3 Post-Halloween Pumpkin Recipes

Stop. Don't get rid of your pumpkin just yet! 'Tis the season to enjoy the soft, sweet, rich taste of pumpkin. This seasonal fall recipe for Pumpkin Smoothies came to us compliments of the artists behind our gorgeous eco-friendly glass straws – and it sounds so yummy we just have to share! We found two more pumpkin recipes on Pinterest that also sound like must-do's: Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate and Pumpkin Waffles. After all, there's more to a pumpkin than just the seeds. Make an innovative pumpkin recipe or two and make use of your pumpkin!

Pumpkin Fruit Smoothie Recipe
Serves 2

1/2c. Diced Fresh Pumpkin (peels removed & previously frozen)
1/2c. Diced Pear (fresh or frozen)
3 Fresh Figs cut in quarters
1t. Pure Maple Syrup
3/4t. Pumpkin Pie Spice
3/4c. Un-sweetened Coconut Milk

Process using your favorite blender method.
Garnish with a fresh grating of nutmeg.
Serve in 8 oz. glasses and don't forget to add your glass straws!

We came across this amazing Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate recipe on Pinterest from closetcooking.com. Another yummy looking post-Halloween recipe we've pinned comes from girlmakesfood.com and it's for some must-try gluten-free and vegan Pumpkin Waffles.

Enjoy your post-Halloween pumpkin treats! 
 

Go Green with St. Patrick's Day Recipes

On St. Patrick's Day, going green takes on a whole new meaning. It's no longer about our usual healthier, planet-friendly goals.

Post by Louise

Going green on March 17th literally means looking the colour green: wearing it -- or risk getting pinched -- and even eating or drinking green-coloured foods. While in Ireland the colour green was long thought to be unlucky, here we've always thought the opposite, especially on St. Patrick's Day.

Regardless of luck or not, it's always fun to get into the spirit and one of the best ways is to go green for kids and adults alike. Check out these green recipes we've found and bring a little luck of the Irish to every meal you cook today and through the weekend! Remember to pick up organic ingredients when you can...

Apple and Avocado Smoothie
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Risotto
Beer Battered Broccoli
Green Chocolate Slimedoo

Enjoy your day and if you want to go green in an eco-friendly way, be sure to check out the special St. Patrick's Day savings in our Sale Shop - save 40% on every item there! Use code STPATRICK March 17-18th.

Freshen your Grill with 5 Minute Lime Salsa

Why buy it (and yet another jar/container) when you can make it fresh - in just five minutes?

We're talking about salsa, which we admit is a little bit off our usual track, but we came across a recipe from one of our panel members that includes our favourite ingredient - yes, lime - and it's truly yummy, so we thought we'd share.

According to our foodie consultant, Kasey Wilson of Bon Appetit & Wine Access fame, this recipe is ideal as an accompaniment on top grilled meat and fish. "This salsa is a good alternative to guacamole. It's fresh with a bite and so delicious it could even be used alone as an appetizer," she says.

We say, let him loose on the grill on Father's Day and serve up the result with a hit of this super salsa.

5 Minute Avocado-Lime Salsa

2 firm avocados, diced
2 red tomatos, diced
3 green medium sized chilies, chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate at least two hours, until chilled. Try this delicious salsa with grilled chicken, prawns or fish.

Source: Spirit & Style, Kasey Wilson

Visit Lavish & Lime's eco living collection and check out some of Kasey's recommended must-haves for the kitchen.

Pack a Lunch that Won't be Traded

Back to school doesn't have to mean back to boring lunches - for you or for them.

Keeping in mind research claims it takes 10-12 introductions to new food before a child is usually even willing to taste it, here are some ideas to keep the sandwich-making mill fresh and the lunch you make in your child's own tum.

• Think small. Small-sized foods are easier for children to handle and more fun to eat. Cut sandwiches into smaller pieces, use tiny tortillas for wraps and small sandwich buns. Peel, cut and pack smaller pieces of different fruits to keep their interest.
• Try different types of bread for sandwiches and dippers - crackers, rice cakes, mini croissants, pita bread, mini muffins, little bagels, tortillas, focaccia, raisin or cheese bread.
• Take a look at those prepackaged lunches the kids always pester you for. They may not be overly nutritious, but you can pack the same types of snack foods, using healthier choices.
• Think about food safety. Freeze juice boxes or small gel packs to keep the rest of the lunch cool. Better yet, use an insulated lunch box. Lime Tip: Before filling a thermos with hot soup, rinse it with hot water (from the kettle), to heat it before adding the soup.
• Make your own snack mixes by combining dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels, and baked crackers. Your kids will love munching on something crunchy and sweet or savoury.

