FROM THE SCRAMBLE LIBRARY
LIGHT AND DELICIOUS SUMMER TREATS
Once the thermometer soars past 80 degrees, hardly an afternoon goes by when our kids don’t have a cold treat. But when I start to notice that the ice cream truck driver is greeting Solomon and Celia by name, I realize it’s time to resort to some healthier options for cool desserts. While summer would not be summer for us without a liberal dose of ice cream and popsicles, we have devised a few frosty desserts that are just as satisfying, without filling us up with too many empty calories:
Fruit smoothies: Blend ripe bananas, berries, and/or frozen fruit with nonfat vanilla yogurt or any kind of sorbet. One of our favorite concoctions is fresh strawberries, frozen blueberries, and bananas with vanilla yogurt and a splash of orange juice.
Healthy popsicles: In popsicle molds, freeze chocolate milk, smoothies or fruit juice for healthier popsicles.
Frozen fruit: Many fruits taste candy-sweet when eaten frozen. Try freezing peeled and sliced bananas, grapes, blueberries, pineapple, mango and strawberries. Don’t forget to wash and dry the berries and grapes before freezing.
Ice cream sandwiches: Top low fat cookies (such as graham crackers or chocolate wafers) with softened frozen yogurt or low fat ice cream to make your own ice cream sandwiches. Press a second cookie on top, then even edges with a dull knife. Eat immediately, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until ready to serve.
Parfaits: For a light and delicious dessert, layer berries, vanilla yogurt and granola in clear glass sundae cups. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.
Earning our ice cream: We have found that ice cream cones taste even better when we ride our bikes to our favorite scoop shop.