Archives for June 2018

15 Perfect Playground Snacks

June 30, 2018

Summer is in full swing and my Little plays outdoors as much as possible. I always try to have a healthier snack, like Stonyfield Organic Kids Pouches, and good sun protection on hand. Here is my list of 15 great playground snacks!

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield Organic and Badger Balm. All opinions are mine alone.

15 Perfect Playground Snacks from LoveandConfections.com #ad @stonyfield #stonyfield @badgerbalm #badgerbalm

Whether we are by the pool, at the playground, or having an outdoor adventure with friends, I am always prepared with snacks and sunscreen. I love that Stonyfield partnered with Badger Balm for this post. Stonyfield is my family’s favorite yogurt. Stonyfield has had a mission of healthy planet, healthy food and healthy people since their start in 1983 as a small organic farming school in Wilton, NH.

Stonyfield Organic Kids and Whole Milk Yogurt Pouches are made without the use of toxic persistent pesticides or GMO’s that means it’s not only good for you but good for the planet too. And because it’s Stonyfield, you know it’s delicious.
1. 25% to 35% less sugar than the leading kids’ yogurt!
2. Yogurt made with live active cultures.
3. A perfectly portable, resealable format for healthy snacking anytime, anywhere.
4. Pouches come in kid-approved flavors like Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Blueberry, Vanilla, Strawberry Beet berry, Pear Spinach Mango and our new flavor Choco-Mooo.
5. Stonyfield Organic is always, USDA Organic, pasture raised, Non-GMO Project verified, Kosher certified and gluten free.
6. Both Stonyfield and Badger Balm are B-Corp Corp Certified. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Badger Balm, which is a B-corp just like Stonyfield. Their mission is to create fabulously pure and effective products of the highest natural quality, based on simplicity and thoughtful preparation, with the intention to protect, soothe and heal. They run a business that is fun, fair and profitable; where money is fuel, not a goal; and where their vision for a healthier world finds expression through the way they work and through the way they treat each other and the people they serve.

Florida weather has been pretty rainy lately. We can almost guarantee a storm every day, but until that storm hits we have had some pretty hot and sunny days. I live in one of the higher parts of Central Florida, so a lot of times it will be raining around us but we are in full sun. Skin protection is a priority when we have outdoor activities, and having a non-GMO, clear zinc biodegradable natural mineral sunscreen cream with 80 minutes of water resistant makes our playtime outdoors even better.

I eat Greek yogurt almost every day in my smoothies and use Stonyfield Yogurt regularly in my baking. My Little One usually has a Stonyfield Organic Kids Pouch in the morning, or as an afternoon snack if she doesn’t eat one as breakfast.

I love having an easy to grab snack if we’re on the go, or something I can bring to play-dates. When I plan an adventure to the park, I usually pack a small cooler with Stonyfield Organic Kids Pouches (Strawberry Beet Berry is the Little’s favorite) and a few of our favorite snacks to share with friends!

Here’s a list of some of my favorite playground snacks:

Stonyfield Organic Kids Pouches
Cherry Chocolate Chip Energy Balls from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Paper Bag Popcorn from Weelicious
Mini Blueberry Yogurt Muffins from Katie’s Cucina
Healthy Baked Carrot Chips from A Spicy Perspective
Monkey Bars from The Kitchen Prep
Cereal and Yogurt Stuffed Apples from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Chips from Fifteen Spatulas
Healthy Apple Donuts from Laura Fuentes
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Balls from Katie’s Cucina
Nutella & Banana Sushi from Paging Fun Mums
Oatmeal Breakfast Bites from A Night Owl
Rainbow Fruit Kabobs from Weelicious
Sweet and Salty Trail Mix from The Lemon Bowl
Blueberry Peach Fruit Roll-Ups from Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Lemon Lavender Glazed Sugar Cookies

June 28, 2018

Lemon Lavender Glazed Sugar Cookies are buttery and delicate with a subtle floral flavor and aroma. The combination of lemon and lavender is the perfect addition to a brunch, afternoon tea, or bridal or baby shower.

This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals.

Lemon Lavender Glazed Sugar Cookies from LoveandConfections.com

Simple, delicious and flavorful are probably some of the best words to describe this delicate citrus and floral cookie. Lemon and lavender are flavors that compliment each other, whether in cookies, cake, or even chocolate truffles. Lemon Lavender Glazed Sugar Cookies are great any day of the year, and even more perfect to enjoy for special occasions.

This cookie is almost a mix between a shortbread and a sugar cookie. The buttery texture melts in your mouth and the lemon hits you with such brightness. Citrus in cookies is one of my favorite flavors. Gorgeous citrus like lemons, grapefruit, oranges and limes, is readily available in Florida. I enjoy those flavors year-round in all of my baking and cooking. My Lemon Ricotta Bundt Cake and Sunrise Smoothie are definite winners around here.

Until pastry school, I had never used lavender in baking. I always associated it with perfume and soap; often an overpowering smell. Culinary lavender definitely changed my way of thinking. Using it in baked goods and chocolate, in a reasonable amount, adds so much to the flavor.

A light floral flavor pairs nicely with lemon. A food processor breaks apart the lavender buds and mixes it with the sugar. You could definitely stop there and place the lavender sugar in a mason jar for future use. I would also add a vanilla bean pod. Imagine the aroma the next time you opened that jar of lavender vanilla sugar!

When using lavender in baking, you don’t want too much that it resembles perfume, but just enough that you notice it in the dessert. In addition to the lemon glaze on top of the cookie, feel free to add more culinary lavender as garnish – or even some of that lavender sugar!

