Summer Fruit Salad

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This is no ordinary fruit salad! A medley of fresh, antioxidant-rich fruits is paired with crunchy granola, tangy feta cheese, and finished off with a honey lime drizzle.

Ingredients

2 cups fresh strawberries
2 cups fresh peach slices
2 cups fresh kiwi slices
6 basil leaves
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 tbsp honey
½ cup granola
½ cup feta cheese crumbles
*optionalsprinkle 1 tsp. chia seeds on top of each serving

Directions

Slice all fruits into bite size pieces and place in a large bowl. Roll basil leaves together, slice into ribbons, and add to bowl.

Mix lime juice, basil, and honey in small bowl. Drizzle over the larger bowl of mixed fruit and gently incorporate.

To plate, place 1 cup of mixed fruit in a small bowl and top with about a tbsp. of feta cheese crumbles and a tbsp. of granola and serve at room temperature.

NOTE: For extra protein and fiber, top with a tsp. of chia seeds.

Strawberry Sorbet

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Now is the time to buy those sweet strawberries and not just because they are healthful, but because they make a delicious sorbet that will entice anyone on a warm day or just when you want a low-calorie dessert.

Ingredients

1 lb strawberriesfresh or frozen
¼ cup agave nectaror less depending on sweetness of berries
1 tsp lemon juicefreshly squeezed
⅛ tsp salt

Directions

Remove green tops and hull strawberries (if fresh); not needed if frozen.

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until a smooth puree and place in the freezer for 2 hours.

Blend the frozen mixture once more, and place in a freezer container and freeze for an additional 6 hours before serving.

Baked Pears with Cranberries, Honey, and Walnuts

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For a holiday-perfect dessert, choose larger pears like Bosc or Anjou that retain their shape and true pear essence after baking. Bosc, with their oblong shape, bring juiciness and a subtle crunch, maintaining flavor and structure when cooked. Anjou, being “all-purpose pears,” offer year-round availability and resilience to high temperatures when baked, resulting in a sweet, buttery, slightly firm flesh—ideal for a festive holiday recipe.

Ingredients

4 pears use Bosc, Anjou or Bartlett
1 cup fresh cranberries
½ cup walnutsfinely chopped
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
½ cup maple syrupor honey
1 tbsp lemon juicefresh squeezed
cinnamon sticksfor garnish
1 tsp powdered sugarfor garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grab a baking sheet and line with parchment paper and set aside.

Rinse, dry, and cut pears in half lengthwise. Carefully core each pear with a small spoon. Slice a small piece off the backside of the pear to help it lay flat on the baking surface. This is a great trick to keep the filling from falling out.

In a small bowl add the rest of the ingredients and stir to incorporate well. Using the same spoon you used to core the pears, place a spoonful of mixture into the hollowed out area of each pear.

Bake for 25 Minutes or until the pears are tender.

Place pears on a large decorative plate and sprinkle a light dusting of powdered sugar. Add a few cinnamon sticks scattered about for garnish.

Baked Spiced Apples

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The best baking apples offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors and has a flesh that doesn’t break down in the oven while baking. Apples are full of soluble fiber; the kind that can help lower blood cholesterol levels and assist in creating a healthy gut. Their peel or skin contains polyphenols which have antioxidant effects. They’re also loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. Adding walnuts to this dessert provides additional healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Oh and wait, your home will smell amazing as these bake in the oven. You won’t need a Fall candle when you cook this aromatic recipe!

Ingredients

3 tbsp raisins
3 tbsp walnutsfinely chopped
¼ tsp orange zestgrated
¼ cup orange juicefresh squeezed
1 tbsp butter
¼ cup maple sugaror local honey
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
2 large baking applestry Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Braeburn

Directions

Combine raisins, nuts and orange zest in a small bowl and set aside.

In a small saucepan bring maple syrup (or honey), orange juice, butter, and spices to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Rinse and dry baking apples. cut the top off and core the apples. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Add the saucepan contents to the bowl of raisins, nuts and orange zest and stir to incorporate. Pour the mixture over the apples making sure to fill up the center. Add the apple tops to the apples and pour any remaining ingredients along the sides of the apples.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 Minutes or until apples are tender. Let stand for 10 minutes and serve warm.

Autumn Apple Rounds

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This quick and easy to prepare Autumn dessert recipe is packed with protein from the peanut butter and antioxidants from the cacao chips. The tart and sweetness of these apple slices along with the crunch from the nuts makes this a perfect treat for all to enjoy!

