Tag Archives: summer

Red White and Blueberry Popsicles

Can you believe it’s already August? As per usual, summer just seems to be flying by and the end of the year will be here before we know it. It’s been quite hot and humid here in good ol’ SoCal, and I’ve found one of the best ways to cool off is with a frozen treat like these red white and blueberry popsicles I created a few weeks ago.

Since I am a member of Peanut Butter and Co.’s Yum Squad, there is never a shortage of delicious peanut butter in our house. 90% of the time the PB is used in some sort of baked treat or eaten straight out of the jar (I’m looking at you, Dark Chocolate Dreams), but this time I wanted to do something different, so popsicles it was.

I decided to use Peanut Butter and Co.’s White Chocolate Wonderful as my base, and added in frozen berries, strawberry jam, and a little almond milk to create my red white and blueberry popsicles. I wasn’t completely sure that peanut butter would work as a base, but these turned out SO GOOD. It was basically like eating a delicious frozen pb&j on a stick.

If white chocolate isn’t your thing, these popsicles would be great with just regular PB since the blueberries and jam already add so much flavor. I think next time I’ll have to give these a try with frozen raspberries as well!

Red White and Blueberry Popsicles (makes 4-6 popsicles)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Peanut Butter and Co. White Chocolate Wonderful

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

2 tbsp Peanut Butter and Co. Seriously Strawberry Jam

1/4 cup almond milk

Pinch of sea salt

Directions:

Mix all of your ingredients into a large bowl. Pour mixture into popsicle molds.

Freeze for 3-4 hours or until popsicles are firm, then serve and enjoy!

What’s your favorite frozen summer treat?

Summer at Sidecar Doughnuts

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It’s been quite some time since I wrote about Sidecar Doughnuts. For those who aren’t familiar, Sidecar Doughnuts is a delightful doughnut shop in Costa Mesa that bakes fresh doughnuts daily made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives. The Englishman and I pop in there every so often for a weekend treat, and when I heard about all the exciting things happening this summer at Sidecar Doughnuts, I knew I had to pop in and check it out.

This summer, Sidecar Doughnuts is introducing what they call “Sidecar Nights,” where the shop will be open on Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm! Perfect for any time you have a doughnut craving after dinner. And since the doughnuts are made fresh hourly, you won’t have to choose from the morning’s leftovers. Psst – if you come in the morning keep your receipt for $2 off your doughnut later in the day!

The other exciting thing happening this summer at Sidecar Doughnuts is the introduction of their signature coffee, Forty Winks. Admittedly the Englishman and I do not really drink coffee at all, but there’s something special about this blend. Sidecar partnered with famed Stumptown Coffee to create their Forty Winks blend and it is good. If you are a coffee enthusiast, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Of course each month Sidecar Doughnuts introduces delicious new flavors and this month is no exception. Some of the August flavors include a Malasada doughnut with strawberry jam, a Mid-Summer Garden Cake made with zucchini, a Buttermilk Old Fashioned, and Fig and Goat Cheese. I’d like to think that the Buttermilk Old Fashioned was made in honor of my birthday month because it is that good.

Lazy weekend mornings with coffee and a doughnut. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

Now who wants to go get a doughnut with me?

Bacon Mozzarella Pasta Salad

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Summer has finally hit in Socal. Every year we make our way through May Gray and June Gloom and then somewhere in August, summer strikes in full force. The only difference this time is that we have the added bonus of humidity which has me wanting quick and easy meals that don’t involve a lot of heat. Enter the Bacon Mozzarella Pasta Salad.

I like this pasta salad for a lot of reasons. First, it requires minimal ingredients and minimal cleanup, second it has lots of fresh summer vegetables, and third it involves bacon which can easily be made in kitchen indoor grill. Enough said. It’s an easy summer dinner that’s perfect when you don’t feel like cooking, and would also be a great dish to take to a BBQ. It also happens to pair really well with a crisp glass of pinot grigio.

Bacon Mozzarella Pasta Salad (serves 1-2)

Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice pasta (whole wheat works too)

2 cups arugula

1/2 cup chopped bacon

1 cup heirloom tomatoes

1/2 cup broccoli or any vegetable of your choice

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook your pasta for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Remove pasta from water and place in fridge to cool.

In a large skillet saute your bacon until nice and crispy. Set aside.

Place arugula and pasta in a small bowl and top with tomatoes, broccoli, mozzarella and bacon. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

Other great toppings for this salad include avocado, hard-boiled eggs and carrots.