Here are some items I used in today’s recipe:

Visit Dixie Crystals for the full recipe:

LEMON LAVENDER SUGAR COOKIES!

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Cuban Sandwich Cheeseburger

June 1, 2018

Reminiscent of the Cuban sandwiches I grew up eating in Miami, this Cuban Sandwich Cheeseburger brings all the flavors of the traditional sandwich with the addition of a delicious beef burger for #BurgerMonth!

Cuban Sandwich Cheeseburger from LoveandConfections.com #BurgerMonth

I love burgers and am so happy to finally be able to participate in Girl Carnivore‘s #BurgerMonth. Enter the giveaway below! We eat a fair share of cheeseburgers and grill out often year-round (yay for living in Florida!). When I was coming up with ideas for this month’s burger, one flavor profile stood out – Cuban sandwiches.

I grew up in Miami, and while I am not Cuban – or Hispanic for that matter – it greatly influenced my life and what I ate. Cuban sandwiches and Medianoches were always a go-to, and my very favorite Cuban meal is Vaca Frita.

We would frequent the local Cuban bakeries for pastelitos on the weekend. One of my favorite memories as a child was when a family friend took us to this little Cuban cafe and I was first introduced to pan tostado and cafe con leche – it was a delicious culinary experience and one that I have always remembered. We often visited our favorite Cuban restaurant and order tostones, arroz con pollo, vaca frita, and so much more. The tastes and smells of Miami will always be a part of who I am, even though I no longer live there.

Back to the burger – how could I pass up the opportunity to recreate a favorite sandwich in burger form. Authentic Cuban bread is a must for this recipe. Luckily my grocery store carries it, so I didn’t have to trek across town to find some.

The sandwich is relatively simple if you have all the parts. Cuban bread, mustard, pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and sweet pickles are the original components. We made slow cooker pork the other night, so I used leftovers for my sandwich. Pulled pork is always good to have in the freezer for an easy meal, and is perfect on my Cuban sandwiches.

Grab a side of plantain chips, maduros, yuca fries or arroz con frijoles to accompany the Cuban Sandwich Cheeseburger for the full experience. I hope you enjoy my homage to my hometown with this delicious #BurgerMonth creation! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cuban Sandwich Cheeseburger

By Love and Confections

Ingredients

Cuban bread
Mustard
Pulled Pork
Ham (2 slices per burger)
Swiss Cheese
Hamburger (1/4 to 1/3lb is best)
Sweet pickles

Instructions

Prepare burger to liking. While burger is resting, slice Cuban bread in half and top each cut half with mustard. Layer on pulled pork, ham, them cheese on one side, and pickles on the other. Place the burger on top of the cheese and place the top half of the sandwich on. You can eat it as is, or press the sandwich.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Overnight Strawberry Chia Superfruit Pudding

June 1, 2018

Overnight chia seed pudding is one of my favorite, and easy, recipes to prepare for the morning. I add in extras, like fresh strawberries, granola, and Barlean’s Superfruit Seed Blend for a delicious addition to your brunch.

This post is sponsored by Barlean’s. All opinions are mine alone.

Overnight Strawberry Chia Superfruit Pudding #BrunchwithBarleans #Barleans #sponsored

Brunch is my all-time favorite meal – I even devote an entire week to it every year. When Barlean’s asked us to use their Superfruit Seed Blend and Organic Culinary Coconut Oil to create a brunch menu item, I was thrilled. I chose to create an overnight chia seed pudding that was combined with the Superfruit Blend.

While I love all kinds of brunch items, sometimes all the casseroles, waffles, pastries and eggs are a bit much to prepare. I love easy, make-ahead dishes, and overnight chia seed pudding is one of my go-to’s.

I combined chia seeds with milk and the Superfruit Blend, then refrigerated overnight. Adding Barlean’s Superfruit Blend, which is full of flax, coconut, strawberry, blueberry and raspberry, gives me the omega-3’s, antioxidants, and fiber I need to start my day off right. Layering chia pudding is one of my favorite ways to eat it. The flavor combinations are endless and it is the perfect interactive brunch dish, because everyone can pick their favorite mix-ins.

Granola is one of my staples in the pantry, and the first thing I grab when making chia seed parfaits. I even made my own batch of granola, using the Superfruit Blend and Culinary Coconut Oil. Making my own granola is easy, and fun, because I can combine different nuts, seeds, and fruits. Plus, I know every ingredient that is in the mix.

Fresh fruit is a must! Strawberries are my favorite, but I also use blueberries, bananas, shredded coconut, pineapple, the sky is the limit. Layering with different flavors and textures builds on an already great brunch item. Try my other favorite brunch items with chia – Carrot Cake Overnight Chia Oatmeal and Piña Colada Overnight Oatmeal.

Barlean’s mission is to pave a “pathway to a better life”. They believe people can make a difference in the world through ordinary purchases. Barlean’s is committed to improving the quality of life for every person on the planet by making the best products they can and using profits to support outreach programs. I love their mission statement, and am so grateful to be working with them this year! I hope you enjoy my newest brunch recipe!

Overnight Strawberry Chia Superfruit Pudding

By Love and Confections

Ingredients

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons Barlean’s Superfruit Blend
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 teaspoons honey
Granola
Strawberries

Instructions

Combine milk, chia seeds, Superfruit Blend, vanilla and honey in bowl or mason jar. Whisk together, or shake if using a jar with lid and let sit for 5 minutes.
Shake or stir once more to break up clumps, then store in refrigerator overnight.
Serve layered with granola and strawberries.

Until next time,

LOVE & CONFECTIONS!