Monday, March 8, 2010

A St. Patty's Day Rainbow of Flavor!

If you read this post yesterday, you know that I enjoy getting together with other people and families to socialize and share some love! Monday evenings are one night that our family sometimes joins with other families to unite in faith and friendship. I set the "evening" up (at someone else's house. How's that for hosting!) My friend agreed to do the lesson and I would make the treat. She is in the process of losing weight so I was excited to prepare a fruit rainbow for a healthy dessert. With it being St. Patrick's Day soon, this was the perfect idea!
Following the ROYGBIV mnemonic device, I planned out what fruit I would purchase for each color. There actually were quite a few choices for a few color. I used the first fruit in each list because it was in season and that's what I wanted.

Red - Strawberries, apples, cherries, watermelon

Orange - Mandarin oranges, navel oranges, canteloupe

Yellow - Pineapple, banana, apples, pears, lemons

Green - Apples, pears, grapes, limes

Blue - Blueberries

Violet (Purple) - Plums, grapes, pears


Mini-marshmallows were used for the clouds on one side of the rainbow and bananas for the pot of gold. If you don't know this tip yet, it will change your life with fruit. I cut the apples and bananas over two hours before I served it and they weren't brown. How? Using a basting brush, spread lemon juice over the cut sides. EASY!!!

I also made an AMAZING FRUIT DIP to accompany the fruit dish. It could eat it in spoonfuls (without the fruit). That's a problem!!!

Here is the recipe:

8 oz. Cream Cheese (softened works best)
8 oz. Sour Cream
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 oz. package of instant vanilla pudding
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix it all together. Chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve. And DEVOUR!!!
See, the kids were excited to inhale this healthy yumminess. Whenever I say smile to my son, he does the biggest cheesy, full mouth smile. He is so silly! It's hard to get a normal picture of him!!!
Even the adults were thrilled with wholesome goodness. It was so good my friend said she was saving 5 points of her weight watchers diet for this dessert!!!!! That says it all!
You will be making this in the next week or two, won't you? Let me know how it goes. It would be a fun side dish for St. Patty's Day Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner.

I would like to take credit for creating this idea, but I saw it two weeks ago in Family Fun Magazine. I couldn't find their little picture on-line:( My take is a little different with the fruits I use. One of these fruit rainbows was also linked up to the ST. PATRICK'S CATEGORICALLY CRAFTING SHOW. Go see Coley's Corner's version HERE.

Oh, and while I have you salivating over food, you should drool over this minty heaven. My tastebuds are jealous. See this HERE at Created By Diane.

34 comments:

  1. This is adorable! You did a fabulous job and it looks so yummy!

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  2. Thanks for linking to me. :) I love hows your turned out and love how you used bananas as the second cloud.

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  3. How neat and healthy! This is a wonderful way to get kids to eat their fruits! You can also make this from veggies too! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Love the rainbow! I'll have to try your fruit dip too! I usually am pretty lazy so I pull the cool whip and raspberry yogurt dip trick (with a splash of kaluah if it's for adults!)

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  5. Oh, I'm definitely going to have to make your rainbow! I've been concocting savory recipes for next week; this is the perfect healthy counterbalance.

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  6. Thanks so much for the mention! You are so sweet, I love your fruit rainbow :)

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  7. hey, thanks for posting the rainbow fruit. i might just make that for my son's bd party. hooray for healthy ...

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  8. I love the rainbow idea. So clever. I have to prepare a fruit tray this weekend so guess who's idea I am going to use?

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  9. Every time I see your fruit rainbow, I get super hungry...

    Thank you for linking up to A Little Craft Therapy with Life in the Pitts.

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  10. Wow, I love this wholesome decor with fruits..But there's a problem..I'll eat it up before I finish the design!!

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  11. I just saw this idea somewhere! I love it!

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  12. YUM! And I love the pics of the happy kids! That is so adorable! Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday and sharing this week! I hope you will come back to visit me soon. If you haven't already, be sure to enter the giveaway.

    Have a wonderful weekend.
    HUGS!
    Leigh
    Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  13. Yummy. What a great way to get kids to eat healthy.

    Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thurs. Please come by next week for another great party.
    Lori

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  14. So pretty and really healthy too! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. This is so pretty! I'm going to remember this, next time I do a fruit tray.

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  16. Looks delish--my preschool class would love it. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. How clever!! I love it. And I have tried the dip before so I know it's delicious. It's a big hit with the kids, too!!

    xoxo
    Janie

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  18. Oh My Goodness! That's SO MUCH FUN! My brain is going CRAZY with what I could use that for! (and the cupcakes are just mean...I was happy with the healthy...but now...I'll probably make a frosting/gumdrop rainbow :)

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  19. That is wonderful! Healthy and a treat for the eyes. You are so creative.

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  20. They look they are having such a good time, and with that rainbow of flavor, how could they not??? Loved this.

    Happy Foodie Friday...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  21. What a great idea!! A great alternative to all of the chocolate we dig into over at our house!!

    Thank you for the inspiration!!

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  22. Thanks for this great idea! The dip sounds yummy too. And that last picture? Definitely has me drooling.

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  23. Your rainbow looks so yummy! I saw that fruit rainbow in the Family Fun magazine too! I think I am going to try the rainbow cupcakes that were in that same magazine!

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  24. What a yumm-o Rainbow! I love that it's actually some healthy food for the kiddos to munch on!

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  25. Oh, how great. I wish I had done more of this creative food stuff with my last child, maybe he wouldn't be so picky now. Great cupcake, too. Lezlee

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  26. This looks so yummy and my kids would love this!

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  27. I made this last night with the kids and we all LOVED it! So much fun! I posted about it on my blog: http://littlepinknotebook.blogspot.com

    Thanks for sharing!

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  28. What a cute idea! I love the rainbow!

    Thanks so much for linking up to my party! I really appreciate it!

    XOXO
    Jen

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  29. I passed this along to a friend who made it for her daughter's birthday party on St. Patrick's Day! It's so cute! Thanks for sharing.

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  30. We are making this tonight..and i linked to it on my blog post today.

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Thanks for leaving a comment. I always like to know what you think of the projects I highlight!

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