Smoothies

 First Sign of Spring - Wild Forsythia by frances robson

Come in on a hot, March afternoon for a cold coke and some freshly baked cookies.  They are really good and I post the recipe one day next week.  Today I wanted to share an easy way to make a good smoothie.  We drink these most every morning for breakfast and I have developed several good recipes but the one I am going to share today is our favorite.

I use frozen fruit in it from the fruit I freeze in the summer - peaches, strawberries and blueberries.  We grow our own blueberries but we buy the peaches and strawberries, fresh, from farms nearby.  I keep the fruit frozen until I use it and the other day I read an idea to cut the time in using it for smoothies. 

They were using fresh fruit, which I will use this summer, but you can also use the frozen fruit.  I took a quart of frozen peaches and a quart of frozen strawberries, partially thawed them, mixed them together and filled muffin tin cups with the fruit.

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze.



Remove from freezer and turn the tin over and run cold water over the bottom to loosen the fruit.  Keep it turned over and tap it lightly over a clean cutting board or other clean surface.  Next time I am going to line the cups with plastic wrap and lift them out and wrap in the plastic.

 This the frozen cups of fruit ready to put in a plastic bag

Place them in a sandwich size zip lock bag, write the name of the fruit and the date on the bag with a permanent marker and put in freezer. 

If I freeze them in plastic wrap and seal them in the wrap, I will put several in a larger zip lock bag.

When you are ready to make your smoothie, pour your milk in the blender and then add the fruit with the remainder of your ingredients and give it a whirl.

This is the recipe for our favorite smoothie but you can make whatever is your favorite.

I don't really measure when I am making them so this is approximately what I use.

2 cups low fat or skimmed milk

1 cup frozen or fresh fruit - peaches, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or a mixture of any fruit which you like

3 tablespoons Nestle Nesquick

2 cartons yogurt with fruit

I just fill the blender with whatever fruit, juices, yogurt and milk that I have.

Blend and serve

Optional: fruit juices - we like mango or orange juice

You can put whatever you like and if you are lactose intolerant you can use soy or almond milk or juices. 

Having the fruit already divided and frozen makes it quick and easy for you and your children if they like to help.

I am going to put a couple of these in the blender and chop and blend to make a slushy for lunch and I will let you know how it tastes.

Hope you will try these for it will surely cut your time and make it easier.  These would also be good to use in punch or lemonade - thinking of all kinds of ways to use these. 

Ya'll come back.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach