Yummy Summer Drinks - Whole Juices

Sorry again about the photos. I don't have to tell you - beautiful sunny 90 degree day turned cloudy and windy just as I went to take photos. It is time to build that light box...

It has been so much fun making all the drink recipes and sharing them with you. I hope you found some that you can use and love! For our last post together, I am going to share 4 recipes - three I've made and an interesting new one that I have not made. I dare you to try it and let us know what you thought!

All of these recipes have been formulated for blending in a BlendTec Blender or other similar blender. If you don't have one, be cautious. Chop your fruit and veggies smaller and use a little more liquid, add ice last and any other strategy you have for preventing the burn out of your blender's motor.

 

The Jolly Green Giant (adapted from a BlendTec recipe)

2 -3 cups washed green grapes

1/2 cup fresh cucumber, with or without peel (I peel it)

1/2 cup fresh zucchini, with or without peel (I don't peel it)

1/2 cup frozen sweet peas

1 stalk celery, cut in 3" pieces

1 cup spinach leaves, washed

Place ingredients in blender in order listed. Secure lid and blend. On the BlendTec, use the "whole juice" button. I like to freeze the extra in ice cube trays and use the ice cubes in fruit smoothies. The kids will never know they're getting a serving of veggies.

Optional add ons: 

1/2 cup broccoli

1/4 of a medium avocado, peeled

1 oz. wheat grass or other sprouts (equivalent to 2 lbs. green veggies)

1/2 cup tofu

sweetener, to taste

 

Strawberry-Melon Cooler

1/2 cantaloupe, sliced

1/2 cup pineapple, with juice, chilled

1/2 banana

1/8 inch slice of lemon, with peel

5-6 strawberries

1 Tbsp. honey (optional)

3/4 cup ice cubes

Place ingredients in blender in order listed. Secure lid and blend. On the BlendTec, use the "whole juice" button.

 

Citrus Carrot Cocktail (a favorite we found on the Vitamix site)

 1 cup pineapple with juice

1/2 cup carrots, chopped

1/8 inch  slice lemon, with peel

1 cup ice cubes

Place ingredients in blender in order listed. Secure lid and blend. On the BlendTec, use the "whole juice" button. I have to run the pulse button a couple of times on this one at the end just to be sure all the lemon peel and carrot is blended well. This is another one that I freeze in ice cube trays to add to other smoothie recipes.

Last of all - here's one for you to try. I have the ingredients, but didn't get around to it today.

Key Lime-Kiwi Smoothie

Kiwi is the star of this smoothie and Vitamin C and fiber are the antioxidant headliners. Fiber is essential for heart health and weight control and there is a long list of health bonuses for Vitamin C, the immune-boosting, bone-protecting, anti-aging, disease preventing super power.

2 medium kiwi, peeled
1 large ripe pear
1 tablespoon key lime juice or 1/4" slice of lime with peel
2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
1/4 cup water
1 cup ice

Place ingredients in blender in order listed. Secure lid and blend. On the BlendTec, use the "whole juice" button. 

You may also enjoy:

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness  

Presentation 

Mocktails 1 

Mocktails 2

Smoothies

 Milkshakes

Milkshakes!

Nothing says summer to me like a milkshake - and the drive up diner where we used to get them. Since I don't have the diner, I'll have to make do with the milkshakes. Here are a few of our favorites - both dairy and non-dairy!

Old-fashioned Chocolate Milkshake

2 cups chocolate or vanilla ice cream

1 cup whole milk

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

Put all the ingredients in the blender. Blend until smooth. I like to add some frozen cherries to this for a chocolate cherry milkshake. Yum! Serves 2-3

 Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

1 cup milk

3 cups vanilla ice cream (or strawberry)

1 cup fresh strawberries, cleaned

Put all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with sliced strawberries. For a strawberry-banana milkshake, add a banana! Serves 3-4

Refreshing Lime Milkshake

1/4 cup milk

1 scoop lime sherbert

1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Ice cubes (a handful)

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth. 

