Julia's Strawberry Grenadine Smoothie

This recipe makes a glass full of smooth peace and contentment. Add just a touch of crushed ice for a bit of refreshing satisfaction on a warm spring afternoon. Enjoy often...with good friends and family.

The nutrition facts can be found at Calorie Count!

Strawberry Grenadine Smoothie

Ingredients:

Handful of crushed ice

1 cup of strawberries - frozen or fresh, unstrained

1 cup strawberry yogourt

1/4 cup pineapple juice

1 T grenadine

Directions:

Put all in a blender and whir!

Remember all smoothie recipes should be adjusted for your personal taste buds. If you like less grenadine, then by all means add less. If you want it thinner, add more pineapple juice. Thicker? Add more yogourt or berries. Ice is optional but it is what gives smoothies the traditional milk shake texture. Experiment with it to see how you like it best.

Make your own homemade grenadine and your smoothie will be even better!

Sharpshootinstar's Green Monster Smoothie with variations on a monster theme

Nobody does smoothies better than Sharpshootinstar! The Green Monster is her basic smoothie from which she spins a wonderful array of goodness. I ran the nutrition facts for the basic monster using no sugar added almond milk at Calorie Count!

Green Monster Smoothie

Ingredients:

3 oz spinach (fresh or frozen)

1 scoop protein powder (optional, but nutritionally terrific!)

1 cup your favorite milk: milk, soy, almond milk, etc

1 small banana

a few ice cubes

Directions:

Put the spinach in the blender along with a scoop of your favorite protein powder (you can omit this if you want, I just find it an easy way to get a serving of protein, veggies & fruit all in one.) 

Now add one cup of your favorite milk beverage, 1 small banana, and a few ice cubes.  

Blend on high...this part may take  a bit of patience.  Watch the smoothie mixture, and once all the spinach appears to be blended and the drink is a nice green color, it should be ready.  If you find big shreds of spinach in it, you didn't blend long enough.

Variations on a Monster Theme:

Banana Cream Green Monster

3oz fresh spinach, 1 small frozen banana broken into chunks, 1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup ice.

Pink Monster

3oz spinach, 1 cup red raspberries, 1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 cup water

Jungle Monster

3oz spinach, 1 cup chopped mango, 1 cup ice, 1 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk

Endless possibilities!

Berry Berry Smoothie

Make this simple recipe with your favorite combination of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The nutrition facts at Calorie Count are based on blueberries because those are my favorite berries...although the blueberry blackberry smoothie is right up there...

Berry Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup of your favorite berries - you can use frozen partially thawed or fresh
1 cup 0% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup almond milk
1 T honey - or agave
1 T ground flax seed
a small handful of ice if you are using fresh berries

Directions for smoothies are so difficult to follow, so pay close attention:

Put it all in a blender and blend. Start slowly in spurts and keep your hand on the lid so it does not explode all over the place. Trust me on this.

Variations:

If you want it more like ice cream, skip the milk

If you want it to the point where you can drink it with a straw, add a little more milk.

If you don't have flax seed, try a scoop of oat or wheat bran. Both add great stay with you fiber.

If you are a thick smoothie person, add a few whole berries to the top for a pretty garnish.

Crazypotato98's Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Everyone has their favorite combination of fruits and things to make smoothies. Crazypotato98 keeps hers simple and easy to blend up at a moment's notice!

The nutrition facts are at Calorie Count!

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 banana, frozen

1 cup strawberries, frozen

6 oz. Dannon light n fit vanilla yogurt

Directions:

Slightly thaw strawberries and banana (you know your own blender best and what it can handle).

Add yogurt and blend.

Enjoy immediately!

Michael's Heavenly Breakfast Smoothie

This is one of Michael's favorite smoothies!

The nutrition facts are at Calorie Count.

Do not allow your smoothie
to blend unattended! 

Michael's Heavenly Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

3 small pear halves, canned; rinsed clean of syrup, etc.

3 pineapple rings, canned

6 small strawberries

¼ cup blueberries

3 oz. plain Greek yogurt

1-1/2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1 tsp. Stevia or Splenda

¼ cup skim milk

Directions:

If using frozen ingredients, thaw overnight before using. 

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  

Makes about 16 oz.

Variations:

Use fresh or frozen fruit.

Eliminate the sweetener or replace it with your favorite (adjust the calories as necessary).

Crazypotato98's Carrot Cocktail

A wonderfully healthy alternative to alcohol. The nutrition facts are at Calorie Count!

Carrot Cocktail

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sliced carrots
1 1/2 cup apple juice
1/8 t thyme
1/4 t lemon peel
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 lemon slice

Directions:

Cook sliced carrots in boiling water until tender. Drain and cool. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend til smooth. Chill and enjoy.

Tony's Zesty Pinot Grigio

a pretty party wine cocktail that is light on alcohol, tart, refreshing on a hot day, and best served icy cold! The nutrition facts are on Calorie Count. Enjoy in moderation with good friends.

Zesty Pinot Grigio

Ingredients:

1 bottle very cold Pinot Grigio
1 bottle very cold Club Soda
the finely grated zest of one lemon

Directions:

Early in the day, put water in ice cube trays and add zest (you can also mix the two together and pour into the trays). Freeze.

Shortly before serving, combine the wine and club soda n a pitcher.

Put the frozen zest cubes in clear glasses and pour in the liquid. Serve with a stir straw so that the zest can be mixed in and consumed as the cubes melt.


Notes:

try it with lemon and orange zest as well! If you would like.

Or try juicing the lemon and adding that to the wine and club soda for more citrus flavor.