Sunny Fruit Fiesta

Fresh fruit...summer time...that combo says breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any time in between to our crew!

Serves 6

1 cantelope, halved & seeded
1/2 honeydew, seeded
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c fresh lime juice
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1 c sliced strawberries
1 c black or red seedless grapes

Using a melon baller, scoop flesh from cantelope & honeydew into balls; set aside.
In a lg glass or ceramic bowl, combine the sugar, lime juice, lemon juice, & lime peel.
Stir well to disolve sugar.
Add the cantelope & honeydew balls, strawberries & grapes.  Toss gently to combine.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap & refrigerate for at least 1 hour stirring once or twice.
Spoon the fruit into serving bowls or hollowed out melon halves, dividing evenly.
**can also use kiwi, pineapple, papaya, or mango.
**Add a touch of ginger & maybe coconut too

Be creative & have the kids help pick out fun combos of fruit!

Sweet & Sour Crockpot Meatballs

This particular recipe came from the world's most awesome neighbor!!!  Kris was infamous for making some really fantastic food that Len & I were priviledged to enjoy...this is a fantastic way to have dinner ready when you get home after a long day, by serving it over rice...otherwise, its a great dish to take to get togethers or family dinners where there is sure to be a hungry crowd.  We love to pair this up with Len's mom's crock pot Mac & Cheese...mmmmm

2 12oz jars chilli sauce
3/4s of a 12oz jar of cheap grape jelly
lg bag of frozen Italian meatballs

Combine in a crockpot & cook on low all day!
If you feel really daring, you can add a can of diced pineapple chunks!!

Best of Summer Fruit Salad

Our kids love having fruit with our meals, to them, a big bowl of fruit with some granola is the greatest breakfast...works for me!  This recipe helps to combine 4-6 different fruits in one fantastic dish.
If you use bananas, make sure you don't slice & mix in till you are pretty much ready to eat or they will turn brown on you!

1/3 c sugar (or 3/4 c agave nectar)
1/4 c fresh mint or lemon verbena leaves (optional, but def. adds fantastic flavor, very easy to grow in a pot!)
2 Tbs lemon or lime juice
2 c seedless grapes, halved
2 peaches, or nectarines, cut into 1 1/2" pieces
1 c sliced strawberries and/or whole raspberries
1 c blueberries
bananas, apples, kiwi, etc...

Bring sugar and 1/2 c water to a boil in a saucepan.  Simmer 2 min.  Remove from heat, stir in mint & lemon juice (or lime).  Steep 15 min.  Strain out mint.
Combine fruit in a lg bowl.  Stir in sugar syrup.
Cover & chill 2 hours or overnight.

be creative, let the kids help pick out fruit & if old enough, chop up & mix it all together.  Helping out in the kitchen generally helps get more of it on their plates & into them!