blueberries. Wild Blueberry plants are more genetically diverse with thousands of interlocking plants spreading and interlocking naturally across fields over thousands of years. That diversity is what gives Wild Blueberries their complex and delicious flavor—an extraordinary mix of tart and sweet.

• Wild Blueberries have two times the antioxidant capacity of the larger cultivated blueberries. A growing body of research shows the potential health benefits of Wild Blueberries including gut health, diabetes, cancer, and brain health.

• 99% of the Wild Blueberry crop is frozen fresh at harvest, which locks in their nutrition and taste.

 • Wild Blueberries are called “Wild” because they are not planted— they have occurred naturally in barrens and fields in Maine and Eastern Canada for 10,000 years.

• The retail price for a 15-ounce bag of Wild Blueberries starts at $3.59. A 3-pound bag retails for about $10.


I have put Wild Blueberries in smoothies, salads, sauces, muffins and this time I was trying to think of something a little different. I love Bruschetta as an appetizer so I thought I would try making a Wild Blueberry Bruschetta to serve at our next get together. It turned out delicious!!

Wild Blueberry Bruschetta Recipe:

1 bag  Wyman's of Maine Wild Blueberries 15oz
2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
2 finely chopped Fresh Basil leaves
1 Baguette French Bread
6 oz. of Mozzarella Cheese

Directions:

Place frozen berries in bowl on counter to defrost. In separate bowl stir together balsamic vinegar, olive oil and basil. Slice baguette and cheese. Stir defrosted blueberries into vinaigrette. Serve bread slices topped with cheese and Wild Blueberry vinaigrette. Enjoy!

If you want to learn more about Wild Blueberries and find more delicious recipes you can visit the website for the Wild Blueberry Association of North America as well as visit their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Cherry Bread Pudding With DOVE® Fruit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LoveDoveFruits

Ever since my kids were little, we have been a family of snack lovers. As in we can't get into the car, walk down the street, or sit down to watch TV without having a snack in hand. My kids are all grown up now, but my grandchildren love snacking too, and we are always looking for yummy new snacks to try.

So when I came across DOVE® Fruit at Walmart, I knew I had found something delicious that we could all enjoy. DOVE® Fruit are whole pieces of real fruit, dipped in DOVE® creamy dark chocolate.

Since I'm such a fruit lover, and I never say no to dark chocolate, these have become my favorite new snack. I get to indulge in something sweet and delicious, and it's a much better choice for me than some of the other snacks I sometimes have on hand.

My favorite kind of DOVE® Fruit has to be the Cherry, so I used them to make Cherry Bread Pudding. I love bread pudding because it tastes so good, and it's one of those old fashioned desserts that make me nostalgic just thinking about it.

Even though I love the Cherry variety the best, the Cranberry and Blueberry aren't far behind. My grandkids eat lots of fruit, especially blueberries, so they really loved the Blueberry kind.

These also make a great addition to yogurt, granola, and cereal. And when I'm running out the door and know I'll be needing a snack, it's so easy to toss a bag in my purse to enjoy when I start feeling hungry.

I made my bread pudding with whole wheat bread and non-fat milk. It's a healthier version of how I used to make it, and I think it tastes just as good.

I'm finding that little changes add up, so using the whole wheat bread makes me feel better about indulging in some of my favorite foods. The chocolate in the DOVE® Fruit melted into the bread and tasted so good. The cherries had just the right amount of tanginess to satisfy me and my craving for a great tasting dessert. Yum!

Recipe for Cherry Bread Pudding with DOVE® Fruit

Ingredients:

2 cups non-fat milk                                           
1/4 cup butter 
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups soft whole wheat bread cubes
1 cup Cherry DOVE® Fruit  pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium saucepan, heat milk and butter until butter is melted and milk is warmed.
In a large bowl, mix milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Stir in bread cubes until bread is completely moistened. Stir in DOVE® Fruit pieces.
Pour into baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
Serve warm or cold with whipped cream, if desired.

Makes 5-6 servings.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Look for DOVE® Fruit at a Walmart near you. I found them at this display near the checkout stands, but you can also look for them in the candy aisle.

I always use coupons to save money whenever I can, and you can save too by using the $1.00 off coupon available here for your DOVE® Fruit purchase.

And you can find some really great recipes to inspire you on the DOVE® Fruit social hub. 

What about you, have you tried DOVE® Fruit yet? What's your favorite variety, Cherry, Blueberry, or Cranberry? Please leave me a comment and let me know.

Apple Pancake Breakfast Recipe

As we get deeper into fall, I want to start making more recipes that call for apples. I love apple desserts, and my apple galette has become a family favorite. But apples are so versatile that they can be used for breakfast, dinner, and other kinds of recipes.

This Apple Pancake is easy to make, even on a weekday morning when time is usually short. And with all the cold weather we've been having here in Washington State, it was so nice to have something warm and delicious to eat before going out for the day.

Feel free to use any kind of apples you have on hand. Be sure to slice them fairly thin so that they soften up while baking on top of the pancake.

Toss the apples in cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little melted butter. They smell wonderful already.

