June, we all know it had to happen, while the college kids have been longing for the sun and the beach, parents have a different, and not so happy event this month: The kids finish school. For most working parents this summer time break can be hectic, the children want to sleep in, and you need to hustle them to the baby sitter or day camp! Things like breakfast can suddenly become a nightmare! How do you make sure they start the day healthy while keeping it simple? Easy-peezy my friend, no need to pull your hair out, and no need to stock up on that sugar coated cereal! As a matter of fact this smoothie recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dessert, and made with only natural ingredients. Kids and yes you-- mom and dad will love this healthy smoothie recipe.
I would also like to introduce you to a great kitchen product called the Vita-Mix, information and review below the berry smoothie recipe.
Berry Smoothie
Two kinds of berries are paired with lemonade concentrate and lemon yogurt in this cool and refreshing fruit smoothie recipe. Fruit smoothies are a great way to help you get your daily servings of fruits and vegetables. A good smoothie recipe, like this one, packs in two to three servings of fruits per glass. So drink up and the best part? Prep time is 5 minutes!
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups dark sweet frozen cherries (pitted, unsweetened)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup non-fat vanilla soy milk
1 Tbsp. frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup low-fat lemon yogurt
Preparation:
Place frozen cherries and blueberries in the bottom of a blender, Vita Mix, or food processor, fitted with a metal blade.
Top with vanilla soy milk.
Add remaining ingredients.
Puree until smooth. If using a blender, you may have to stop to press the fruit down into the blades in order for it to puree smoothly. Make sure the blender is turned off, and use a long spoon to push the fruit down. Continue blending until all of the fruit is ground up.
Makes 2 servings.
Vita Mix Blender Review
I am a big fan of the Vita Mix blenders. On performance and durability alone, however, the Vita Mix is just so darned expensive. That having been said, there is a place for a Vita Mix blender in many kitchens with kids. You just have to figure out how often you will use it, whether or not it will fit in your space, and if you have the money to spend on the Vita Mix.
Pros
Ø Works better than any other kitchen tool for making smoothies.
Ø Has multiple uses, from pureeing soups to making bread crumbs and ice cream.
Ø Easy to clean.
Ø Has a variable speed control.
Cons
Ø Expensive, very expensive ($500.00 and up)
Ø May be too tall to fit under some kitchen cabinets.
Ø Takes up counter space and is heavy, if you plan to store under the counter.
Description
Ø Can puree whole fruits and vegetables easily.
Ø Has a powerful, variable-speed motor, which allows you to adjust the speed for which foods are processed as you are using it.
Ø Has easy-to-read measurements in ounces, cups and metrics printed on the container.
Ø Container is large (64 ounces), and made of durable, unbreakable plastic.
Ø Comes with a DVD, a tamper, and a cookbook.
As with any expensive kitchen tool, the Vita Mix ought to deliver a lot of performance for its price. Fortunately, it delivers. From making smoothies and soups to bread crumbs and ice cream, the Vita Mix can perform a wide range of kitchen tasks quite well.
The Vita Mix is a Healthy Cook's Best Friend. If you're into healthy eating, the Vita Mix blender can perform tasks like pulverizing an entire orange, skin and seeds included. Or make raw nut butters. Although the Vita Mix does not extract pulp like a juicer, it can get you to the same place as a juicer. That is, you can use that whole pureed orange in a smoothie or drink that is as healthy as a fresh-juiced drink. Indeed, some say it's even healthier, because the fibre and nutrients from skin, seeds and pulp are not lost when you use the Vita-mix. What's more, the Vita Mix is fast, durable (the container is made of high-quality plastic), and easy to clean. Just put a few drops of detergent and a few cups water into the Vita Mix, turn it on, and voila! It cleans itself.
~Rosemary Peters~
© Copyright, 2010 Main Street Magazine/Rain Enterprises
As seen in the June Issue of Main Street Magazine.
Printed in Canada, ISSN: 1920-4299 by Rain Enterprises
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