smoothie

#FantasticalFoodFight: PB&J

~ lk529 ~ 12 Comments

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This month’s Food Fight is PB&J. Recipe requirements were to share a recipe that had to include fruit and peanut butter. I love doing twists on the classic pairing and can’t wait to see what everyone else has brought to the fight. Be sure to scroll past my recipe to click on the link-up!

There’s a show on Cooking Channel called Food: Fact or Fiction that gives a fun history on food. One episode was about classic food pairings with PB&J being a big feature. It was quite fun to learn about how the two seemingly perfect ingredients came to be a match made in culinary heaven.

Peanut butter used to be an expensive food item while jelly was cheap and for commoners. It wasn’t until George Washington Carver developed an easier and more effect way of cultivating peanuts.

It took WWII for peanut butter and jelly to marry when both were provided in soldiers’ rations.

I’ve done PB&J muffins before. I’ve also made a smoothie before and quite enjoyed it. I decided to try developing a real recipe and am happy with the results. The oats in the smoothie provide the “bread like” quality that you get when enjoying a true PB&J sandwich. This smoothie is perfect for kids with a cold who refuse to eat.

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My PB&J creations bucket list includes: cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and oatmeal. Huh, looks like I’m on a breakfast kick. (I actually made PB&J pancakes for dinner tonight, too!)

I wonder if I could turn PB&J into something savory: perhaps a stir fry or a pizza?

An Original Recipe

This recipe makes 1 small smoothie.

PB&J Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 4 strawberries
  • 1/2 C vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1/8 C old fashioned oats
  • 1/8 C smooth peanut butter
  • splash of milk (as needed)

Steps:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. The amount of milk needed will depend on the consistency of the peanut butter.

PB&J Smoothie for #FantasticalFoodFight from Sew You Think You Can Cook

To check out the other Fantastical PB&J inspired dishes click here:

If you would like to join our Fantastical Food Fight, you can learn more on our informational page.

Bonus cute kid photo: Firecracker wanted me to take a picture of him eating the strawberry.

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#FoodieExtravaganza: Heart Healthy Fiber Rich Foods

~ lk529 ~ 15 Comments

foodieextravaganza-300February is Heart Health Month, fitting being the month of love. Wendy, our host this month, decided to help us improve our diets by adding more heart healthy fiber.

The American Heart Association provides great recourse if you’re looking for healthy eating. An entire page on whole grains and fiber is a great place to start!

Like most of my Foodie friends, I used oats in my recipe.

I like throwing oats into smoothies for a little extra boost of fiber and substance. I made this smoothie last year with some extra beets and was saving it for February!

Heart Beet Smoothie for #FoodieExtravaganza from Sew You Think You Can Cook

This recipe makes 1 smoothie.

An Original Recipe

Heart Beet Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 C fresh cranberries
  • 5 whole frozen strawberries
  • 1/4 C chopped beets
  • 1/4 C old fashioned or quick cook oats
  • 1/4 C whole milk vanilla yogurt
  • 1/4 C whole milk

Steps:

  1. Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Heart Beet Smoothie for #FoodieExtravaganza from Sew You Think You Can Cook (2)

Be sure to check out these other heart healthy recipes:

 5-Way Cincinnati Chili Spaghetti Squash Boats from Palatable Pastime

Apple Oatmeal Breakfast Bake from Cookaholic Wife

 Baked Oatmeal from A Day in the Life on the Farm

 Black-eyed Pea Salad – Saladu Ñebbe from Food Lust People Love |

 Cranberry Nut Muffins from Hardly A Goddess

Easy Breakfast Oatmeal from Basic N Delicious

 Farmer’s Salad from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

 Fruity chewy granola bars from  Caroline’s Cooking

 Fruity Custard from Sneha’s Recipe

 Heart Beet Smoothie from Sew You Think You Can Cook

 Moroccan Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

 Vegetarian Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps from cookinandcraftin

If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you’re a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE.

#CranberryWeek: Cranberry Oat Smoothie

~ lk529 ~ 9 Comments

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Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving falls during #CranberryWeek. #CranberryWeek is hosted by Caroline’s Cooking and A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures. We’ve been sharing cranberry-inspired creations all week long in celebration of national cranberry day. You can search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration.

