Frozen Yogurt Fruit Smoothie {Recipe}

Now I'd like a Pina Colada and to place my feet in the sand on a beach.

As requested by popular demand, a post just on fruit smoothies. Let us take a moment and allow the mouth to water. OK, back to reality.

I've always loved making smoothies. And I still haven't perfected it. Let's just say I've had some bad, weird, strange and 'yucky' combinations. I think simple is the way to go. One trick I have learned and I swear by now is: Frozen Yogurt.

This trick allows the chunks of ice to no longer be in your straw for you to suck up into your mouth. No thanks. By using frozen yogurt, this eliminates the need for ice in a smoothie. And, it adds a creaminess and healthy benefit to the smoothie.

Whatever fruit you like, you get to use. I personally like the tart flavor and color blueberries and raspberries give. I've tried pineapple in to, and mango. Those two bring in a sense of tropical. Ah, the beach.......

Anyway, the frozen yogurt trick.

Frozen vanilla yogurt out of the ice cube tray and into the food processor

I have found that filling ice cube trays (silicone is MUCH easier to get out of) with your choice of vanilla yogurt works perfectly as a homemade, inexpensive frozen yogurt. I've done regular and Greek. Next, I'm going to try different flavors other than just vanilla.

Depending how big a smoothie you decide to scarf down want to make, depends on how many 'cubes' of frozen yogurt you want. I've found, about 4-6 cubes for 1 serving works. It also depends on what else you're putting in, fruit and juice wise. 

General Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie:

1. 4-6 cubes frozen vanilla yogurt *Tip: take out of freezer ~10 min before using so the blender/food processor can 'blend' easier and not struggle
2. about 1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) strawberries
3. about 1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) raspberries
4. about 1/2 cup frozen (or fresh) blueberries
5. about 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoon wheat germ (added folic acid & health benefits, no taste)
6. 1/4 - 1/2 cup juice (I've used apple or pineapple)

Can also add in 1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped (or frozen) spinach. Very little taste difference and slight green color, added iron benefits.

Can add in ground flax seed (1 tablespoon).

Get creative! This is what I've done and what I've found works. I use a food processor, since my blender is on the downhill side of life not working that great. 

Health Nudge: Vitamins

Have you had an Emergen-C today?

image here

Yes, I'm going to plug another health topic. Who can't use the nudge for healthy stuff today? Especially with cold & flu season still here, coming back, or allergies making their stay in our bodies, I don't know about you but I can use all the help I can get.

Taking one of these drinks each day can help you feel better and is good for you!

I mix mine with water and this raspberry flavor is pretty good!

Here are the "good for you's" about it:

Antioxidants: Help protect the cells in your body. Vitamin C, Zinc, Manganese.

B Vitamins: Help metabolism for extra energy. I know I can tell when I haven't had enough of this during the day, definitely can feel that energy & not a shaky kind! 

Electrolytes: Mineral ions lost during sweat and activity. These work to regulate heart and nerve function, water and bodily fluid levels and movement of oxygen in the body. Very busy stuff! Calcium, Sodium, Potassium.

This is a great way to start your day, with a glass of Emergen-C. It tastes good, goes well with breakfast (or for those that don't have breakfast this is a great sub!), a nice afternoon push through the rest of your day...and above all, It's GOOD FOR YOU!

Stay healthy this spring!

Drink Order

Happy 1st Day of April. Or April Fools day. Spring is here, still, and summer is right around the corner. At least for us here in the Southwest summer is quickly approaching. Yesterday we got up to 94 degrees, wowza! Still beautiful and not so "gross-ly" hot yet. But that is soon coming too. Right now it reminds me of summer in Colorado with warm temperatures and being outside. Which brings me to this post.


Normally my cooking and baking adventures don't include drinks. I'm not one to drink much else than water. That could be its own post right there, because I'm pretty sure there might be something wrong with me with the amount of water I drink during the day. Seriously!


We had some friends over for dinner the other night and I made a great meal and had hopes to whip up a cool, refreshing drink other than just ice tea or water. Well I forgot and didn't get to make it. So I made it a few days later. This turned out great and just came to me while I was in the produce section at the store. It is a great little refreshing drink, good for summer time events. Could probably be spiked with alcohol if you so pleased.

Cran-Apple Up

7-up (2 liter)

Cran-Apple juice 

1 orange

1 lime

1 lemon (optional) 

You could add just about any fruit combos you like and I chose the Cran-Apple juice to get some other flavors other than just cranberry and 7-up. Maximize the variety of fruit, was my goal.


The amount of 7-up and Cran-Apple juice I used was almost equal, with maybe a touch more 7-up, just to avoid it being too sweet. But start with small amounts and add more to taste. I only made 1/3 of a pitcher not knowing how it would come out. Slice 1 lime and 1 orange into slices and add slices to juice/soda mix. Then with remaining ends of fruit, squeeze juice into soda mix. Stir/swirl and chill or serve over ice. SUPER SIMPLE! This would be great at a baby shower, wedding shower, BBQ, ladies brunch/dinner, book club meeting, Thursday evening when you want to make something awesome, the possibilities are endless! 

Plus, 7-up is caffeine free so you won't be up all night and I used a little less juice so it wouldn't be so sugar-y. PLUS, all of the fruit, score!


Enjoy!

Check out my girl Hanna at {Bouffe e Bambini}