Easy, Breezy Summer Treats
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I love how the kids fill our days with love & light!
Yesterday was an especially tough day as it was my sister's birthday. Six years since she passed, but still just as painful.
It's amazing how the kids almost magically ease my heartache.
Today's recipes are kid-inspired and perfect for summer!
Is every child obsessed with lemonade stands?
They run a pretend lemonade stand all the time which is the cutest to watch. They've been asking to make fresh-squeezed lemonade for a while now too!
Admittedly, I wanted to jazz it up by muddling in lavender-mint from the garden & perhaps some sparkling water or oooh some ginger, but they politely declined saying "No thanks, Mama! Maybe next time!"
They're right! Sometimes classic & simple is MORE than enough.
They did compromise later by letting me "decorate" their glasses with lavender-mint leaves and lavender flowers as they agreed it looked pretty.
They also wanted to make a fruit salad inspired by the song "fruit salad" by The Wiggles! They played the song on repeat as we cut up all our fruit! We added A LOT - peaches & apples from our tree, mangoes, green grapes, blueberries & oranges. A lovely rainbow of phytonutrients!
At first they wanted it to be a simple medley of fruit following the song's guidance, but I encouraged them to be more creative, and voila! It was delish!
We then decided to have a little garden party in our backyard! Because...why not, right?
The kids picked out their own fancy glasses and had SO. MUCH. FUN!!!
Life is about these simple, precious moments.
A painful day with unspeakable heartache also included a day filled with sweet memories that are now my heart's treasures.
When you lose someone you love, you quickly realize that it's not the big, flashy moments in life that you treasure most. It's the day-to-day little ones that can easily be overlooked if you're too busy to notice.
My heart is grateful.
Hope you're making your own sweet memories!
Fruit Salad (Dairy-Free, No Refined Sugar)
Ingredients: (Serves 6)
1/2 cup plain, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1- 2 tablespoons honey (to taste; depends on sweetness of fruit)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or use vanilla bean
8 cups mixed fresh seasonal fruit, cut into bite-sized morsels
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup toasted pecans or nut of choice
Instructions:
Mix yogurt, lemon juice, honey, and vanilla extract in a large bowl
Add fruit and toss gently.
Chill until cold, then top with toasted coconut flakes and pecans.
Enjoy!
Lemonade:
Ingredients:
3 lemons, squeezed (approximately 1 cup juice)
3 cups cold water
Honey to taste (2 tablespoons)
Instructions:
Heat 1/4 cup water to below 100F (to preserve nutrients in honey) and stir to dissolve honey.
Add remaining water and lemon juice.
Add additional honey if needed.
Add ice and serve!
With much love ️❤️,
Dr. Narayan
