4 Dad-Friendly Disney's The Lion King Recipes!

I am an official ambassador for Dole. Dole provided me with compensation for my time. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

When you're a busy dad who is constantly on-the-go, there is nothing better than carving out a little time to be with your kids, watch a movie, and make a fun meal! Bonus points if you can make the meal movie-themed and sneak in some fresh fruit and vegetables. Hakuna Matata (it means no worries) dads, Disney's The Lion King, Dole, and I have your backs. I have loved all of the Disney and Dole combo recipes lately and I want to share some that I consider the "Kings" of the the recipes. These recipes are dad-friendly, meaning they are perfect for busy fathers who want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their family around Father's Day or any other time of year!

Scroll Down to Find Out How to Enter to Win a Free VIP Trip to Hawaii, Disney's The Lion King Merchandise, and Much More!

All of these fantastic recipes are part of Dole's "Powering the Hero Within" healthy-living initiative inspired by the new Disney's The Lion King blockbuster hitting theaters July 19, 2019. The idea is "No-Worry Nutrition" to help dads encourage their families to eat better, but take less time. Each of these meals, and many of the others on the Dole website, take a max prep time of 30 minutes. That's enough to get you crowned "King of the Kitchen" by your family!

If that wasn't enough Dole is also hosting a contest for you to enter to win great prizes themed to Disney's The Lion King. After you take a look at the recipes, keep scrolling to find out all the details about how to enter to win Dole's "No-Worry Traditions Contest" (#NoWorryTraditions #Contest). You could win a VIP family trip to Hawaii, Disney's The Lion King swag, and much more! So keep scrolling for the recipes, but make sure to keep on scrolling even a little more to find out how to enter to win.

Pride lands Pancakes with Fruity Sauce
Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 24 minutes Serves: 6

Ingredients: 
2 medium DOLE® Nectarines or Peaches, pitted and finely chopped
1 small DOLE® Orange, zested and juiced
1 cup DOLE® Blueberries and/or chopped DOLE® Strawberries
1 tablespoon honey
2 large eggs
2 to 3 medium ripe DOLE® Bananas, peeled
2 cups quick oats
½ cup almond flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons avocado oil
Fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Directions:
1. Toss nectarines, orange zest and juice, blueberries and honey in a medium bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Makes about 2½ cups.

2. Purée eggs, bananas, oats, flour, baking powder, almond extract, cinnamon and 1 cup water in a blender until smooth. Makes about 3¾ cups.

3. Heat 1½ teaspoons oil in a large skillet or on a griddle over medium heat. Drop 3 (¼ cupfuls) batter onto griddle; cook 6 minutes or until golden brown and set, turning once. Repeat with remaining oil and batter. Makes about 12 pancakes.

4. Serve pancakes topped with fruit sauce garnished with fresh mint, if desired.

Dole Berry Banana Fro-Whip 

Prep: 10 minutes Serves: 6
Ingredients:
2 ripe DOLE® Bananas, peeled, cut crosswise into thirds and frozen
1 cup chopped DOLE® Pineapple, frozen
½ cup DOLE® Blackberries
½ cup DOLE® Blueberries
½ cup DOLE® Raspberries plus additional for garnish
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1¼ cups refrigerated unsweetened coconut milk
Shaved dark chocolate and/or chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
1. Purée bananas, pineapple, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and sugar in a blender; with blender running, slowly add coconut milk. Makes about 4½ cups.

2. Divide into 4 bowls; top with raspberries, chocolate and/or nuts, if desired. 

Nala Naan
Prep: 15 minutes Bake: 15 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients:
1 package (8.8 ounces) whole grain naan bread
½ cup yellow lentil or roasted garlic hummus
½ teaspoon berbere seasoning
1 small jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced crosswise
½ small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
½ cup chopped DOLE® Pineapple
¼ cup thinly sliced DOLE® Red Onion
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Place naans on rimmed baking pan; spread with hummus. Sprinkle naan with berbere spice; top with jalapeño, bell pepper, pineapple and onion.

2. Bake naans 15 minutes or until vegetables are lightly browned and crisp-tender. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with basil. Cut each naan into 6 slices.

Dole® Beet ‘N Berry Smoothie

Prep: 15 minutes plus freezing Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 ripe DOLE® Bananas, peeled, cut crosswise into thirds and frozen
1 medium raw beet, peeled and coarsely chopped
1¼ cups fresh orange juice
1 cup hulled and halved DOLE® Strawberries, frozen
½ cup chopped DOLE® Pineapple, frozen
½ cup DOLE® Spinach, trimmed
1 DOLE® Lemon, juiced (about ¼ cup)

Directions:
Purée all ingredients in a blender on high until smooth. Makes about 4½ cups.

Chef Tip: Peel and freeze ripe bananas to have on hand for using in this recipe as well as smoothies.

How to Enter to Win The Dole "No Worry Traditions Contest"

Starting July 1, 2019 and continuing through Aug. 4, 2019, Dole’s “No-Worry Traditions Contest” (#NoWorryTraditions Contest) invites fans of Dole, Disney and Disney’s The Lion King to share their favorite family tradition by posting on social media and using the appropriate hashtags, according to the official rules.

Five weekly winners will receive official Disney's The Lion King plush and merchandise, including an official Mighty Roar Simba Interactive Plush Toy from Hasbro, plus a custom Dole hammock to relax away your tensions. 

The weekly winner judged to have the most creative, unique and sentimental family tradition will receive the Grand Prize of a five-day, five-night family vacation in Hawaii featuring round-trip airfare; deluxe accommodation at a luxury resort hotel on Oahu; the choice of a guided farm-to-table food, kayaking, jeep or horseback tour, or other excursion options, at the Kualoa Private Nature Reserve in Kaneoche; and a VIP experience at the Dole Planation, one of the most-visited attractions in Hawaii. 

The Dole Plantation visit will allow the winner to create a customized experience from the activities offered at the famous destination, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour, Plantation Garden Tour, Pineapple Maze and lunch or dinner at the Plantation Grille featuring different variations of the world-famous Dole Whip plus assorted entrees and desserts based on DOLE® Pineapples. 

To enter, participants must share an original photo or video with a caption that depicts a family tradition on their own Instagram or Twitter page, or by commenting on their pinned contest post on Dole’s Facebook page, using the #NoWorryTraditions and #contest hashtags, between July 1 and August 4, 2019. Entries will be judged by a panel of Dole and other judges on the basis of uniqueness, sentimentality and originality. Five Weekly Prize winners will be selected throughout the duration of the campaign, and the Grand Prize will be awarded to the Weekly winner with the most points. There is no cost to enter.

For original recipes and other information about “Powering the Hero Within,” including “No-Worry Tradition Contest” (#NoWorryTraditions Contest) details and official rules, go to www.dole.com/Disney. Interested participants are urged to read the rules at www.dole.com/Disney to make sure they are eligible to enter.