strawberries

Cat in the Hat Strawberry Yogurt Pops

Junior Chefs is a popular momstown program.  It supports our fitness and nutrition and early education goals, and it can be a great way to encourage kids to try new foods, and make more healthy food choices.  It is also a lot of fun, especially when what we are making has a theme.  Pears by themselves might not be touched, but when they are transformed into bunnies with raisin eyes and a cottage cheese tail, they are suddenly gobbled up.

 

The weather has been hot lately, and we have not wanted to turn on the oven.  Instead, we made "Cat in the Hat" inspired Strawberry Yogurt Pops:

 

 

 

Cat in the Hat Inspired Strawberry Yogurt Pops

Ingredients:

  • ripe strawberries
  • vanilla greek yogurt
  • granulated sugar or honey (optional)
  • white chocolate chips
  • unsweetened shredded coconut
  • round social tea cookies with holes in the centre (we used Voortman's Simply Social cookies)

You will also need:

  • popsicle sticks
  • dixie cups
  • bowls
  • a butter knife, a small spoon, and a fork or potato masher
  • tin foil (optional)

1. Wash, hull, and slice strawberries.  Place them in a medium to large bowl, and mash well with a fork or potato masher.  Taste, and sweeten with a bit of sugar or honey if desired.

 

 

 

2. Spoon a small layer (a few cenimeters) of strawberry mixture into the bottom of each dixie cup.  Place in the freezer for approximately 20 minutes.  Remove popsicles from freezer, and insert a popsicle stick into the centre of each one.  If desired, cover the top of the cups with tin foil and poke the popsicle stick through to keep it standing straight. Freeze for an additional 15 minutes.

 

3. Remove popsicles from freezer, and top each with a few centimetres of vanilla yogurt.  Return to freezer for appoximately 30 minutes. Continue adding a layer and freezing until cups are full, ending with a strawberry layer. 

 

4. Remove popsicles from freezer, and peel off paper cups (note, if the paper sticks, wait a few minutes and try peeling again). Melt a few tablespoons of white chocolate chips in the microvave, stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate is a spreadable consistency.  Spread a layer of chocolate onto a cookie, and top with coconut.  Insert a popsicle through the centre of a cookie, and press together.  The chocolate will harden and stick the cookie to the popsicle.

 

5. Repeat with remaining cookies and popsicles, and enjoy!

 

 

These popsicles are healthy enough (minus the cookie and chocolate layer), to be enjoyed for breakfast while you watch an episode of "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That" on Kids' CBC.  They are great for an afternoon snack while you read Dr. Suess books together.

Posted by momstown team on 08/03/2012 - 16:43
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Canada Day Snacks for Kids

 

momstown's Junior Chef program is always a favourite event on the calendar. Kids have the opportunity to get in the kitchen and help with the preparation of fun, nutritious snacks and meals.

 

We made these Canada flag snacks for Canada Day specifically, but they are a delicious and healthy treat that you can make with your toddler or preschooler at any time of year. You can easily change the design, making a heart for Valentine's day, a Santa hat for Christmas,or a letter of the alphabet. You can change the fruits you use too.

 

 

To make your own Canada Flag snack, you will need:

 

  • A sheet of graham crackers (ours came as three crackers attached together)
  • Cream cheese (tofutti, or a spreadable cheese such as the Laughing Cow would work too)
  • Strawberries
  • a butter knife
  • a sharp knife to cut the strawberries

 

1. Have your junior chef help to wash and dry strawberries.

 

2. Hull strawberries.  Use the sharp knife to slice one strawberry vertically to form a heart shape. Slice the remaining strawberries into thin slices (an adult's job).

 

3. Let your little chef use the butter knife to spread cream cheese evenly over the top of the graham cracker.  Arrage the strawberry slices along the left and right sides of the edges of the cracker.  Place the heart shaped strawberry slice in the centre.

 

4. Eat and enjoy!

 

momstown Mississauga tried this recipe for their Junior Chef program and it was a delicious hit!

Posted by momstown team on 06/26/2012 - 21:46
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