All of the above can be made with Rice Dream or Coconut Bliss  or your favorite dairy free frozen dessert, using rice milk, almond milk or coconut milk as a substitute for the milk.

photo credit

Tropical Milkshake (Dairy-free)


3 cups vanilla island Coconut Bliss

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup fresh pineapple

2 ripe bananas, peeled

1 medium papaya, peeled, seeded, chopped

12 strawberries, hulled

Directions

Blend Coco Bliss, almond milk, coconut milk and fruit in a blender until smooth. I have played with this recipe so it fits in my blender - be sure the ingredients aren't too much for yours.

Join us next week for whole juices - and the end of this series.

You may also enjoy:

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness  

Presentation 

Mocktails 1 

Mocktails 2

Smoothies

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Smoothies

photo credit

Smoothies are a big favorite at our house. My oldest son is a competitive swimmer and he doesn't love breakfast. He often swims early in the morning. Just about the only way to get nutrition in him that early in the day is a smoothie. I'm going to share some of our favorites with you, along with tips on how to make them delicious.

In our recipes, you will find dairy, almond and rice milks, Greek yogurt, raw nuts, veggies and fruit. You will not find soy products. Soy is not my friend, so I don't use it. If you like to use soy, I trust you will know just how to substitute it for milk or yogurt, etc.

Tips for making great smoothies:

1. Use fresh ingredients - just like with anything, fresh makes for better taste and better health.

2. Use yogurt - I like Greek yogurt for its creaminess.

3. Add the ice last (unless you have an awesome BlendTec blender).

4. Freeze your own fruits and veggies. You can puree and freeze in ice cube trays, or just freeze them whole - especially ripe bananas.

5. Add powders and fresh fruits last. Fresh berries add a great flavor boost to a smoothie and adding them last keeps that flavor at its best

6. Make coconut water ice cubes instead of tap water ice cubes. This will add nutrients including potassium, magnesium and other electrolytes. 

photo credit

Mango Coconut Smoothie

1 cup cubed mango (about 1 medium mango)

1/2 cup cream of coconut (not coconut milk)

1/2 cup pineapple chunks, including some of the juice or syrup

Juice of one lime

Crushed Ice

Combine chopped mango, cream of coconut, pineapple chunks and juice, and lime juice in blender. While blender is running, add crushed ice until desired consistency is reached.

Pour drink into glasses and garnish with additional mango, pineapple, maraschino cherries or coconut as desired.

 

Strawberry Power Smoothie

8 oz. Almond or Rice or coconut milk

5-6 medium strawberries

1 medium banana

handful of spinach (optional)

1 scoop protein powder

6-8 ice cubes

Combine almond or rice milk, banana, spinach, protein powder and ice cubes in blender. Blend until smooth, then add strawberries and blend well. Makes 2 servings.

 photo credit

Raspberry Peach Smoothie 

2 cups (raw) cashews, soaked 4-8 hours (overnight), discard soaking water
2 cups water
1 cup raspberries (frozen)
1 cup peaches (frozen)
2 Tbsp agave nectar or honey
1Tbsp vanilla
4 ice cubes

Place cashews and water in blender (BlendTec) and process on high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add raspberries, peaches, agave and vanilla and blend until rich and smooth, blend in ice cubes. Serves 2

photo credit

Breakfast Blueberry Smoothie

1/2 cup rolled oats or muesli
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 cup liquid (I use almond milk)

Directions:

Mix the rolled oats or muesli into the yogurt and let sit in the fridge over night. Puree everything in a food processor. Again, I use my BlendTec for this smoothie and it purees the oats so that you hardly know they are there. I can't vouch for the texture of this smoothie in a regular blender.

Best Chocolate Smoothie Ever

8 oz. Dark Chocolate Almond Milk

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 medium banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

6 fresh strawberries

6 ice cubes

Combine almond milk, banana, blueberries and ice cubes in blender. Blend well. Add strawberries and blend in. You can add spinach, protein powder or anything else that sounds good to you.

You may also enjoy:

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness  

Presentation 

Mocktails 1 

Mocktails 2

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Mocktails Part 2

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you enjoyed Mocktails Part 1. I would love to hear if you tried any of the drinks and how you liked them, or what you did to change them to your tastes. Today is the last of the mocktails. Starting next week I will be talking about smoothies and shakes (healthy!).

