This green smoothie has quickly become a breakfast favorite, as it’s packed with lots of good fats that give you a great start to the day by feeling nourished and energetic.
2 avocados, pitted & peeled
2 bananas, peeled
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup milk
1 ½ cups ice
Blend & enjoy!
1 cup vanilla yogurt
½ cup strawberries, chopped (fresh or frozen)
½ cup cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)
½ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 banana, peeled
1 cup milk
1 cup ice
Blend & enjoy!
Tired parents, listen up! Get ready to wake up and feel energized with this awesome coffee smoothie. Made with WIC ingredients + coffee, it’s the perfect way to recharge. Plus, it’s a refreshing treat you can enjoy any time of day. Just a heads up though, if you’re expecting or breastfeeding, remember to take it easy on the caffeine.
1 banana
⅓ cup peanut butter
1 cup of coffee, cooled to room temperature (you can use caffeinated or decaffeinated)
¾ cup of milk
1 ½ cups of ice
Blend & Enjoy!
Attention WIC Moms: Exciting News – Oak Farms Milk is Now Available at Grocery Services North stores for you and your little ones!
Oak Farms Milk has arrived at our store, offering a nutritious and wholesome choice. Whether you’re pouring it over cereal or enjoying a glass by itself, you will love the taste of Oak Farms Milk.
To celebrate, here’s a fun recipe featuring milk for a nutritious breakfast treat:
OVERNIGHT OATS
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup regular yogurt (plain or flavored)
1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional, for added sweetness)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh or frozen fruit (e.g., berries, sliced banana, diced apple, or any fruit you like)
Nuts or seeds for topping (e.g., almonds, chia seeds, or walnuts)
A pinch of salt
In a mason jar or airtight container, combine the rolled oats, milk, regular yogurt, honey or maple syrup (if using), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir well to mix all the ingredients together.
Add your choice of fresh or frozen fruit to the mixture. Berries, banana slices, and diced apples are popular options, but you can use any fruit your child enjoys.
Seal the container with a lid and shake it or stir to ensure all the ingredients are well combined.
Refrigerate the container overnight or for at least 4-6 hours. This allows the oats to absorb the liquid and become creamy.
In the morning, give the overnight oats a good stir to redistribute the ingredients. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more milk to achieve your desired consistency.
Top your overnight oats with your choice of nuts or seeds for added crunch and nutrition. Chia seeds, sliced almonds, or walnuts work well. Serve the overnight oats cold, right from the fridge.Enjoy a nutritious and delicious breakfast!
Visit a Grocery Services North store today to pick up your WIC-approved milk and other foods.
Fall is the perfect time to dish out comfort food, and Thanksgiving is the perfect place for these foods. Many may argue that the perfect side dish is the potato. It’s also a perfect side for Thanksgiving.
As you prepare for Thanksgiving you might already be thinking about your menu. To help make preparing for the day easier, you might need a few ideas of sides your family will love. Here are a few recipes – featuring WIC-approved foods – we think you will like.
What’s better than hot, comforting cheesy potatoes? This dish is so good it can be a dinner on its own.
4 cups of thinly sliced russet potatoes (about 4-5 medium-sized potatoes)
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
3 cups of whole milk
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon of salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the roux is light golden brown. Whisk in the milk to the roux, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook and whisk until the mixture thickens, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, black pepper. Layer half of the sliced potatoes in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the cheese sauce evenly over the first layer of potatoes. Repeat with another layer. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake until the top is golden brown, and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
This next recipe is classic, and many like to serve for Thanksgiving. It’s also perfect for fall.
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly-sized pieces. Place the potato chunks in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and let the potatoes simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until they are fork-tender. You should be able to easily pierce the potatoes with a fork without them falling apart. Drain the cooked potatoes in a colander. Return the drained potatoes to the pot and place it back on the stove over low heat. Add the butter and milk to the potatoes. Start by adding half of the milk and butter and then adjust to your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mash the potatoes using a potato masher or a hand mixer. Mash until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix.
