Heavenly Homemakers

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Easy Side Dishes for Summer

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This Easy Side Dishes for Summer post can be your go-to for Simple Meal inspiration!

I’ve found that meals are easier to put together in the summertime. Why? Because there are so many great fresh side dish options available. Stores and farmer’s markets offer more fresh fruits and veggies compared to cold weather months, making it super easy to set out lots of tasty side dishes without much effort.

I love it when my summer meals look like this:

It truly is so simple to make an easy main dish like grilled chicken, then set out quick, fresh sides. Steamed garden veggies, salad, and/or watermelon – these are no brainers and so refreshing on a hot day!

 

The more colorful the better. Setting out options like this is great for picky eaters. Even if each kid only chooses to eat one or two of these, at least they are getting something nourishing that they like!

Here’s an example of a super simple meal I made recently: Grilled Brats with Grapes, Carrots, and Sliced Cucumbers on the side. So easy! And so family friendly!

Here’s another picture that shares a great example of a simple main dish with easy sides. This was taken on a day that some of our friends gathered after church and worked together to put this meal together. Pulled Pork was the main feature with salad, chips, carrots, oranges, pickles, rolls, and berries on the side.

Easy Side Dishes for SummerYum

In case you feel stumped after a long, hot day and want some easy ideas or reminders for great sides to set out on the counter with your grilled meat or other main dish, look at these lists for inspiration!

No-Work Side Dishes

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Grapes
  • Cherries
  • Chilled Canned Fruit in 100% Juice (Peaches, Pears, Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges)
  • Pickles
  • Olives
  • Chips
  • Chips and Salsa
  • Chips and Guacamole
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Baby Carrots
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Grape or Cherry Tomatoes

Minimal-Work Side Dishes

Salads

Store-Bought Sides

Consider picking these up at the store to have on hand to serve alongside grilled meat or other main dishes you prepare.

  • Bagged Salad Kits (I like to keep these on hand for an easy side dish my kids can make to go with our meals!)
  • Potato Salad
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Bag of Rolls
  • Chips

What easy side dishes would you add to these lists?

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4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Honey Puffs

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Allow me to introduce you to the very first recipe I ever made by myself as a kid: Peanut Butter Honey Puffs.

The best from the 1980s :)

Why has it take me this long to share this recipe with you, you might ask? Did I really start making these at age 9?

I did. I found it in Buddy’s No Cook Cookbook, the very first cookbook I ever called my own. I poured over that book and I made everything I could make without help. I loved it and I dare say that book kick-started my love for recipes and cooking!

The Peanut Butter Honey Puffs recipe in that book is the one that stuck though. It’s the recipe I loved the most and the one I made most often through my growing up years.

But then I moved on to different recipes, different cookbooks, and eventually, I forgot all about my childhood cookbook and favorite recipe. During last week’s snow days, suddenly I became hungry for a Peanut Butter Honey Puff. What made me think of them after all these years – I don’t know. But think of them I did.

I told my kids about them and pulled them into the kitchen to try them with me. I couldn’t remember all of the specifics about the recipe, but I remembered enough to attempt it. They turned out great!

So great that I wanted the exact recipe. And I wanted to hold my Buddy’s cookbook in my hands and see what else I had forgotten. I checked on Amazon, and there it was. My Buddy’s No Cook Cookbook. I ordered it and now I feel like I’m nine again. :)

Over the weekend, we made these Puffs again, this time following the recipe in the book. Well, actually, we followed the recipe but adapted it because I knew we didn’t need THAT much honey to make them taste good. And because I wanted to use whole milk dry milk instead of non-fat.

So here is Laura’s version of Peanut Butter Honey Puffs, courtesy of Buddy, my childhood friend. I’m so happy to have these snacks back in my life again!

Peanut Butter Honey PuffsYum

5.0 from 2 reviews
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Honey Puffs
 
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Serves: 20 large balls or 36 small balls
Ingredients
  • 2 cups natural peanut butter
  • ¾ cup honey
  • 1 cup whole milk dry milk
  • 1 cup crushed cornflakes
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, stir together peanut butter, honey, and dry milk.
  2. Roll mixture into balls, then roll them in crushed cornflakes to coat.

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Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters – Chocolate or Vanilla

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I have discovered a new idea and I’ve decided to call these: Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters.

