Thursday, May 17, 2012

Berry Smoothie

The other day I was craving a cherry smoothie, which is strange because I'm not a huge cherry fan.  Since cherries aren't in season yet, I just went to the store and bought frozen cherries.  They are so very good for you and this smoothie is awesome.  The kids don't even realize they are having such a healthy snack because they are enjoying it so much!
Berry Smoothie
1C frozen cherries
1C frozen blueberries(optional)
1C strawberries
1/2C orange juice
1container cherry yogurt, or your choice
1C ice cubes
1 banana
Add the liquid first and then the rest of the ingredients and blend on high until mixed. YUMMY!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

In our house we LOVE smoothies...all kinds! The Spring weather and longer days of sunshine give me so much more energy! My garden is all planted and my spinach has been growing beautifully. I have  made sandwiches with it and now today a smoothie.  This is one secret that is ok to keep from your kids...don't tell them it is in there and they will love it.  My kids went with it's green food coloring, or mom put a lime in it!!LOL  I did try to tell them the truth, but they just laughed and said why would anyone put veggies in a smoothie, so I just smiled and went along with what they wanted to think.  A smoothie can be so good for you(if you leave the ice cream out!) and they are so refreshing and there is something about drinking your fruits and veggies that just give a person extra energy.  This smoothie may sound gross or strange, but it is awesome and packed full of health.
Green Monster Smoothie
1C grapes, make sure you throw out the stems
1C orange juice
1carton vanilla yogurt
1-2C ice
1-2C baby spinach, stems removed
1 banana
1-2 apples, cored and cut up
Pour oj, yogurt and ice into blender. Then add the grapes whole, spinach whole, and apple and banana cut up into chunks. Blend until smooth.  Since the apples do have the skins still on, which is where the fiber and lots of other nutrition is, then the smoothie does have tiny peels, but it didn't bother my tastebuds a bit.  I only used one apple, but next time I will use two because the apple flavor is awesome.  If you think it tastes at all like spinach then just cut back on it, or throw in other stuff to cover it up, like another banana. ENJOY!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Green Fruit Salad

This recipe is to celebrate St Patricks Day. It is cool, refreshing and green! It makes me smile because it reminds me of Spring!  Feel free to add any fruits you want.  My mom makes a weight watchers version of this and uses sugar free pudding mix, cool whip, and adds a light vanilla yogurt. Then for the fruits just use a can that has no syrup and is in its "own juice."
Green Fruit Salad
1tub cool whip(can use light or sugar free)
1small pkg instant pistachio pudding
1 20oz can crushed pineapple, undrained
1can pears, drained, cut up
You can also add 1C mini marshmallows, the spring colored ones would be cute!
Mix the pineapple with juice with the pears and add the pudding and mix until thickened. Add cool whip and stir and refrigerate until serving.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Spinach Mushroom Pasta

This is a yummy version of an Olive Garde favorite..but I added to it! Add or change those ingredients according to what your family prefers. Next time I will add fresh asparagus. If you do this, just add asparagus cut up into chunks into the boiling pasta water during the last 5 minutes of cooking time and this will cook it enough to then add to the dish.  This pasta dish would also be excellent with grilled chicken or shrimp!
Spinach Mushroom Pasta
1pkg linguine (I had fettucini, so that is what I used)
1pkg fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 whole pkg fresh baby spinach, or 5-6C.
1pkg (8oz) cream cheese (use light and save calories!)
11/4C milk ( I used 2% and it was plenty creamy)
1-3t minced garlic (I like the 3t)
1/2pd bacon, sliced into bite size pieces
1t salt
1/2t pepper
2T butter
Boil pasta and drain. In a skillet, cook bacon and save 1T drippings. Add garlic and mushrooms to the bacon and drippings and add mushrooms and cook for a few minutes while stirring. Add spinach(it will look like too much, but it will shrink) and stir until wilted. Add cream cheese that is cubed up and milk, butter and salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium until the cream cheese is melted. Drain pasta and add to the sauce and toss well. YUMMY! Leftovers heat up great too!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...