With it being Thanksgiving Day I knew my time was up for sharing specific holiday centered recipes. Hopefully you’re spending your day surrounded by loved ones and don’t have any last minute grocery runs today.

That’s why my cranberry submission involves kitchen staples. Well, fresh cranberries aren’t a year round staple, but for this time of year, I’m going to place my bets. You can put those bags of fresh cranberries in your freezer for year round enjoyment of the tart, red berry. In fact, I’m planning on stocking up on my next grocery trip so I can make this smoothie whenever the mood strikes! I made mine with fresh, not frozen, cranberries. If using frozen cranberries, I’d hold off on adding any ice.

Today’s smoothie is a fantastic way to kick off Turkey Day. It’s a healthy and refreshing beverage that will leave you satisfied yet not worn down.

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This recipe will make one smoothie.

An Original Recipe

Cranberry Oat Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 container (6 oz) French vanilla yogurt
  • 1/2 C fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 C ice
  • 1/4 C old fashioned oats
  • 1/4 – 1/2 C milk

Steps:

  1. Place ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth.

Cranberry Oat Smoothie for #CranberryWeek from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Be sure to check out all the other cranberry recipes being shared today:

Apple-Ginger Cranberry Sauce from Palatable Pastime

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Cranberry Blondies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Cranberry Caipirinha from Caroline’s Cooking

Cranberry Oat Smoothie from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Graavilõhe from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Cranberry Walnut Macaron with Orange Buttercream from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Warm Cranberry Spread from Family Around The Table

#SundaySupper: Recipes with Coffee

~ lk529 ~ 17 Comments

Over Labor Day weekend we traveled to Northern California, Santa Cruz to be exact, to celebrate my cousin’s wedding.

The wedding was one we will never forget. They got married standing underneath exquisite Redwoods with the sun peaking through the massive trees.

To reach the ceremony site, we hopped aboard a narrow gauge train and traveled uphill for about 25 minutes. Following the beautiful exchange of vows we climbed back on the train to return to the reception location. The entire experience was simply breathtaking.

To say my train obsessed toddler was in heaven is an understatement!

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We spent the long weekend in Santa Cruz with my parents and uncle at a vacation rental home on the water. We enjoyed exploring the area and discovering the differences between that beach city and the one we’re living in now.

Chocolate Chip Mocha Smoothie for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook (1)Because we staying in a “hotel house,” as we described it to my toddler, I had the luxury of being able to cook! I made Chicken Chorizo Meatballs (a variation of this recipe) for the rehearsal party at my aunt’s “hotel house,” a beautiful cheese platter for dinner one night, and coffee smoothies to accompany some local pastries for breakfast one morning!

I was counting on making my recipe for this week’s Sunday Supper over the wedding weekend so I packed my chocolate chips and chocolate sauce. Doesn’t everyone travel with chocolate chips in tow?!

Thankfully the vacation home had a blender! I hadn’t considered that I may not have one before hitting the grocery store to pick up yogurt and whipped cream.

This smoothie was met with mixed reviews. My dad was not a fan, but sweet coffee drinks are not his thing. My uncle and I enjoyed our glasses, though. That being said, I have some suggestions for changes I’d make next time:

  • The tang from Greek yogurt was a little too much to pair with the coffee, so I’d switch to regular yogurt (or you know, ice cream but then we can’t call it breakfast can we?)
  • To balance out the sweetness level, I’d add a touch of vanilla extract

Chocolate Chip Mocha Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 C ice
  • 3/4 C vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 3/4 C cooled coffee
  • 1/4 C chocolate chips
  • 1/4 C chocolate syrup

Steps:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Garnish, if desired, with whipped cream and extra chocolate syrup.

*This recipe is adapted from Jacqui at http://www.dishingdelish.com/chocolate-chip-mocha-breakfast-smoothie/*

Chocolate Chip Mocha Smoothie for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook (2)

Beverages

Breakfast

Main

Sides

Dessert

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out ourPinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

SRC: Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie

~ lk529 ~ 19 Comments

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It’s Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! In the Secret Recipe Club, each participating blogger is assigned a blog from another participating blogger and secretly searches their site for something to recreate. The accompanying blog post then goes live on reveal day! So while I was immersed in my assigned blog, someone else was picking through mine! I’m so excited to be part of this group, to see what on my blog peaks other’s interests and to stumble upon new blogs and new recipes.