4-5 medium-sized russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into wedges
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, toss the potato with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any optional seasonings like paprika and garlic powder. Ensure the potatoes are evenly coated. Spread the seasoned potato pieces in a single layer on the hot baking sheet. Make sure they are not overcrowded to allow them to crisp up. Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, flipping them once or twice during cooking, until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.
Looking for something the entire family will love to make and eat this Thanksgiving? Try making a turkey veggie platter.
This festive snack is healthy and full of personality. It’s also a great way to get the whole family involved in the kitchen.
The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it with whatever you have on hand or love snacking on.
The fresh vegetables are arranged as the turkey’s feathers. The turkey’s face is made with the cut end of a bell pepper. Make his face with pieces of carrots and you can make eyes out of anything from olive pieces of tomato, capers or pickle pieces. The dip inside the bowl can be anything you love from homemade hummus to ranch or veggie dip.
Arrange your cut vegetables on the top half of the bell pepper. Make it as small or large as you wish. This is the perfect activity for the kiddos.
Here is a recipe for homemade yogurt dip you can fill your bell pepper with:
Ranch Yogurt Dip
1 cup of yogurt
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
3 teaspoons of ranch seasoning mix
Mix everything into a bowl and combine. Refrigerate overnight.
If hummus is more what you had in mind, check out our recipe here.
Get ready to impress everyone with your cooking skills with this amazing Thai Pasta Salad! It’s bursting with colors and flavors that will make your taste buds explode. Not only is it super easy to make, but it’s also a great way to use up your WIC-foods in a delicious and nutritious way. Don’t wait any longer, give it a try tonight and surprise your family with a mouthwatering meal!
1 box of whole wheat pasta
1 cup diced red cabbage
1 cup diced cucumber
½ cup shredded carrots
⅓ cup diced green onion
Sauce:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ cup water
Cook the noodles according to the package instructions, drain and set aside to cool. While the pasta is cooking and cooling, chop your veggies and make the sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and whisk together until smooth. Add all of the pasta, veggies, and sauce together in a large bowl and toss together. This recipe makes about 6 servings.
1 cup warm water
1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (About 12 medium sized limes)
3 cups cold water
1 cup sugar
Combine the warm water and sugar in a pitcher, stir until sugar is dissolved.
Stir in the lime juice, then add the cold water and stir. Chill before serving.
Serve in a glass with ice and garnish with a slice of lime or mint leaves if you want to be fancy!
These Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes with minimal ingredients make a great fresh snack (or meal) for those hot summer days when you don’t feel like cooking, and they only take a few minutes to make!
3 cans of tuna (drained)
2 – 3 large tomatoes (the bigger the better!)
½ cup of chopped parsley
Black pepper & onion powder to taste
Optional: Add 1 – 2 tbsp of plain yogurt to make the tuna mix creamy
Drain 3 cans of tuna and empty into a medium sized bowl. Chop ½ cup of parsley and mix in with the tuna, along with black pepper and onion powder to taste.
Rinse tomatoes with water and use a knife to cut a circle around the stems. Remove the top of the tomato and gently hollow out the insides with a spoon. Fill the tomatoes with the tuna mixture and enjoy!
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
2 tbsp garlic, minced
1 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
½ cup carrot, finely diced
1 green onion stalk, sliced
1 cup brown rice
1 head of cabbage
2 cups Tomato sauce
Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Basil, Thyme, & Paprika
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare ingredients by chopping vegetables and cooking brown rice according to the package instructions.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the onions until golden, about 10 min. Add garlic, mushrooms, carrot, green onion, and seasonings. Cook until the veggies are tender, about 8 – 10 minutes. Stir in the brown rice and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce, then remove from heat. Coat the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce.
Core a head of cabbage and bring to a boil in a large pot, until the cabbage leaves start to come apart. Fill each cabbage leaf with 2 – 4 tablespoons of the rice and vegetable mixture (depending on the size of the cabbage leaves), then roll the leaf up like a burrito, tucking in each end. Continue filling the leaves until there is no more mixture left, line the filled and rolled cabbage leaves in the baking tray.
Cover with the remaining tomato sauce and cook for 45 minutes. Makes about 5 servings.