After you make the batter, pour it into a ceramic or glass pie dish. Then arrange the apples on top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Recipe for Apple Pancake

Ingredients:

To make the pancake:

3/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the topping:

2 apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together the pancake ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, toss together the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Pour the batter into a well-greased ceramic or glass pie plate. Arrange apples on top of batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until pancake is spongy but not wet.

Serves 5-6

*Recipe slightly modified from BBB blog.

Jamba Juice New Tropical Harvest Smoothie and Jamba Kids Berry Beet It! Smoothie Review #momsmeet

* This is not a paid post. I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. #sponsored

At Jamba ready to try some new flavors. Its the summer but my son would only leave the house if I let him wear these pants. Anything to get him out the front door right!

I have loved Jamba Juice drinks for the last 15 years! They are a great way to cool off in the CA summers and to get your fruits and veggies in a tasty way. When they come out with new flavors I love to try them. My son of course wants to be like his Mama and he always gets a kids Jamba when we go. I was a picky eater as a kid and my son has developed the same habit. I eat all sorts of fruits and veggies now and he sees that but he still says no way or thats gross. As a kid who said the same things I know how he feels and know I need to sneak in the veggies. A perfect and fun way to sneak in veggies is by serving juice.

Anyone who loves Jamba has a favorite flavor, mine is Aloha Pineapple. This trip to Jamba Juice we planned to try two new flavors. One for me and one for my son.

I tried the New Tropical Harvest Smoothie and loved it! It contains the orange veggies I dont seem to get enough of, sweet potatoes, carrots and butternut squash. It tasted great with the mango and peach in it to balance the veggies.  My son gulped his down and got a little bit of brain freeze lol. Poor kid was saying how yummy it was then grabbed his head. He caught on that he needed to drink it slower but I saw that as a sign he really did like it. I love that there is beets and kale in it, no way could I get him to eat that at dinner time.

We will be back for these flavors again soon. I tried my son's drink and it was great, he liked mine too. I like to be able to order him kid size and kid tailored drinks for him when we go out.

Info on the new flavors:

The new Tropical Harvest™ Smoothie is made with a fusion of mangos, peaches, and passion mango juice blended with juices from butternut squash, sweet potato, and carrot. With only 230 calories, this beverage is
free of dairy and gluten—plus, it’s an excellent source of Vitamins A and C.


The Jamba Kids™ Berry Beet It!™ Smoothie is made with a delicious blend of strawberries, mangos, bananas, and mixed berry juice with carrots, beets, broccoli, spinach, kale, and lettuce. With only 190 calories, this beverage is free of dairy and gluten—plus, it’s an excellent source of Vitamins A, C, B6 and fiber.

We saw some cute kids cups in our Jamba store and a sign about becoming a Jamba Insider. I love to get deals and coupons so I will sign up and see what deals we can get.

There are new items I had not noticed in this store too, we often go to the mall Jamba and they do not have all the items this store location has. The Make it a Meal pack is a great idea for a grab and go summer lunch.

You can learn more about Jamba Juice on Facebook and the Moms Meet Blogger Program online.

Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Mixed Fruit Drink

 Last month I shared some Blue Diamond Almonds Breeze Almond Coconut drinks and other recipes with a few Moms I know through the Green Moms Meet Ambassador Program. I really liked the idea of a Almond milk mixed with coconut milk, and it tasted as great as I thought it would. I looked a some of the drink recipes I got in my kit and decided to make a Mixed Fruit drink with the fruits I had in my freezer. I have learned the trick to a great smoothie to be like a Jamba style where its firm and not runny is to use frozen fruit.

My son always the little helper, picked the fresh mint from our garden to be our garnish. He sniffed it over and over telling me its nice. So cute! 

We made our recipe with Blue Diamond Almond and Coconut Milk Sweetened, 1 frozen banana, frozen sliced strawberries, frozen mixed berry that included cranberries, frozen pineapple and  1 tube of go-gurt. I like to use whatever I have on hand to make drinks and popsicles for my son. He always loves them no matter what kind of fruit is in them.

To make my drink extra special I layered it with whipped topping. Using the frozen fruit in the blender allowed for me to layer the drink since it was firm and not runny.  Next time I am thinking I will make two drink flavors and layer them for a fun color contrast. Who wouldn't want to drink a delicious, pretty and good for you drink like this one!

 When I make smoothies I normally dont measure just kind of toss in what I have so I normally have extras. I place them in my Popcicle maker for dessert later in the week or a lunch time treat for my son.

*I was sent a Green Moms Meet Blue Diamond Almond Breeze kit. I was not compensated for this post.

Tropical Fruit Coconut Pizza Recipe with Dole and Safeway

Getting my son to consistently eat anything is a challenge. He will love something all week then tell me "yucky" the next week when I give him the same thing. I have found I need to be creative in serving him the same items in a different way. Fruit is one of my favorite things, even my mom knows green grapes will cheer me up any day! My son is a bit more picky about the fruit he eats. He seems to like berries, pineapples and bananas. Thankfully they are all healthy for him. I have been finding new recipes online looking for ways to give my son the fruit servings he needs but in new fun ways.

