Delicious Smoothies

I love smoothies! My family and I enjoy all sorts of smoothies, but these two recipes are family favorites. The first (shown in the picture to the right) is my Mango Tango Smoothie. The second is my Peachy Peach Smoothie. And yes, I made the names up myself! Aren't they awesome?

I have been throwing together smoothies for several years now and somewhat recently found the secret to making a thick creamy smoothie. The secret is simple enough - avocados! I know that some of you might be skeptical, but I can say with certainty that you will definitely taste the depth and richness that an avocado lends to the smoothie. I prefer having a thick smoothie, so I tend to make sure that they are very thick (I usually eat it with a spoon, but you can drink it too). If you prefer a thinner smoothie, just add more liquid to the recipe. You can use coconut water, filtered water, or any juice on hand. Just be careful with how much juice you add as it may overpower the natural flavor of the smoothie!

The Peachy Peach Smoothie is a family favorite (showed to the right). What makes this smoothie extra special (with the avocado in there) is the cinnamon. When I make my peach pie (check out our posting here), I add cinnamon to the filling to create more yumminess! Well, I carried that thought to this peachy smoothie too! The result is a delicious frozen drink that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. I also added a small blueberry yogurt that compliments the peaches and gives the smoothie an extra nutritional boost.

If you like mangoes, my Mango Tango Smoothie is for you! It is a yummy exotic feast for the taste buds. A few tips for this smoothie (that can also be applied to most smoothies) are -

1. By placing the fruit (mango/peaches) in the blender first and then adding the liquids (coconut water and orange juice), you soften the fruit just a little in order to blend easier.

2. I break up the banana in smaller chunks (again easier for blending). The banana also adds extra creaminess and natural sweetness to the smoothie.

3. You don't have to follow the recipe exactly with smoothies. For instance, I use the whole avocado but if you prefer it, use half.

4. I like to add extra nutritional value to my smoothie, so I add ground flaxseed. You can find ground flaxseed in the baking isle of the grocery store. Again, if you prefer a different supplementary powder, you can add that instead.

5. There are a number of optional things to put in a smoothie. If you like your smoothies extra sweet like I do, add a little bit of honey. I occasionally (if I have it in my fridge) will also add a handful or two of spinach. I like to use spinach as it is mild in flavor and will not overwhelm the fruity taste of most smoothies!

Have fun with your blender and experiment! I often pick up several bags of frozen fruit at the grocery store so I can experiment with different tasted and textures. I will warn you that certain frozen berries will make your smoothie rough in texture due to seeds. For example, raspberries and strawberries are filled with tiny seeds when used frozen can change the texture of your smoothie. I tend not to use these frozen berries in my smoothies often. I find that fresh strawberries when they are in season are okay for smoothies, but I have yet to try fresh raspberries in my smoothie (so I could not give an informed opinion). Also, feel free to try making smoothies with different textures. Just because I prefer a smooth texture doesn't mean that you do! If you try my smoothies or invent something new, let me know in the comments section. I'd love to hear about it!

Bon Appetit!

Peachy Peach Smoothie Ingredients:

1 sixteen ounce bag of frozen peaches

1 cup coconut water

1/4 cup orange juice

1 avocado, pit and skin removed

2 medium bananas, broke into chunks

2 teaspoons ground flaxseed

1 tablespoon honey (optional)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

5.3 ounces Fage 0% blueberry yogurt (you could substitute with other brand if needed)

Directions: