Heritage Hints From Mama: Frozen Fruit Cups and Guilty Pleasures

It’s Mama again. I thought I’d stop by for a little visit and to encourage you to think about something that’s been on my heart lately.

Do you have a little guilty pleasure that you reward yourself with?  Everyone needs something that they do for themselves.  People, especially women and moms, do so much for their families and co-workers that sometimes, they forget to do something for the most important person, themselves.

I had a friend who amazed me once with her guilty pleasure.  She had a family and worked full time.  She told me that about twice a year, she took a vacation day and did not tell her family.  She spent the whole day doing whatever she decided to do with no interruptions!  I was, at first, horrified!  How could she not tell her family?  What if they needed her?  Then I realized that it was exactly her point.  If they knew, they would all have something for her to take care of for them.  (Since she was off all day with nothing to do!)

My grandmother worked from sun up until sun down.  My mother still remembers her guilty pleasure.  She always put on her little pot and had a cup of coffee each morning. I know it had to have a little guilt associated with it since coffee was something she had to purchase.  They were on a limited income to say the least.  I am glad to know that she did this one little thing for herself.  She is an example that we all need to follow. It left a smile on her daughters face 82 years later to remember that she had that cup of coffee each morning.

I am not so bold.  I am still working on putting myself first for just a few seconds everyday.  I do go to a quilt retreat a couple of times a year for a few days.  We socialize with friends we only see during that time.  We make quilts and swap patterns and techniques.  It is really a fun way to rejuvenate myself even though I am usually working on gifts for others or quilts for grandkids or my kids.  The point is I am participating in a hobby and love that we all share.  Meals are cooked for us and the towels are replenished.  No laundry to think about or homes to clean for a few days.

I also make little frozen fruit cups for myself to enjoy midday when I want a special snack.  It took awhile for me to get in the habit of making them.  I had to realize that being able to go to the freezer and take out my little comfort food, thawing it in the microwave and sitting down by myself to enjoy a special treat was worth the small effort that it took.  It was something that I did for me and I was worth it!

Look around and pay attention to yourself.  Decide on some little guilty pleasure that you  would enjoy.  It doesn’t take much to make you feel special.  It doesn’t have to be a whole day off by yourself. Just a cup of guilty pleasure coffee is fine if it starts your day off right and makes you feel special.  You need to feel special if you are going to take care of the needs of everyone else in your life.

Take a few minutes and let me know what your guilty pleasure is.  If you don’t have one yet, think about what yours would be and then set out to make it happen.  After all, we all need to take time for ourselves everyday so that we can better take care of all that is put on our plates.

Do something just for you today, because you’re worth it and remember, Mama loves you and I’ll see you soon!

~Mama

Mama

I make little frozen fruit cups for myself to enjoy midday when I want a special snack.  It took awhile for me to get in the habit of making them.  I had to realize that being able to go to the freezer and take out my little comfort food, thawing it in the microwave and sitting down by myself to enjoy a special treat was worth the small effort that it took.  It was something that I did for me and I was worth it!

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fruit

Servings: 4

Calories: 57kcal

Ingredients

• Fruit salad cups
• 5-6 bananas
• 1/4 cup lemon juice bottled is fine
• 2 large cans 20 0z. pineapple chunks in juice, drained*
• 2 cans 11 oz. mandarin oranges, drained*
• 1 can 15 oz. fruit cocktail, drained*
• 10-12 9 ounce plastic cups sometimes called "On the rocks" cups

Instructions

• Slice Bananas into a bowl. Pour lemon juice over and stir to coat.
• Add all other fruit and stir until well combined.
• Spoon into small plastic cups and cover with plastic wrap. Store in freezer.
• When you are ready to eat one, just place in microwave for 45-50 seconds on high to thaw. I love these.

If I am feeling really out there, I also squirt a little whipped cream on top! This makes about 10- 12 plastic cups of fruit depending on how much fresh fruit you add.

Note: I also drain the pineapple juice into a bowl and then pour it into a jar and refrigerate. It is great in iced tea or marinades.

*Feel free to substitute whatever fresh fruit you have available, if any. I have used blueberries, sliced strawberries, peaches ( need to be tossed with bananas in lemon juice to prevent browning), and grapes. Any fruit that you like is fine. If I don't have fresh fruit, I just use the canned items.

Nutrition

Calories: 57kcal

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