I didn’t actually invent this recipe. I happened upon it whilst scrolling Facebook and an ad popped up for Weight Watchers recipes. I don’t care about counting WW points, but I do like the idea of adding pumpkin to goodies. Any opportunity to add nourishment to food – I’m all in.

I was also very attracted to the idea of a two-ingredient recipe. It’s just a cake mix and a can of pumpkin. Easy and includes a vegetable? Yes please.

Now, I didn’t used to buy cake mixes. Those most certainly include ingredients that aren’t great. But alas, here I am, ignoring the ingredient list and paying $0.98 for a box of convenience. Then I add a huge wad of spinach to the cake, declaring that I am somehow still winning the war on food. Can we also  occasionally add an entire can of pumpkin to such a mix? Yes, we can. So now we can cringe as we buy cake mix, then smile as we add spinach or pumpkin.

And if I’m lucky, I might also have time to take a shower. Seriously, I have so many reasons to buy cake mix now. Here are my youngest 5 reasons. Plus Malachi, who is quite low maintenance but does also like to eat.

Why did I decide to name them Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters? Two reasons:

  1. Buying a cake mix is sort of cheating, making us sort of cheaters, but again, we like to shower sometimes and this is how we are surviving right now.
  2. These treats are some kind of cross between a cupcake and a muffin. They are too sugary to really be a muffin but too pumpkin-y to really be a cupcake. I couldn’t land on what to call them. A muffcake? Perhaps. But then Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters came to mind and I decided I liked it.

Is it possible I spend too much time reading nursery rhymes? Nah.

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters – Chocolate or VanillaYum

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters - Chocolate or Vanilla
 
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Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 1 cake mix, chocolate or vanilla
  • 15-ounce can pumpkin
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon if you'd like!
Instructions
  1. Mix ingredients together until smooth.
  2. Scoop into 12 paper-lined muffin tins (you'll fill them a little bit more full than a typical cupcake or muffin).
  3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

You can add chocolate chips, but I skip that because I don’t want to add extra sugar. Also have you seen what happens when toddlers eat melted chocolate chips? Oy, so messy.

And there you have it, friends. Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters are fun and easy to make. The pumpkin makes these moist and pumpkin is a superfood. Ha. I declare these to be a win.

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Mini Crustless Jelly Swirl Cheesecake Cups (5 Ingredients!)

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These Mini Crustless Jelly Swirl Cheesecake Cups are so easy and only 5 ingredients!

Why are these crustless? Because it’s easier that way and they taste just as good! I love blending the cheesecake ingredients together, scooping the mixture into cups, swirling in a little jelly, then baking as-is. These are such a good grab-and-go breakfast or snack!

Why not dessert? Well sure, they can be a dessert too! I just find them to be filling as a breakfast option also simply because they are low in sugar and high in protein. They are great with a cup of coffee in the morning!

Make a batch of these and keep them in your fridge for easy meal and snack options!

Mini Crustless Jelly Swirl Cheesecake CupsYum

Mini Crustless Jelly Swirl Cheesecake Cups
 
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Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 4 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup 100% fruit jelly (any kind)
Instructions
  1. Blend first four ingredients together until smooth.
  2. Pour into 12 muffin cups. (I use a silicone muffin "pan" for this and they pop right out once cooled.)
  3. Spoon a small amount of jelly into each cup and swirl with a butter knife.
  4. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.
  5. Turn off heat, open the oven door, and leave the cheesecakes in the oven for an additional 20 minutes. (Cheesecakes will puff up during baking but deflate while continuing to sit in the oven.)
  6. Transfer cheesecakes to the fridge and chill for at least two hours before serving.

How about Peanut Butter and Jelly Swirl Cheesecake Cups?!

Yes, please! Simply blend 1/3 cup of natural creamy peanut butter into the cheesecake ingredients along with an additional egg. Follow the rest of the recipe as directed!

 

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Breakfast Cookie Cups – Perfect for Grab-and-Go!

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I turned my breakfast cookie recipe into Breakfast Cookie Cups. This is genius. Plus below I’ve shared several other great grab-and-go breakfast ideas!

Not that Breakfast Cookies aren’t already convenient as a quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack option. But somehow having them in cupcake wrappers and baked in a muffin tin makes them even easier. Maybe they’re less crumbly? I dunno, but I really like them this way!

My kids are loving them, however, for our littlest, I skipped the chocolate chips to avoid extra messes. (How do they end up with chocolate chips melted onto their bottoms every time, I don’t know. So chocolate chip-less Breakfast Cookie Cups for all who are two and under at our house.)