Ingredients

1 apple Honeycrisp, Gala, or Cortland
¼ cup peanut butter
¼ cup almond slivers
¼ cup pecanssliced
¼ cup cacao nibs
¼ cup Yogurt chips

Directions

Rinse and dry apple. Slice into thin rings and remove core.

Place apple slices onto serving dish and spread peanut butter on the top side. The smooth peanut butter works best. Top with almonds, pecans, yogurt chips and cacao chips and serve.

Chocolate Coconut Nut Clusters

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Try this twist on a chocolate treat using 3 simple ingredients that will leave you chocolate satisfied.

Ingredients

1 bar dark chocolate
¼ cup coconut flakes
1 cup nutscashews, almonds or peanuts

Directions

Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure there is room in the freezer to store it.

Break up the dark chocolate into smaller pieces, then place in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in increments of 30-60 seconds, stirring in between, until chocolate is complete melted.

Add the coconut flakes and chopped nuts into the melted dark chocolate. With a large spoon, scoop out a portion of the chocolate/coconut/nut mixture and place it on the parchment paper. After the mixture has all been portioned, placed the entire baking sheet in the freezer and let sit for at least 3-4 hours or until set.

Fruit Slush

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This beverage is perfect for hot summer days. Not only is it refreshing and hydrating but also low in sugar and calories, keeping you healthy and cool all season long.

Ingredients

2 ⅔ cups watermelonchopped, seeded, peeled
1 ⅔ cups cantaloupechopped, seeded, peeled
1 tbsp agave nectar or honeyoptional
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
2 cups ice
1 cup wateras needed for consistency preference

Directions

In a blender, add all ingredients and puree until smooth.

Pour into 4 glasses and top with a slice of fruit.

Serve immediately.

Notes: You can double this recipe or switch up the fruit based on the season. We recommend berries or melons, as they are among the highest in nutrients and offer an excellent source of hydration.

Lemon Brownies

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Have you heard the news? Brownies aren’t just made with chocolate? In fact, here’s a lemon brownie recipe that is delicious and super simple to make. No butter, no mixer and well, just dump the ingredients in a bowl, mix and bake! While these light and fluffy brownies are cooking you can mix up your glaze and before you know it, they’ll be all gone!

Ingredients

½ cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
2 eggs
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
zest of 2 lemons
For the glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar(sifted)
Juice and zest from 1 large lemon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8×8 cake pan with aluminum foil, leaving a few inches of extra foil sticking up along each side.

Zest 2 lemons. Add zest into bowl with flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, eggs, yogurt, and vegetable oil. Add the lemon juice and mix everything well.

Pour the batter into the foil-lined pan and spread batter evenly.

Bake the brownies for 20 Minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Make the glaze by combining powdered sugar with the juice from the third lemon. Once combined into a smooth mixture, add the lemon zest and stir for a final time.

Let brownies cool completely. Take the brownies out of the pan using the tin foil. If desired, drizzle the lemon icing over the brownies. Cut and serve.

Pineapple Whip

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This Pineapple Whip recipe offers the same cool feeling of your favorite frozen dessert, but with many more beneficial nutrients!

Ingredients

2 cups frozen pineapple
½ cup skim milkyou can also use coconut, almond, soy, or oat
1 tsp fresh lime juice

Directions

Add all ingredients to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Remove and scoop into individual serving cups.

Serve and eat immediately. The texture deteriorates if stored in the freezer for more than a few minutes. It can be re-whipped/blended if this occurs.

*If you decide to cut and freeze your own pineapple, you may want to add a small amount of honey or other sweetener if the pineapple wasn’t very ripe.

Baked Stuffed Apples

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Warm and comforting, this classic recipe gives you a taste of sweet with the goodness of apples, dried fruit, nuts, and oatmeal.

Ingredients

4 applesgood baking apples include: Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp
2 tsp butter
2 tbsp Old Fashioned Oats
¼ cup walnutschopped
½ cup raisinscan also use cranberries or 4 dates, chopped
2 tbsp maple syrupcan also use honey or agave nectar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Core apples, leaving bottoms intact. Place in a greased 8-inch square baking dish.

Mix the remaining ingredients together in a medium bowl.

Stuff the apples with prepared mixture.

Cover and bake for 50 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until tender.

Enjoy as they are, or top with plain/vanilla Greek yogurt or whipped cream.