By Cheshire Que, RND, RN, RD One of my fondest childhood memories was during summertime when I got to experiment on making frozen lollies, no-bake brownies, and mini pizzas. Once, my brother and I made halo-halo by combining ingredients we just found in the pantry. It looked like a blob of some sort and tasted nowhere near our traditional Filipino iced dessert. This summer, create lasting memories with your family and even friends within the comforts of your kitchen. Think of this as an opportunity to practice quick cooking at home instead of conveniently ordering in, taking out, or simply dining out. There are myriad health benefits in homecooked meals and homemade snacks. You can be in control of the type and amount of ingredients that you use, especially sugar, saturated fat, food additives, and salt. Plus the idea promotes family bonding. Did you know that it is recommended by experts to eat at least one meal in a day as a family? Here are four recipes masterfully crafted by Old Orchard Juice, May Sparkling Juice, Doña Elena, and Locavore & Fyre Restaurants’ executive chef Mikel Francis Zaguirre to help you beat the heat as you sip and eat your hearts out this season. Cranberry Raspberry Popsies Ingredients: Serves: 8 to 10 Prep time: 1 to 2 hours 1 bottle Old Orchard Cranberry Raspberry Juice Fresh mango slices Fresh peach slices Other fruits you wish to add like cherries Silicone popsicle molds Popsicle sticks Procedure:

1. Place the bottle of Old Orchard Cranberry Raspberry Juice in the freezer about one hour before you make the popsies.
2. After an hour, the consistency of the juice will be more solid, which will allow you to place the fruits evenly.
3. Drop a few mangoes and apples in the mold and then add in the juice. Repeat the process until you fill the mold.
4. Add other fruits you wish to have like cherries.
5. Place the popsicle sticks before you place the molder back in the freezer. It should be ready in one to two hours.

Tuna Melt by Doña Elena Ingredients: 100% Tuna Shredded 185g, drained 2 tbsps. Doña Elena Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 tbsps. white onion chopped 2 tbsps. mayonnaise (any) 1tbsp. celery or pickle relish, finely chopped 8 slices white bread 4 slices cheese (cheddar or mozzarella) Procedure:

1. In a medium bowl, mix the tuna with extra virgin olive oil, mayonnaise, onion, and celery
2. Make the sandwich—place bread slices and drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
3. Put a slice of cheese on top of four slices of bread, then spread the tuna mixture on top of the cheese then top the four slices with the remaining bread slices
4. Place in skillet. Cook on medium heat until it lightly browned on both sides
5. Slice diagonally in half and serve. Makes four servings.

Beat The Heat Sparkler Ingredients: 1 medium size cucumber 1 lime per glass 10 pcs of mint leaves 1 bottle of May Sparkling Non-Alcoholic White Grape Juice Procedure:

1. Slice a cucumber into thin long strips (ideally by using mandoline).
2. Assemble ingredients into your glass; thin strips of cucumber, a slice of lime and the mint leaves. Add ice.
3. Cut a lime in half and squeeze the juice into the glass.
4. Fill the glass with May Sparkling Juice White Grape Flavor.

Mojo Chicken By Chef Mikel Francis Zaguirre Ingredients: 1 whole chicken 1tbsp. chili powder 2 tsps. cumin 2 tsps. oregano 2 tsps. salt 1 tsp. black pepper 8 pcs. white onion, brunoise 1/4 cup bottled jalapeno 1/3 cup fresh lime juice 1tbp. bottled orange juice 8 pcs. peeled garlic, brunoise 2 tsp. finely chopped parsley, leaves only Procedure:

1. Combine all the ingredients and blend them until they’re smooth
2. Rub the marination all-over the chicken
3. Put the marinated chicken in the chiller for one hour
4. Pre-heat the oven to 330 degrees F for at least 15 minutes
5. Cook chicken for one hour

Sauces: Chimichurri 1tsp Fresh Rosemary 1/8tsp Dried oregano 1tsp Thyme 1/3 cup fresh cilantro 1/2 cup parsley, curly 2 pcs. peeled red onion, burnoise 1/4 cup lime juice ¼ cup Doña Elena Pure Olive Oil Black pepper Salt Vinegar Garlic Spring Onion Chili Flakes Aioli Mayonnaise Garlic Spring Onion Salt and pepper   What are you waiting for? Start your summer right by nourishing your bodies and cultivating happy memories with your loved ones.   [email protected]