A fun holiday treat your kids can make!
For most of us, the holidays mean parties – and parties mean food. Some of my friends get excited about trying new recipes, bringing homemade goodies and surprising guests with tasty treats. Those that know me know I don’t fit in that category. I don’t bake, cook or even try to pretend. In fact, I’m always the one who volunteers first to bring bread, fruit, crackers and cheese or the paper products. This weekend was no different – except that I did get a little creative (at least for me). Not only did I surprise my friends, but I surprised myself by having fun doing it.
While flipping through the December/January issue of Family Fun magazine looking for ways to entertain my kids during their two week holiday break, I discovered “Pine-Tree Fruit Kabobs.” Hooray! An appetizer to take to the party – and an activity to keep my kids busy (at least for a few minutes anyway).
The “pine tree” was simple to make and fun for the kids. It’s basically a pineapple with fruit-kabob branches. To make the tree trunk, just remove the top of a pineapple and cut 1 inch off the bottom, then peel it. Put three to five pieces of fresh fruit on different sized bamboo skewers (they recommended 50, 6-inch skewers, but I lost count). We used grapes, blueberries, strawberries, melons and star fruit. Start at the bottom and simply insert the skewers into the pineapple at a slight angle and work your way to the top. Top the tree with skewered slices of star fruit and you’ve got yourself a fruit-filled Christmas tree. I’m not a pineapple eater, so I had forgotten the pineapple as an option for the skewers and to slice it up after the skewers were eaten (next time).
After we were done, my kids were quite thrilled they helped mommy “cook” (for me, anytime I’m in the kitchen and I have to use a utensil, I count that as cooking). However, they weren’t satisfied with the Christmas tree until it had presents. So our healthy fruit tree had Hershey Kisses underneath its branches. I guess that’s where the joy of “balance” comes in – eat a fruit kabob before the chocolate.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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Hi Kelly!
I loved your article in the Star. Your eating choices remind me very much of the things I think we all grapple with. Many folks at IRT view me as the guy who’s always healthy….hah! I fall off the health wagon, I think I am just more aware when I do than most people. Speaking of which, I think I have some re-bounding to do after the holidays….
Glad to see you in a positive article, and always glad to see you at the IRT.
Be well and Happy New Year!
-Rob Johansen
Very nice, I like your blog.