Breakfast Cookie CupsYum

Breakfast Cookie Cups - Perfect for Grab-and-Go!
 
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Serves: 18
Ingredients
  • 1 cup melted butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • ½ cup raisins or chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Mix butter, honey, eggs, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and vanilla.
  2. Stir in flour and oats.
  3. Fold in raisins or chocolate chips.
  4. Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough into paper-lined muffin tins.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

I double this recipe every time I make it simply because these freeze well and they are great to have in the freezer to serve as needed.

TIP: Add 1 cup of peanut butter to these if you want to add some protein. No other adjustments necessary.

Here are a few more great ideas for grab-and-go breakfasts:

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Easy Chili Cheese Dip

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Have leftover chili? Make Easy Chili Cheese Dip!

One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to clear out leftovers by making something new with them. This Easy Chili Cheese Dip is a perfect example of how to do this.

On the other hand, this dip is delicious enough that you might want to make chili just so you can have leftovers to make this dip. Or make the chili, skip eating the chili, and make lots of dip. OR, cheat as needed and simply buy a can of chili to use in this recipe!

Easy Chili Cheese DipYum

Easy Chili Cheese Dip
 
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Ingredients
  • 2 cups leftover chili
  • 8-ounces softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup salsa
Instructions
  1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.
  2. Serve hot or cold with tortilla chips.

What’s great about this recipe is that it’s more than a snack. This can be your entire meal along with fruits and veggies on the side.

Serve it hot or cold, whichever you like!

This recipe works great for my family because I blend everything up which makes a smooth dip without chunks. If you prefer a chunky dip, just stir ingredients together instead of blending.

Need some chili recipes? Use one of these:

  • You can keep your costs for this dip to a minimum when you make this Lentil Chili.
  • This Hearty Chili is meatless, but feel free to cook hamburger or ground turkey to add more protein.

Here are more dip recipes to look through and enjoy!

  1. Easy White Queso
  2. Simple Bean and Cheese Salsa Dip
  3. Creamy Chocolate Fruit Dip
  4. Creamy Italian Veggie Dip
  5. Cream Cheese Salsa Dip
  6. Bacon Ranch Chip Dip
  7. French Onion Dip
  8. Bacon Tomato Dip
  9. Black Bean Salsa
  10. Easy Veggie Dip
  11. Healthier Cheese Dip 
  12. Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip
  13. Nacho Cheese Pretzel Dip
  14. Easy Guacomole
  15. Easy Cheesy Bean Dip
  16. Hamburber Sauerkraut Dip
  17. Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
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Sweet and Salty Nut and Pretzel Snack Mix

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This Sweet and Salty Nut and Pretzel Snack Mix is great to have on hand to serve guests during the holidays or even to package up and give as gifts!

You can use any of your favorite nuts in this recipe. Our favorites are almonds and cashews. The salty combo of nuts with pretzels with the light sugary coating is perfect!

Sweet and Salty Nut and Pretzel Snack MixYum

Simple Nut and Pretzel Snack Mix
 
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Ingredients
  • ½ cup sucanat or brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • ½ pound any nuts you like
  • 8-ounces pretzels
Instructions
  1. Mix sucanat, cinnamon, and salt in a gallon-sized ziploc-type bag.
  2. Set aside.
  3. Whisk egg white, vanilla, and water in a large bowl until frothy.
  4. Toss in nuts and pretzels, coating them all with liquid.
  5. Pour the coated pecans into the bag with sucanat/cinnamon/salt mixture.
  6. Seal the bag and shake gently to coat the pecans as evenly as possible.
  7. Spread the coated pecans on a parchment paper or silicone mat lined cookie sheet.
  8. Bake in a 250° oven for 1 hour - stirring every 20 minutes.

Our favorite source for organic nuts is Braga Farms. We visited their farm a few years ago. They are fantastic people. I buy from them when I can. :)

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Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Bites (Naturally Grain and Gluten Free ~ High Fiber and Protein!)

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Is it too soon to start talking about Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Bites? I figured we needed to get a jump start on fall.

I’ve kept a supply of Cookie Dough Bites in my fridge since school started. Why? Because they are a perfect snack to grab when we need something fast and filling. They are filled with protein and fiber, and are sweetened with honey, so I don’t mind if my kids grab two or three at a time to hold them over until the next meal.

