Rise & Shine Citrus Smoothie

And the smoothie train continues to chug along, and by chug, I mean guzzle at rates that would make a frat boy proud.  We're getting tangelos this week, and not only is it one of the funnest words to say, they are a pretty cool hybrid of tangerines and grapefruit (some are also tangerines combined with pomelos, hence the "elos" in tangelo).  Unlike grapefruit they're easy to peel, and they are power packed with juice.  So...GET IN MY SMOOTHIE!  This Rise & Shine Smoothie really is breakfast in a glass as  you get your fresh-squeezed citrus boost, a protein & calcium jolt from almond milk, and disregard what those silly internet ads say, the bananas in this will keep you feeling full without filling you out, and they are great for helping to balance out blood sugar levels.

Rise & Shine Citrus Smoothie

Ingredients:
16 ice cubes
2 bananas, peeled
Juice of 2 tangelos
Juice of 1 red grapefruit
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I use Almond Breeze)


Into the blender all of your ingredients go, blend until the ice is fully crushed and prepare for morning magic.  It reminded me a bit of an Orange Julius, and then it also reminded me somewhat of a pina colada, so use some reduced fat coconut milk in place of the almond milk and really transport yourself to the tropics!

Green Refresh Smoothie

Anyone else feel like the spinach this week just won't quit?  I used about 3 cups in the Go Green Smoothie, then I tossed 2 handfuls into some Homemade Take-Away Beef With Broccoli, and some how I still had a good 3 cups left this morning for yet another smoothie.  Pretty sure my spinach keeps regenerating.

So this morning I wanted another green smoothie, yet something more refreshing than sweet.  So I grabbed the one pear and the one lemon I had left and thus, the Green Refresh Smoothie was born.  This is the perfect morning wake up, and it would be especially great after a morning workout to get you recharged and give you a nutrient boost.  Other than 1 cup of almond milk and 12 ice cubes, this smoothie is all produce.  And  if you like lemonade, then this one is sure to please!

Green Refresh Smoothie

Ingredients:

12 ice cubes, divided
1 banana, peeled
1 Bartlett pear, cored and cubed
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I used Almond Breeze)
3 cups spinach, washed and stems trimmed
Juice of 1 lemon

In  your blender, add 6 ice cubes, the banana, pear and almond milk.  Blend until ice is fully crushed.  Then add your spinach, and you may need to add it in batches so you're not cramming the blender.  Once the spinach is fully blended, add in your lemon juice and final 6 ice cubes, and blend until the ice is completely crushed.

Serve immediately.  Makes about 2 mason jars (pint sized) full.

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie

It took all the willpower we had, but the Mister and I some how held off on devouring the blueberries in this week's share long enough for me to make something with them.  When the Nalls' daughter, Valerie, told me that these New Jersey blueberries would going to be about the best I would ever taste, she was NOT exaggerating.  And...a little factoid for your Sunday evening...when blueberries look like they've been frosted with that slight white hue, that's when they are at their prime.  So basically, we are all ruined for blueberries from any other place for the rest of our lives.  New Jersey...keep cranking those beauties out!

So while okay, the entire pint of blueberries didn't survive till today (quality control my friends, had to make sure they were indeed as amazing as I'd been promised), I still had just enough of them left to cool us down on this hot, humid Sunday with these quick and easy Blueberry Pineapple Smoothies.  Did I mention they're 100 % vegan, as well?!  We've got the pineapples and bananas you'll need to round out this recipe in our store, plus tomorrow is another Fresh Start Monday so all day long you'll receive 10% off of all produce (runs every Monday through the end of August)!

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 pint fresh blueberries

1/2 pineapple, skinned and cut into chunks

2 1/2 bananas

1/2 cup vanilla soy milk (or milk of your choosing)

15 ice cubes

Throw all ingredients into your blender or Vitamix and blend away until nice and smooth.  You can also toss in some spinach or kale for an added iron boost.  Will make about four 8oz servings.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This week we're getting a taste of some first-of-the-season strawberries from South Carolina.  If you can somehow restrain yourself from eating them all within the first 5 minutes of arriving home with your Crop Share, then why not kick-start a weekend morning with a refreshing and healthy strawberry banana smoothie!  The banana makes it creamy without having to rely on ice cream or frozen yogurt, and by using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, you can skip the spoonful of sugar.  Plus, it's a great way to ingest your daily dose of local honey to help keep allergies at bay.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 large ripe banana (for thicker and creamier, add another half a banana)

1 heaping cup of fresh strawberries

1 cup milk of your choice (I used lite vanilla soy)

1 tsp honey or maple syrup (use the local honey we have in store for an added allergy fighting boost)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into a blender, press the magic button, do the smoothie dance (admit it, you know you shake it in the kitchen), pour blended goodness into glasses and serve immediately.