Then there’s the sandwich option, which isn’t always as easy as it first seems. Deciding what to put inside can prove challenging, day after day. For some different sandwich fillings, try these:

• roasted vegetables with low fat cream cheese
• ham, pineapple, lettuce and cucumber
• tuna and corn mixed with mayonnaise
• turkey or chicken with pickle, chutney or salsa
• homous, grated carrot and lettuce leaves

Lime Tip: To make the whole process easier, why not have your kids to plan their own lunch menu for the week? A good friend swears by this method. Simply ask them to write down or tell you while you write down their choices for each day of the week (perhaps with a little nutritional guidance from you), post them on the fridge or cupboard and that's it - no battles.

The Outside Counts Too
Although we all know it's what's inside that counts, there is something to be said for the outside packaging to keep kids keen on lunch. Especially since the more disposable the bag, the more likely it is the whole lunch will end up in the garbage, as reported in the Seattle Times.

We say, bring on cute and funky reusable lunch carriers and keep our kids' lunches from getting traded or worse, turfed.

Check out our NEW arrivals: tiger, panda and rabbit insulated lunch boxes that unzip to place mats, reusable sandwich wraps in funky fish and camo shark designs, and stretchy neoprene totes that insulate hot or cold for up to four hours.

Visit Lavish & Lime for more fresh ideas for back to school must-haves.

Easy Summer Entertaining Tips

Now that the warm weather has finally arrived we're feeling optimistic, if not a little tired of rising gas prices. We’re planning for lots of get-togethers in the great outdoors - at home. All you need is a grill, a patch of grass or deck and get ready for some summer fun!

Here are five top tips to help make summer entertaining a breeze.

1. Keep it simple
White serving dishes and dinnerware always looks appropriate and pairs well with any food. Go for the easy approach and stick to one-bite tapas-style foods - a napkin and fingers are all they need to nosh it up!

For a quick, easy tapas recipe, try this unforgettable grilled asparagus.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

• 24 asparagus spears (2 bunches)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 12 thin slices prosciutto

1. Preheat barbecue to high and lightly oil grill.
2. Snap off woody ends of asparagus. Toss spears with olive oil, vinegar and pepper.
3. Cut prosciutto slices in half crosswise. Wrap each spear with a piece of prosciutto, allowing ends to be exposed.
4. Place on grill, close lid and cook about 1.5 minutes per side or until asparagus turns bright green and is tender-crisp.

Makes 24 wraps, prep time 15 minutes

2. Dip it in colour
Dips with a selection of crackers, pita chips and crostini are always a hit - and easy. Serve your homous, spinach dip, tzatziki and even condiments in hollowed out red, orange, green or yellow bell peppers. Simply cut off the tops and stems and remove the sees from the inside of the pepper and fill these natural containers to the brim. Bonus: whole jars or containers of dips and condiments won't be ruined in the sun.

3. No-fuss flowers
Fresh blooms create instant elegance at any casual get-together and can be as easy as trimming a few stems from the garden. Display them in a central jug, pitcher or vase or go for the multiples option with a few glasses or bowls scattered around the table. Set a few blooms among a bowl of limes for an effortless summer-chic look.

4. Forgiving candlelight
Everyone and everything looks lovely in candlelight so be sure to light up and transform your yard or deck into a twilight paradise! Choose from seasonal hurricanes, votives, tea lights, patio lanterns, torches, white Christmas lights or our own new clear plastic modular candle holder that allows you to stack a few up to create your own sculpture of light.

5. Protect the juice
For optimum flavour, be sure to protect white and red wine from direct sunlight. Keep white wine cool in pottery or stainless steel encasements and avoid decanting red wine in clear containers, use a ceramic pitcher instead. Cover with a napkin to discourage any wine-swilling insects.

For more entertaining ideas, check out our selection of stylish servers and finishing touches - from our lovely white ceramic pitcher and 3-tier serving dish to our silver stackable napkin holders. And don't forget the kids! Our new line of uber cool, interchangeable Automoblox - a red sports car, purple SUV and green pick up truck - is sure to keep them entertained too!