Up until now, we’ve enjoyed these fun Cookie Dough Bite varieties:

Recently, I decided it was necessary to experiment with Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Bites.

I usually make my own Pumpkin Spice to use from now through all the holidays. It’s fun, easy, and tasty. Now we can use it in these cookie dough bites!

Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough BitesYum

Pumpkin Spice Cookie Dough Bites (Naturally Grain and Gluten Free ~ High Fiber and Protein!)
 
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Serves: 15-20
Ingredients
  • 1 cup natural almond butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Spice*
  • ½ cup coconut flour
Instructions
  1. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.
  2. Roll the mixture into teaspoon-sized balls.
  3. Refrigerate for about one hour before serving.

*Find the recipe for our Pumpkin Spice mix here. Or substitute 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg in this recipe.

If you want to get fancy, roll your bites in coconut flakes, cinnamon, or crushed nuts. :)

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80+ Christmas Side Dish Recipes

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Not sure which side dish to take to your family Christmas dinner this year? We can help! Here’s a list of 80+ of our favorites that Bethany put together!

80+ Easy Side Dishes for Christmas

Can I let you in on a little secret?

My favorite Christmas treat is always found on the side dish table.

Yes, I love the turkey and the ham and the desserts (you know I love the dessert!) but there’s something extra special about being able to eat a plate full of mashed potatoes, salads, stuffings, and dips. I think it is because I don’t usually prepare a lot of side dishes for our every day life (I tend to pull out easy side dishes, like Laura suggests in this post). Adding fresh fruits and veggies is the easiest way to help my family eat healthier, and add variety to our meals!  So when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around, I love being able to enjoy the potluck of side dishes. There’s just so much goodness there!!

If you are hosting this year or even if you are simply looking for a dish or two to contribute to your family’s holiday celebration, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a master list of my favorite side dishes for Christmas. 

Delicious Veggie Side DishesYum

Delightful Dips

Fun Fruit Side Dishes

Yummy Bread Side Dishes

Easy Salads

What’s your favorite Christmas side dish? Share below!

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Simple Coconut Blueberry Lime Smoothie

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Another great smoothie!

by Tasha Hackett

You’re surely not tired of them yet, are you? This coconut blueberry lime smoothie is going make you do a little hula dance right there in your kitchen. Or in your friend’s kitchen when you make it at her house. Or in the camp kitchen you’re working at this week.

blueberry lime smoothie

Simple Coconut Blueberry Lime SmoothieYum

I (Tasha) have been on a paleo diet since before Christmas. You could say it’s been the year of the smoothies. Even more than most years. It’s just so easy to get in the vegetables this way! Ack… this one doesn’t even have vegetables in it. I’m sorry. But you can go drink your salad another time.

While I’m at camp this week, I brought my Blentec—blender snob alert… yes, it’s me. High calorie smoothies like this one keep me from starving to death when not eating camp mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets.

I did say simple smoothie, didn’t I?

If my daily chocolate shake has too many ingredients for you, try this one! The recipe is in the title… Ding-a-ling! Easy peasy. It’s coconut milk, frozen blueberries, and the juice of one lime. You can stop there, or you can add a touch of sweetener:

  1. 13 oz. can coconut milk (I currently use Nature’s Greatest Organic 17% Coconut Milk Fat)
  2. 2 cups frozen blueberries (Or other berries, but then it wouldn’t be a Coconut Blueberry Lime Smoothie now would it?)
  3. Juice of 1 lime (Or 2-3 tsp of lime juice if you don’t have time for the squeezing of the lime… but I recommend the real deal.)
  4. Blend until smooth****

****If your kids are, well, you know, average kids, you may need to add a touch of a sweetener of choice. I use 1/2 teaspoon of THM Super Sweet stevia blend.

Put the lime in the coconut…

If you’re looking for more great smoothie ideas, search smoothie over there on the search bar on this sight and be wowed by the variety. How about this cinnamon one? And a homemade Orange Julius. Remember your high protein chocolate shake here. And lastly, don’t be scared to throw a few goodies in the blender and see what happens! Just PLEASE and I mean, PLEASE stay away from arugula in smoothies. Spinach and maybe some kale, but arugula does not play nice in a smoothie. That is my best advice to you. And beets… unless you like eating pink dirt. Haha. Some people will fight me on this one, but that’s a topic for another day. For now, go enjoy this fresh summer treat.

blueberry smoothie

 

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