Coconut Fruit Smoothie

1c coconut milk - from a carton

2c mixed frozen fruit - today I used

pineapple, mango, strawberries, blueberries

1c plain Greek yogurt

1T± Mexican vanilla

Put everything in a blender jar, pulse and blend until smooth.

My neighbor texted me yesterday to see if I wanted some extra coconut milk they had. I've used canned coconut milk before, but never this, the thinner type, in a carton. This Stuff Is Good!  For a while now, the liquid in my yogurt-fruit smoothies has been a variety of fruit juices. I like this much better. It seems to create a more natural balance of flavors, plus it's lower in sugar than fruit juice.

These amounts made 2 big servings, containing 240 calories each. Ohhh, this was good! Give it a try!  Get creative with your fruit choices. Bananas, frozen cranberries, frozen cherries, a whole-unpeeled mandarin orange are also excellent choices.  .😃. .Lin

Fruit-Yogurt Smoothie

½c plain Greek full fat yogurt

½c canned pineapple - no sugar, just juice

½c pineapple juice

1c frozen cranberries

a handful of frozen raspberries*

1c± frozen strawberries and bananas

a little nutmeg and cardamom

1-2t ground pumpkin pie spice

300-350 calories ±

This is a favorite go-to of mine, but from now on, *I'll eliminate the raspberries. I'm not a fan of those seeds. I vary this up depending on the fruit I currently have. I love adding a little fresh citrus, a whole 'cutie', a third of a lemon or lime. Blueberries and dark cherries are also so good. Be creative. Soon I'd like to experiment with more fruits, soft leafed herbs, carrots. Vegetable, green smoothies are also lots of fun. Beets, greens, kale, carrots, garlic, tomatoes. . .oh, so many possibilities.  

Happy Cooking! . .Lin

Citrus Beet and Greens Smoothie

2-3 big kale leaves

1c beet juice

1t-1T honey

½ big lime - zest and juice

1T orange and lemon zest

2 long stalks of celery and tops

a handful of fresh spinach

½t-1t cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

a little water or ice if needed

Take the center ribs out of the kale and rough chop the leaves and celery.  Add all the ingredients to the blender jar.  Blend and pulse until smooth.  This has a lot of flavor and healthy properties.  Smoothies made of greens, vegetables, whole juices, berries and fruit are good nutritious, cleansing drinks. . .Lin

Fruit & Vegetable Smoothie

1/2 banana

1-1/2c frozen strawberries

1 med. carrot - chopped

5 oz. frozen spinach in cubes

1-2T ground cinnamon

1-2T organic local honey

1c pomegranate juice

water if needed

Blend all the ingredients together until smooth.  If you're a 'visual' eater, you're not gonna like this one.  The color from the cinnamon and spinach turns this smoothie a horrible brown-green!  The flavor is good though, and surprisingly I don't taste the spinach.  So, cheers to your health!  Drink up! . . .Lin

Another Great Smoothie!

1/2 lg. banana

1sm.-med. carrot

1c frozen strawberries

1-2T lime zest - optional

1/2 to 3/4c plain Greek yogurt

3/4c pure pomegranate juice

1T local organic honey

1T fresh ground cinnamon

Combine everything in a blender, on medium or high for a minute, and it's ready!  I keep hearing wonderful, healing and anti-viral information about the Honey-Cinnamon combination.  I forgot to put it in initially.  Tasted it, then remembered - it was a very nice addition. . .Lin

SuperFood Smoothie

1 med. banana

1 to 1-1/2 c frozen fruit

3/4-1c plain Greek yogurt

pure pomegranate juice

a little organic honey

Combine all in a blender, pour and drink.  I've found a frozen fruit mix I just love, sold at Walmart.  I'ts their Great Value brand, "Cherry Berry Blend" consisting of cherries, blueberries and strawberries.  A wonderful antioxidant, healthy fiber-filled combination.  I used to buy one that had blackberries instead of cherries, but all those blackberry seeds are obnoxious.  This is so nice.

You might not need it, but I recommend adding the honey.  It's good for a little natural sweetness and the more you read about this wonderful bee-product, the more you'll want to be including it in your diet anywhere you need a little burst of something sweet.  Honey is a very healthy sweetener.  All these ingredients are amazing.  If you have a little time, do a nutritional search on each of them and. . .prepare to be awed. . .Lin

SuperFruit Yogurt Smoothie

1 sm.-med. banana

3/4c pineapple juice

3/4c fresh or frozen cranberries

3/4c plain Greek yogurt

This is just packed with great nutrients.  Bananas for Vit. B-6, Vit. C, fiber and potassium.  Pineapple juice, in this amount, for 100% of your MDA requirement of Vit. C and bromelian which is a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory.  Cranberries contain Vit. C, fiber, and both these and pineapple juice are great antioxidants.

Good quality Greek yogurt has 15+g of protein for a serving this size, as well as 20% of your daily calcium needs.

Also, of course, the live and active probiotic cultures, that are easily digested in yogurt, and are SO important for maintaining good 'gut' health.

Get in the habit of buying these ingredients - whip one up each day, and your body will be happy! . . . Lin

Carrot-Cranberry-Banana Smoothie

1 med. carrot - scrubbed and sliced

3/4c fresh or frozen cranberries

1 sm.-med. banana

1c plain Greek yogurt

3/4c or more cherry juice

Combine all in the blender container.  Cover and pulse a few times to get the blending started.  If it doesn't blend easily, add a little more juice.  Blend on medium or high for a minute or so.  Pour and serve.  Makes 2 big glasses. . .Lin

Breakfast Smoothie

1 sliced carrot

1c± frozen strawberries and pineapple

1/2 lg. banana

1c plain high-protein (20%-25%) Greek yogurt

8-12oz. water - or cranberry-pomagranite juice

~ optional ~ a little honey or Maple syrup

Blend on high for 30 seconds.  This will make 2 medium size smoothies. . .Lin