A Great Dollar Store Purchase and Vegan Strawberry Creamsicles

Growing up I remember having homemade popcicles.
Such a cooling sensation with the summer's heat blazing down.
Why I never thought to make them as my child grew up is beyond me, I'm a bad popcicle loving mom.  Modern conveniences of running to the store to buy them as a treat just seemed more feasible doesn't it?
Now that I think about it, it never entered my mind to make my own.
Until last week.

I was on the hunt.
I even changed my facebook status to request ideas on where one could locate some wonderful containers (reusable is key).
I know they exist, I am positive I have walked numerous times past them in stores yet when I wanted to get them I was lost.
"check Kitchen Stuff Plus", "Amazon", "Home Outfitters" and the "Dollar Store" were the top 4 responses.
Dollar store, you are my friend, my sanity, my thrifty confidant.   I will check you first because cuteness doesn't mean better.

Thank you for carrying these wonderful holders for frozen goodness for a mere $1.50 Dollarama.

Now time to make some treats!

I have some fresh strawberries

and some leftover coconut milk from the Orange/Coconut Dressing I made for some wonderful Chicken Salad Pitas, this should pair nicely with the strawberries to make a creamy popcicle that is not only lactose free but also vegan!  Here we go!

So simple with only three ingredients, so flavorful and a great after dinner snack (or beforehand but don't tell).

Chicken Salad Pitas with a Tropical Vibe

What happens when mom is sick for a week and has no energy to cook, clean or write?
Take out.

Everyone always says its so nice to go on vacation because you don't have to cook for yourself.
I beg to differ.
When I get back from vacation I cant wait to eat my own home cooked meals. 
This is how I felt come Sunday when I finally started to feel better.
We had eaten fast food almost every night last week.  And when I say fast food I don't mean EVERY meal was from a drive up, take your bag of fried food and go home feeling fat meal, but close to it.

I just wanted to eat a whole watermelon and chew on some spinach.

A light dinner was in need.
It had to be flavorful yet healthy so we could get our vitamins back.

I popped into the local store and picked up a ready made chicken, some oranges and cilantro.  I was sure I could come up with something when I got home.
If nothing else we would have chicken soup with vitamin C for dessert ;)

Noticing a can of coconut milk in my cupboard I decided that it could work with the oranges as a light flavored dressing.  Maybe a hint of spicy?  Great, I had a jalapeno kickin around.
Some escarole and leaf lettuce are ready in the garden.
Let's throw this together and into a pita.

I was a tad concerned this wasn't going to sit well with Little Ugh however he ate it up and said it had a nice refreshing taste.

I'm Listening to: The Way You Do The Things You Do - UB40

Mash Up Monday - Mini PB & J Cheesecakes

How can you resist a cheesecake that reflects the flavors of childhood?
I don't know about you but I cannot.
I will not.

When thinking of the most notorious of kiddie sandwiches all I can think about is happy moments growing up.

After a long hard morning of picking flowers, making inanimate objects come to life with imagination and chasing the neighborhood kids around I was always ecstatic when my favorite lunch (the peanut butter and jam sammie) was put before me, crusts off and cut on the diagonal.
I was easy to please.
Still am. (Although Mr. BM would probably disagree)

About a month or so ago now I entered and won a giveaway from Jan at FamilyBites and I was thrilled to receive a box full of Kraft products as well as some "free" coupons for some additional items. 
Thanks Jan and thanks Kraft Foods!!
I perused the box when it arrived and one of the first things that stood out for me was a brand new jar of......

WHIPPED?!  DIPABLE?!
I hid this jar so NO one would touch it (I even had a hard time finding it myself today) in hopes of using it for something delicious.
Enter MashUp idea.
Peanut Butter and Jam Cheesecake.  That sounds totally grown up doesn't it?
No crust cutting on this puppy!
Even better with my homemade triple berry jam that I made this week.
Enjoy.

I'm Listening to: Harder to Breath - Maroon 5 Go #TeamAdam!