We get the Sunday paper every week for the coupons, being a frugal mom I love to save money. I think even if I won the lotto I would still use coupons! Who does not like to save money right?!? lol

I found a great coupon for Dole Tropical Canned Fruit that had a recipe on the coupon insert. I often make meals or desserts from recipes I find in coupon inserts. Its easy to have the ingredients list and coupon all on one paper. The Dole coupon had a recipe for Tropical Coconut Pizza. I was intrigued by the pizza part, my first thought was classic pizza, but then I read the recipe to realize it would be a creamy fluffy dessert pizza.

We went shopping at Safeway for the ingredients for our dessert for later in the week. We made plans for a few friends to come over and play video games and I thought it would be the perfect time to share my Tropical Coconut Pizza. I like shopping at Safeway for the Just for U savings that I can combined with my paper coupons. I save a lot of money shopping at Safeway and they always have friendly checkers.

We needed a few other items at the store along with the ingredients. I even grabbed a product new to me, Dole Aguas Frescas Watermelon. There was a $1 off coupon and on sale for $2. Awesome to get a juice with no HFCS in it for just a dollar!

A few days later I made the Dole Tropical Pizza for my family and friends. I started the Pizza Crust part of the recipe in the morning so it could freeze for a few hours. 

Tropical Coconut Pizza

Freeze: 4 hr.

Prep: 20 min.

1 container (8 oz.) cream cheese with pineapple, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup thawed whipped topping
1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
1 can (15.25 oz.) DOLE® Tropical Fruit, drained
1 cup sliced DOLE Strawberries
1 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

Makes: 8 servings

Beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping and coconut.

Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Spread cream cheese mixture into 8-inch circle, on
baking sheet, building up sides slightly with back of spoon. Freeze 4 hours or until firm.

Place cream cheese crust on serving plate. Garnish crust with additional toasted coconut, if
desired. Arrange tropical fruit, strawberries and kiwi on crust. Serve immediately.

Set out the Cream Cheese for about 30 minutes before you plan to make this recipe to make it easier to mix with the pineapple. The recipe from Dole calls for Cream Cheese with Pineapple. I could not find any in my local store so I purchased plain cream cheese and added 3/4 cup drained Dole crushed pineapple. I toasted my coconut in the oven on 250 degrees on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes. (make sure to check it often to not burn it.) I also set out the whipped topping from the freezer on the counter for the 15 minutes while I was toasting the coconut.

 After mixing the pineapple, cream cheese and sugar I folded in the whipped topping with the toasted coconut. I love coconut and pineapple together. SO good! (just this mix alone with the Dole pineapple would be delicious for putting between some cookies and freezing them.YUM!)

 The recipe says to put the mix out on a cookie sheet to place in the freezer. For my recipe I used two pie tins. To be able to create a nice tall crust for my pizza and my cookie sheet was too big for the space I had in my freezer.

This little guy was keeping me busy while I waited for the tropical pizza crust to be ready. He makes a soft pile with pillows, blankets and stuffed animals everyday. Hes like a little animal!

I placed them into the freezer to wait the 4 hours. While I was waiting I cleaned the house in preparation for a few friends coming over to play some video games with my husband and son. I loaded the dishwasher and washing machine, vacuumed the house, fed my son his favorite Tyson Dino chicken nuggets and veggie tots for lunch, checked emails then watched a Cat in the Hat cartoon with my son before we picked up all his toys in the living room. When the 4 hours had gone by I was so ready to try the Dole Tropical Fruit Coconut Pizza!

After the tropical pizza crusts were ready I opened the can of Dole Tropical Fruit, Dole Strawberry cups, sliced the kiwi and toasted more coconut for the top of the crust (I love a lot of coconut). I used a butter knife around the edge of my pie tins to get the crust out, I turned it onto a plate tapped the bottom and it fell onto the plate, using another plate I turned the crust right side up to be able to use. This was easy and made it so I did not break the crust while getting it out of the tin. (The same as getting a cake out of a pan.)

I added extra coconut to the top of my crust. You can add it on top of your fruit as well. I wanted to have a bit of a crunch under the soft fruit.

My finished Dole Tropical Coconut Pizza #tropicalfruit

Thankfully I made two Dole Tropical Coconut Pizzas. I knew my son would grab the fruit as soon as I put it on the table. He loves strawberries! He even put his face into it so he could lick the sweet crust. There was a few oh wow and yummy comments from him. Just like any pizza he has, he picked off toppings before he took a bite of the whole thing. #tropicalfruit

 Just as he climbed onto the table to get me to continue letting him lick the pizza our friends arrived for dessert and video games. My son and I shared the one he licked lol and I sliced up and served the other one for everyone else.

 I love how this Dole Tropical Coconut Pizza turned out. Its sweet to eat and beautiful to look at. I can see us making this again using other fruit toppings too. Using the pie tin gave the pizza a nice tall crust.

You can find more Recipes from Dole on their website. They have all sorts of recipes that I want to make. I have seen a few other bloggers make a turkey burger with Dole Pineapple rings that look delicious! You can read my Google+ story about my shopping trip to Safeway and see how silly my kid gets when we go shopping.

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Dole #CBias #SocialFabric #tropicalfruit All opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.