Broiled Grapefruit Recipe (Week 49, 52 New Foods)

Posted by Jennifer Lee on December 17, 2012 0 Comments

This deliciously simple broiled grapefruit recipe adds a flavorful twist to your table: a sweet and juicy treat without a drop of refined sugar.

Grapefruit is one of my favorite winter fruits. Slicing it open, I could swear I hear it call out, “Wake up, the day is here!” For some kids, the flavor can be a bit overpowering. My daughter loves the bright spray of citrus on her palette, but my son prefers a mellower flavor, which is exactly what broiling a grapefruit achieves. Delicately dressed with a touch of agave and a sprinkle of cinnamon and ginger, this broiled grapefruit recipe is one we’re adding to our list of ultra-easy, family favorites.

Broiled Grapefruit with Agave and Cinnamon

Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 3 to 5 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 grapefruits, halved
4 tsp agave
A few pinches of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Wash the grapefruit and cut it in half. Using a small paring knife, cut around the outside of the grapefruit.  

2. Top each grapefruit half with a teaspoon of agave, spreading gently over the fruit with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon (I added a little ginger too).

3. Broil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tops are slightly browned.

* Have you tried broiled grapefruit? What is your favorite way to enjoy this delicious winter fruit?

Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s recipe: Mini apple pear crisp.

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.

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Mini Apple Pear Crisp (Week 48, 52 New Foods)

Posted by Jennifer Lee on December 10, 2012 0 Comments

A mini apple pear crisp is the fresh food version of a big warm bear hug! Filled to the brim with sweet, bubbling fresh pears, apples and cranberries, it’s the perfect treat to serve at a cozy winter get-together by the fire with friends and family.

Pears and apples abound at our local market and they are one of our favorite snacks. To be sure, they are absolutely delicious enjoyed just as they are – nature’s perfect fast food. But this week my kids and I had a hankering for a holiday treat. We wanted to make something a little special for our upcoming school celebration, so we decided to make a big batch of apple pear crisp in mini ramekins. A warm little treat to greet each one of our guests.

Mini Apple Pear Crisp

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 to 35 minutes
Yield: Serves 12

Ingredients:

For the apple pear crisp filling:

6 medium apples
4 medium pears
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ tsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ c whole wheat pastry flour
½ c sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For the apple pear crisp topping:
1 ¼ cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup rolled oats
2 sticks of butter
¼ cup flax meal
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. Peel and core the pears and apples, then cut into large chunks. I find this a bit tedious, but my kids love recipes with lots of peeling and chopping so they were in charge of this step!

2. Load the fruit into a large bowl with the cranberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, whole-wheat flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss gently to combine. Set aside.

3. For the topping, combine the whole-wheat flour, oats, butter, flax meal and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix gently until the mixture looks like large crumbles.

4. Portion the fruit mixture into 12 small ramekins, then top each with a handful of the crumble topping.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the fruit is bubbling. When it’s ready the smell is absolutely glorious!

NOTE: To make ahead, simply assemble the mini crisps in the individual ramekins, cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready, simply bake and enjoy!

My good friend and fellow family foodie, Kim Gerber at Out of the Box Food, inspired our apple pear crisp recipe this week. Be sure to check out her healthy remakes of all of your favorite foods.

* Do you have a family favorite recipe for apple pear crisp? What is your favorite way to prepare this cozy treat?

Craving more easy recipes to try? Catch up on last week’s recipe: Romanesco

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com.

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Sanity Saver: Make a Meal Plan {Giveaway}

Posted by Jennifer Lee on December 06, 2012 2 Comments

You’re an on-the-go mom, constantly juggling a dizzying array of activities for your family. Working healthy meals into that frantic schedule can be a challenge. The solution: make a meal plan.

“What’s for dinner, mom?” used to be a refrain that would make me shiver in my boots. Most nights I wanted to be the one asking “What’s for dinner?” Until I started making a meal plan. Together as a family, we map out what we’re going to enjoy each week. The inspiration can come from our weekly visit to the farmers’ market, a favorite family dish we’ve been craving, or something we sampled at a recent visit to a friend’s house. One night a week is dedicated to our 52 New Foods night, where we feature a new family-friendly recipe that the kids prepare. This week Romanesco made its debut at our table.

Our 52 New Foods adventure has given us the opportunity to try recipes from hundreds of food bloggers, and one of our favorite sources of family friendly recipes is The Six O’Clock Scramble. Created by my friend and cookbook author Aviva Goldfarb, The Six O’Clock Scramble is a meal plan service that provides an easy solution for busy parents who want to get healthy dinners on the table but feel squeezed for time. The Scramble gives you a ready-made healthy dinner plan for the week, including recipes, side dishes and a grocery list. My kids have enjoyed preparing Aviva’s easy recipes. Their all-time favorite: healthy no bake cookies!

 
Aviva has offered a free 3 month membership to The Scramble to one lucky Crunch a Color fan (a $21 value). Simply enter below!

* What is your biggest challenge when it comes to getting healthy dinners on the table?

About the author: Jennifer Tyler Lee is a mom of two children and the creator of Crunch a Color® -- the award-winning nutrition games that make healthy eating fun. Like most parents, she struggled to get her kids to eat healthy, balanced meals, so she decided to make it into a healthy eating game and she’s giving back to support non-profit kids’ nutrition programs. Winner of the Dr. Toy and Parent Tested, Parent Approved awards, Crunch a Color® has been featured by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, Laurie David’s Family Dinner, Kiwi Magazine, Dr. Greene, and Yum Food & Fun For Kids, among many others, as a simple, fun and playful way to get kids to eat healthy and try new foods. Jennifer’s passion is making mealtime fun, easy and healthy for busy families. Her easy recipes, quick tips, and new food adventures are regularly featured at Pottery Barn Kids, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, The Huffington Post, and on her weekly recipe blog at crunchacolor.com. 

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