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.
Ingredients:
You will also need:
Directions:
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.