Smoothies

This is from an article I write for our local magazine and has Kevin's delicious smoothie recipes on it. Slowly I am getting this blog back up and running!

I recently started a new killer class at our gym that uses steps, barbells, ankle bands, and just about every tool available for a “push it to the limit” workout. More than once I have considered that the instructor had sights on all of us training to be Olympians. At the end of this grueling but exhilarating workout my body craves replenishment, refreshment, and most of all to feel as healthy inside as it feels outside. For this, there is only one cure: a creamy fruit smoothie, which tastes even better when I don’t have to make it myself. However, buying a smoothie after each workout can be quite damaging to the allowance my husband and I give ourselves twice a month.

Thankfully I have an excellent smoothie maker in my own home, one that is both charming, handsome, and does the laundry to boot. For years my husband has concocted and blended smoothies, never measuring, adding what moved him at the moment, and changing up ingredients over the years. I prefer to have a recipe to follow so anytime he travels I miss the smoothies almost as much as I miss him.

For as long as he has made them I, along with others, have asked him to write down the recipe and until now he has only responded with a mysterious shrug. Finally succeeding, I am happy to share this refreshing and healthy treat. For juices we prefer V8 Fusion or V8 Splash. Orange juice also works well. Frozen fruits such as blueberries, strawberries and mangos or peaches go well together. Kashi makes a great protein powder called GoLean and we use the vanilla flavor.

Kevin’s Ultimate Fruit Smoothie

• 1 cup vanilla soy milk or skim milk
• 1 cup of your favorite fruit juice.
• 1 large ripe banana
• 2 cups of your favorite frozen fruit.
• Optional – 2 full spoonfuls of vanilla or plain yogurt
• Optional – 1 scoop of protein powder

Add everything to the blender. If you desire a smoothie that is not quite as thick and cold, defrost the fruit in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Add small amounts of milk or fruit juice to achieve desired thickness. Blend until smooth.

Kevin’s Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

• 2 cups skim or soy milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1 large ripe banana
• A few full spoonfuls of peanut butter
• Optional – 1 scoop protein powder
• Optional – 4 Tablespoons chocolate drink mix

Add to the blender and mix.