#ReedCooks: "Kick the Sick" Orange Slushie

A few weeks ago, the weather here in Cincinnati got really cold for a couple of days and then shot back up into the upper 80s.  As a result, The Little Outdoorsman caught an awful cold, which he kindly passed on to me.  He was coughing, sneezing, runny nose-ing- just a mess!  The only good part was the clinginess; I always welcome the chance to cuddle with my growing boy.  We tried medicine, doctor visits, Vicks, the vaporizer.  Cha-cha's chicken soup.  The DoTerra diffuser.  Nothing worked!  I guess sometimes you just have to wait it out.

Isn't he pitiful?

We watched a LOT of Netflix.  I let him outside for short amounts of time to work on his garden and dirt piles.  I tried to get him to eat, but nothing really sounded good to him.  The only "food" I could ever get him to eat 100% of the time was an orange slushie.  So over the course of the cold, we developed this "kick the sick" slushie.  It is loaded with Vitamin C, has a sweet orange flavor, and has an icy base (great for staying hydrated).  Even now that I am finally over the Terrible-Awful Cold of 2017, we still make this slushie to stay cool and healthy. 

The ingredients are pretty simple and can vary based on what's in your fridge.  Our favorite combination was orange juice, crushed pineapple, strawberry yogurt, and ice.  I think it would be great with a banana, blueberries, or even using vanilla yogurt in the place of strawberry.

Now that TLO is feeling better, he wanted to help in the "cooking" process.  Looking through the blog, I've noticed he helps out a lot in the kitchen.  So I've made him his own tab: #ReedCooks.  Check it out to see all of the ways this two-year-old helps in the kitchen.

Jess and Matt came over to visit the other night and I decided to make these for the boys. Matt has a sixth sense when it comes to juice.  It's his love language right now, I'm certain.  So Reed set up his big step-stool and we whipped these right up!

Begin with about two cups of OJ, and add in a big, fat tablespoon of yogurt.

Next, add 2-3 heaping tablespoons of crushed pineapple.

Finally, dump in a big cup of ice.  We ended up using about 3 cups here, but feel free to adjust to the consistency you prefer.

Mix it up, baby!  Yeah, I lost the lid.  Just keeping it real, here!  Towels work just fine, believe it or not.  Lid or no, always supervise little kiddos in the kitchen!

​Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!  That's the level of effort I require when I'm sick, when Jacob is sick, or when Reed's sick.  Or if I'm tired.  Or on a weeknight.  Or just any time, really.

I like to serve these up with a maraschino cherry, or two, or three.  Thanks for cooking, Reed!

​"They are DELICIOUS!"  -TLO

I hope you love these as much as we do!  I am so excited to begin cooking some rich, comfortable, beautiful autumn food soon. Whenever Cincinnati decides fall is here, we will begin!  During the transition, we kick the sick!  Hang in there, Momma (or Dadda)!  This too shall pass- in about 10 days, give or take a day or two.

"Kick the Sick" Orange Slushie

Ingredients:
- 2 cups orange juice
-1/4 cup crushed pineapple
- 1 heaping tablespoon strawberry yogurt
- 2-3 cups ice
​- maraschino cherries (optional)

1. Add the orange juice, pineapple, yogurt, and ice to a blender.  Mix well.  Adjust ice to preference.
2. Garnish with maraschino cherries.
3. That's it!  Now go sit down, watch Netflix, and give your little one (another) head rub.  You're awesome!