Blueberry dream smoothie

We love a good smoothie for breakfast. They are nutritious, filling, and such a fruity treat. I've been avoiding cow's milk lately, so this morning I tried a smoothie with some coconut milk, and I could not believe the difference! I was a little hesitant because I don't enjoy coconut milk on its own, but I needed to use it up. After taking one sip of this delicious smoothie, I am fully convinced that replacing cow's milk with coconut milk in a smoothie is the way to go. Coconut milk is nutritious, a great source of calcium, and the texture and flavor (though it really does not have a flavor on its own) really took our morning smoothie to the next level. For those of you trying to start eating healthier this upcoming year, I highly recommend this yummy breakfast treat. It was such a hit in our house, I had to post the recipe right away.

Blueberry dream smoothie

yield: 3-4 servings

I N G R E D I E N T S :

1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries

1 cup vanilla yogurt (or you could use plain yogurt and sweeten with honey)

1 1/2 bananas (I was using the other half banana to feed my baby for breakfast, but you could use 1 or 2)

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk ( I used Coconut dream original brand in a carton)

You could also add some fresh spinach for extra nutrition-we do this often

D I R E C T I O N S :

Place blueberries, bananas, and yogurt in blender and blend on high speed. Add coconut milk in gradually.

Orange Julius

When I was a little girl, my mom would sometimes take me to Orange Julius for lunch. There was nothing like one of those classic drinks and a hot dog! The Orange Julius in my town unfortunately closed long ago, so it's only on rare occasion that I venture to a mall that has one. But when I do, I will sometimes treat myself to one of those sweet, frothy drinks. A friend recently gave me a good recipe for one, and I had to share it with you. It is just as delicious as I remember the real one being! A fun treat for summer, especially for kids.

Orange Julius

I N G R E D I E N T S :
6 oz. orange juice concentrate
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 cups ice cubes
1 cup milk

D I R E C T I O N S :
Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

agua fresca

when life gives you watermelon and strawberries...make agua fresca! i noticed a couple of recipes for this in magazines recently, so yesterday when i realized i had some watermelon i needed to use up and some delicious, sweet strawberries, i thought it would be fun to try this drink. this is a really healthy, refreshing drink! the only unhealthy ingredient is the Tbsp. of sugar, and it's a great treat on a hot, summer day. this is a perfect, fun drink for kids to try as well. i looked at two different recipes for this and then adapted them into my own, which follows:

I N G R E D I E N T S :

3-4 cups watermelon (seedless is easiest-i had to pick out the seeds from the one i had, which didn't take long)
2 cups of strawberries, fresh or frozen*
1 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice (i used lime and it was great-you might want to add more for extra zing)
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4-1/2 cup water

*i started out with just one cup of fresh strawberries, and ended up adding an extra cup of frozen strawberries because i thought the drink needed the extra ice and fruit. i was much happier once i added this-it was thicker, more flavorful, and had more flavor.

D I R E C T I O N S :

mix all ingredients in a blender and serve. enjoy! this would be really cute in sugar rimmed glasses and garnished with either a strawberry, lime, or pineapple wedge, or even sprig of peppermint. obviously, my drink is lacking in garnish...i had to snap a quick picture before drinking it and didn't take the time to make it look pretty :)

if you would like another delicious drink to try this summer, try this recipe for fruity, mint tea. i crave this stuff-it is divine!

delicious mint tea

spring has sprung and this is the perfect refreshing beverage to have on a nice warm day. sweet, fruity, tangy, minty...mmmm. this is quite possibly my favorite fruity drink. perfect for a brunch or luncheon, or just to have on hand in the fridge!

mint tea
from "Heart and Soul" Cookbook

I N G R E D I E N T S :

2 cups boiling water
3 family-size tea bags
2 sprigs fresh mint (10-12 leaves)
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
3/4-1 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
water
fresh pineapple wedges (i used lemon wedges since i had them on hand)
additional mint sprigs

D I R E C T I O N S :

in a 2 1/2-quart glass pitcher or bowl, pour boiling water over tea bags and mint sprigs; let stand 5 minutes. remove tea bags and mint. stir in pineapple juice, orange juice, sugar, lemon juice, and enough water to make 2 quarts. serve in tall glasses over ice garnished with a fresh pineapple (or lemon) wedge or additional mint sprigs.
makes 8 (8-ounce) servings.