Cosmo-not

1 cup crushed ice

3 fluid oz. peach nectar

2 fluid oz. cranberry juice cocktail

1/2 oz. grenadine syrup (I used my homemade raspberry simple syrup)

1 fluid oz. lemon flavored soda

lime wedge or curl

Fill a shaker or lidded container with ice. Pour in peach nectar, cranberry juice and syrup. Strain into a glass and top with lemon soda (personally, this drink is too sweet for me and I like to top with sparkling water or leave out the syrup). Garnish with lime. Serves 1.

Raspberry-Lime Rickey

1 lime, quartered

8 oz. sparkling water

1.5 oz. raspberry simple syrup

Fill a glass with ice. Squeeze each of the lime wedges into the glass and drop in. Fill glass nearly to the top with sparkling water and top with raspberry syrup. Delicious and not too sweet. Serves 1.

Mock Champagne

4 cups sparkling water, chilled

4 cups ginger ale, chilled

3 cups white grape juice, unsweetened

Mix together and serve. Serves 10

Citrus Cooler

2 cups orange-pineapple juice

1 cup limeade

4 cups ginger ale, chilled

Orange or lemon slices for garnish

Combine juice, limeade and ginger ale in a large pitcher. Stir. Garnish with lemon or orange slices. Serves 6.

Exotic Fruit Drinks 

1 cup each of assorted fruit juices, kept separate

Sparkling water

Ice cube trays in various shapes

Pour juice into ice cube trays and freeze. For the photo above, I used pomegranate juice. When completely frozen, place in a glass - all the same flavor ice cubes, or mixing different flavors. Pour sparkling water over all.

You may also enjoy:

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness  

Presentation 

Mocktails 1

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Mocktails Part 1

 
Some of you may feel that it's skirting the edge a bit to be making "mocktails" with a 12 year old. Maybe so. We really had a good time though. My floor is also really, really sticky. Why? I was making mocktails with a 12 year old. It doesn't help at all that he's grown about 3 inches and gained 22 lbs since December. "Hey Mom, I'll bring that drink over to the table. Oops. I spilled a little. Oops, I spilled some more." Was heard more than once. But hey, I've got a mop and I know how to use it.

That's enough chit-chat though, right? On to the recipes.

Margaritas

I went with frozen here because it's hot outside, and we like them. 

Spicy Grapefruit Margarita (adapted from bon apetit)

1 habanero chile, halved with seeds removed (if you haven't worked with hot chiles, use caution)
Kosher salt
6 cups fresh pink grapefruit juice (I used light grapefruit juice)
ice cubes

Steep habanero chile in grapefruit juice 1-2 hours, depending on how spicy you want it. Remove chile and pour grapefruit juice into blender filled with ice cubes, pouring juice to level of ice cubes. In my blender, that's ice to about the 4 cup mark. I made this margarita in two 3-cup batches.
Serve in frosted glasses, garnish as desired.

Lime Margarita

Kosher salt or salt/sugar mixture to rim the glasses

1/2 lime, cut in wedges, or desired garnish

6 oz can frozen limeade concentrate

1/4 cup orange juice

4 cups ice cubes

Frost glasses, if desired. In blender, blend the limeade, orange juice and ice cubes until well blended and ice cubes are crushed. Pour into glasses, garnish as desired.

Strawberry Margarita

6 oz can  frozen limeade concentrate

1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries

2 Tbsp. strawberry simple syrup

3 cups water

3/4 cup orange juice

4 cups ice cubes

1 liter lemon-lime soda pop, chilled

Combine limeade, strawberries, simple syrup, water and ice cubes in blender. Blend until ice is  completely crushed. Freeze in a 2 quart container to use later. To serve immediately, pour 2/3 cup slush into each glass and top off with 1/3 cup soda. Stir, garnish and serve. 

You may also enjoy:

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness  

Presentation

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Presentation

Today, I'm going to talk a little bit about decorating those yummy summer drinks.

Presentation is everything, right? It's the reason someone will choose to pick up that drink and give it a try. I'm betting that a study would show (probably has shown) that most people enjoy their food more if it looks pretty. 

There are so many ways to garnish a drink. I'm going to share a few that we thought up. If you are so inclined, please leave a comment and share any garnishing ideas you may have.

• Frosting the glass. This is always pretty, and it's easy. I use a mixture of 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp. of kosher salt. I like a little salt kick with my drink. Take the glass you're going to use and get the rim wet. You can dip it in water, or, like me, rub a lemon wedge around the edge of the glass. Then, dip it in the sugar/salt mixture.

