Super Smoothies

So, in case someone missed it, I am doing a funny challenge to make all the recipes from the Jan/Feb issue of Everyday Foods. The main reason this challenge started was the 8 recipes for smoothies they have in there . . . I instantly said I wanted to try all 8.
After my first 2 posts about entrees I made with several substitutions/alterations my sister suggested I make this challenge about how I change recipes and if they turn out or not! Ha ha.
Since smoothies have like 4 ingredients in them, I tried my best not to alter these recipes at all. Stephen and I have started looking forward to these nightly treats. Here are the 5 we have tried so far:

Peach, Berry and Spinach

Blend 1 cup fresh or frozen peach slices, 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries, 1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves, 1 1/2 cups white grape juice and 1/2 cup ice (if using fresh fruit). Serves 2, 160 calories

*I think this is my favorite so far, and it made enough for the girls to have some too. (this is the only smoothie I made substitutions to- I promise! I had frozen blueberries instead of blackberries and no white grape juice yet . . . because I know blackberries have more of an acid punch than blueberries, I used pineapple juice instead of white grape- turned out awesome)

Odessa loved it- and drank Ada's too

Pineapple and Ginger

Blend 1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple, cut into 1-inch pieces, 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced, 1/2 cup lowfat plain yogurt, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 cup ice. Serves 2, 156 calories

I love ginger, so I was a little disappointed in this one- it was a little runny and I didn't like the cinnamon, next time I would leave it out. It did have a nice warming effect from the spiciness of the ginger. Stephen liked it better than me . . .


Green Machine

Blend 1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves, 1 1/4 cups white grape juice or pear juice (I used white grape), 1/2 avocado, 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces, and 1 cup ice. Serves 2, 193 calories

I was also really excited about this one! But too much apple maybe? It was really thick which I like but it also tasted a little like drinking applesauce, so I think half an apple in this one would be fabulous. This was Stephen's favorite so far . . .



Cucumber Blueberry

Blend one medium cucumber peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 cup white grape juice or pear juice, and 1/2 cup low fat yogurt. Serves 2, 164 calories.

I loved this one! Wouldn't change a thing . . .

Berry Orange

Blend 1 orange, peel and pith removed with a sharp knife, quartered, 1/2 cup lowfat plain yogurt, 1/2 cup raspberry sorbet, and 1/2 cup 100% cranberry juice. Serves 2, 169 calories.

We both LOVED the taste of this, but a couple texture things- the membranes on the orange still are a little chunky and I blended it so long that it was pretty runny. I think next time I would blend the orange and juice together until super fine and then add the other ingredients and maybe throw in a bit of ice to thicken things up a little. Very good- what's not to love about raspberry sorbet?

Incidentally, I did find all the juices I needed in the frozen section much easier and much cheaper than in the regular juice section (that's a no brainer I guess, but I was surprised how easy it was to get 100% cran and white grape and pom there vs already made and bottled).

Ok, 3 more coming up soon! Oh, Almond Date, aren't you excited??