Dessert: Banana Parfait

After our picnic, we went home and treated ourselves to a wonderful dessert. It was a cold treat, perfect for summertime, and tasted delightful. I loved the combination of the pudding with all the different toppings, which created a dessert my daughters loved.

Makes: 4
Prep: 12 min           Total: 1 hr and 15 min

Ingredients:
2 cups low fat milk
1 pkg (3 oz) cook & serve vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp vanilla or banana extract
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 medium ripe bananas
8 vanilla wafer cookies
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped
1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

Directions:

1.) Mix milk and pudding mix in a 2-qt saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a full rolling boil.

2.) Remove from heat; stir in extract and nutmeg. Scrape into a medium bowl; cover surface directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour or until cold.

3.) Evenly divide pudding into four 8-oz stemmed glasses. Peel and slice bananas. Divide banana slices over puddings (save a few for garnish if desired). Crush 1 vanilla wafer cookie over each parfait.

4.) Place a dollop of whipped cream on top of each. Garnish with remaining wafer cookies, the coconut and reserved banana slices.

Food: Salmon Burger

We had a picnic yesterday at the park, and I prepared this healthy salmon burger. It tasted good, even though it wasn't exactly meat, and it was a scrumptious substitute. It is a good choice for health-conscious eaters.

Salmon Burgers:

Makes: 4 Burgers
Prep: 15 minutes      Grill: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds salmon fillet
2 scallions, trimmed and roughly chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup tartar sauce (or fat-free mayonnaise)
1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce
2 big tomatoes sliced
6 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions:
1.) Remove skin from salmon fillet: With a sharp knife, cut a small corner of the skin away from the flesh. Then, gently pull and slice off remaining skin, trying to keep as much flesh intact to make the burgers. Discard skin; coarsely chop salmon.

2.) Heat gas grill to medium-high or coals in charcoal grill to medium hot. Transfer salmon to a food processor, along with scallions, 1 tablespoon of the dill, the lemon zest, panko, salt and pepper. Pulse until salmon is the consistency of ground beef but still has some shape. Do not over process.

3.) Form mixture into 4 patties, each about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Coat patties with nonstick cooking spray. Grill patties 5 minutes. Flip over and continue to grill another 5 minutes. Meanwhile, stir remaining tablespoon of the dill into tartar sauce. Divide lettuce and a slice of tomato evenly among buns. Top each with a burger patty and 1 tablespoon tartar sauce.

*Note: If you do not want to use fresh salmon, then you can use canned salmon as a substitute.

Pictures from the picnic:



Taking a walk after eating



Summer Look: Maxi Dress and Wedges

Maxi dresses and wedges are a must-have for summer. This dress is great for pool parties, beaches, or any occasion during the hot season. Wedges can be matched with any look to add height without any discomfort.



Maxi Dress from Ann Taylor
























Bib Necklace: Ann Taylor





















Wedges: Macys




















Overall Look:

If it's chilly, you can wear a colorful shawl