• Fruit on a toothpick or skewer - pick a fruit that complements your drink in both flavor and color. 

• Citrus twists or curls are pretty- especially when they don't uncurl and fall in the drink before you take the photo...

• Flavored or fruited ice cubes - I use juice. Pictured are stars made of pomegranate juice and stirring sticks made of grapefruit juice. I got the trays at IKEA several years ago. 

•  Fruit, mint leaves or citrus peel frozen into ice cubes - very pretty
  

 

• Lemon or lime wedges

• Mint leaves or edible flowers

I hope you found something fun to try! Join us on Tuesday for mocktails!

Summer drinks - earlier posts

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Lemony Deliciousness 

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Lemony Deliciousness

 

Homemade Lemonade 

Simple Syrup

10-12 lemons - juiced. Should yield about 2 1/2 cups lemon juice

Make your simple syrup and cool. Add lemon juice through strainer. Taste it. If you like it this sweet, cool and chug away. If it's too sweet for you (like it is for me), then add water to taste.

Minty Lemonade Slush 

you will notice that this recipe is very similar to the one you will find on Fuzz Food. 
That's because it's where I got it...it's kind of like a slushy mint julep.

Lemonade

Ice

Fresh Mint Leaves

Fill your blender about 3/4 full with ice

Add lemonade to ice level.

Add 3 fresh mint leaves.

Blend it until ice cubes are completely crushed.

Garnish with mint leaves, serve, and enjoy! Perfect for a sunny day.

 

Pomegranate Lemonade

Lemonade

32 oz. pure pomegranate juice. 

Chill and serve. Delicious. 

Again, you can add water to dilute to taste.

Coming Thursday: Presentation (serving, garnishes, frosting glasses) 

If you get a chance to try these - comment and let me know what you think!

 

Summer drinks - earlier posts

Introducing the series  

Simple Syrup

Yummy Summer Drinks Series - Simple Syrup

 photo credit

 

Simple syrup is the most useful thing. It is mostly used in beverages, but can also be used to keep a cake moist and delicious. Why use it? Well, sugar and water don't mix well in cold drinks. To get a really smooth clear drink, the water and sugar need to be heated so that the sugar completely dissolves. It's really convenient as well, if you're making a large number of drinks. It cuts way down on mixing time.

Simple syrup is really, really easy to make. It is exactly 1 part water to 1 part sugar. Here's the basic recipe I use:

2 1/2 cups water

2 1/2 cups sugar

Bring water and sugar to a boil over medium high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar. Boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Use in your favorite drink mix, or refrigerate until needed. Depending on the drinks you are making, you can soak things (vanilla bean, lemon or lime slices, cinnamon) in the syrup as it cools. Once the syrup is at room temperature, remove the items you were soaking before refrigerating your simple syrup.

Next Tuesday, I will be posting a series of lemonade recipes. The lemonade is made with this simple syrup. Make sure and stop by!

Introducing the Yummy Summer Drinks Series!

Please welcome a new, regular contributor to Fuzz Food! Jenn from my lavender ave:  blogger and owner of Lavender Avenue on Etsy. She's also the executive chef in her house, and like me, she likes to keep it interesting.

I am really excited to be here - guest posting at Fuzz Food. Mrs. Fuzz always has great recipes. Love, love, love the MPM's too, don't you?

Let me tell you where I got the idea for this series. My husband and I just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I know. Wow, right? I looked it up. It's the porcelain anniversary. Huh. It turns out that in my world, the 18th anniversary is the BlendTec Anniversary. Who knew? It's a nice change from the years (5, 10, 14) that were "baby" anniversaries. That said, I am expecting somewhat bigger things for year 20. Just saying. And not a baby.

I really like this machine. We have made tortilla soup, ice cream (with spinach in it) and many, many smoothies. It really does blend just like they say it does.

I thought it would be really fun to make a bunch of different summery drinks, mostly using the BlendTec, but sometimes not, and share them with you here. Some of them will be sweet (lemonade), some will be thick (smoothies) and some will be whole juice (think V-fusion). So join us here every Tuesday and Thursday for the next 4 weeks or so for some Yummy (non-alcoholic) Summer Drinks!

Coming Thursday: Simple Syrup