This month I was in a mad scramble to make something from my assigned blog, The Avid Appetite. While I’ve had my assignment for a month, it’s been one heck of a month between my husband going on his first work trip since the boys have been born, finally getting internet, and traveling for my brother’s wedding it’s been hard to get into a rhythm that supports my hobby!

Rachel is the mastermind behind The Avid Appetite. Rachel has been sharing her culinary adventures for over five years! She’s a wife, mother, and brand licensing professional living in NJ. Sounds busy to me. She shares family stories on Tuesdays (hey, me too, with my Tuesday Tattles series!), consider yourself pre-warned for some adorable Penelope cuteness overload.

Her recipe index left me with 15 items to consider for today’s reveal! From those 15, real consideration was given to a Chicken and Pineapple dish and a Baked Oatmeal. Had I been assigned her blog two months ago when I was in my blood orange obsession there’s no question that I would be sharing this Loaf Cake or these Shortcakes. And I will be revisiting her Caramelized Potato Parsnip Tart next week, too.

Due to my {self imposed} shortened time table I settled on a smoothie. Her sweet daughter sold me on the Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie. Precious. Well, that and the fact that I had some farmers market strawberries in my freezer. It’s as if it were meant to be because the amount called for in her recipe was the exact amount I had saved! I did substitute plain Greek yogurt for the vanilla so I doubled the amount of vanilla extract. I can’t believe I’ve never thought to put extracts in my smoothies. That quality of sweetness can’t come from anywhere else. I felt like I was drinking a smoothie from a smoothie place, not my own kitchen. It reminded me very much of a smoothie I used to get in between classes back at Auburn. Amazing how something so simple can bring back memories over 6 years old.

This smoothie recipe will make two servings. I saved one glass (aka what Firecracker didn’t finish) for the next day and it was still perfect!

Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie for Secret Recipe Club from Sew You Think You Can Cook (kid approved)

Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 C frozen sliced strawberries
  • 1 C milk
  • 1/2 C plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Place ingredients in a blender. Pulse until smooth.

*This recipe is modified from Rachel at http://www.theavidappetite.com/home/2016/1/31/strawberry-vanilla-smoothie*

Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie for Secret Recipe Club from Sew You Think You Can Cook

To see the other bloggers who participated in The Secret Recipe Club this month click here:

Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

We have been in a “picky eating” stage of toddler-hood for a few months now and it’s been a little less than frustrating on a daily basis. Baby food jars and pouches seemed to be the only way to get him to eat his vegetables and I’m happy to report that version of feeding is definitely on its way out. (Though squeeze applesauces are still a great snack.) The only downfall of not spending oodles of money on baby food is that I can’t figure out how to give Firecracker his veggies!

One of my best friends met this battle, too, when her son was this age and their solution was smoothies. It took a little more time, but then a miracle happened and smoothies definitely were the answer. He gets a great hit of protein from Greek yogurt and milk as well as a generous handful or two of spinach or kale. I’m definitely open to trying more veggie-fied smoothie recipes, maybe some with carrot? (Speaking of, I’m about to make a batch of muffins with carrots in them after naptime! You’ll see them in next month’s #MuffinMonday assuming they’re a success.) If you have any great healthy smoothie recipes to share, leave me a comment below!

Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie (toddler) Sew You Think You Can Cook

I’m not an expert in smoothie making and always struggle to get the perfect consistency, but making 2-3 smoothies a week has definitely improved my game! I decided to write down my proportions and this smoothie was a hit enough to create a post from it!

I used an individual serving size container of blueberry Greek yogurt that Firecracker tricked me into wanting to eat. Added frozen fruit, spinach,  and finished it with some milk. You’d never know there was spinach in it and with no added sugar it’s definitely a healthy smoothie.

This recipe makes 1 serving.

An Original Recipe

Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 container (5.3 oz) blueberry Greek yogurt
  • 4 frozen whole strawberries
  • 20 frozen raspberries
  • 1/2 C baby spinach
  • 1/2 C milk

Steps:

  1. Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add 1-2 tbsp more milk if needed.

Triple Berry Spinach Smoothie Sew You Think You Can Cook

#SundaySupper: Spring Fling

~ lk529 ~ 55 Comments

Happy Spring everyone! Does it feel like spring where you are? I’m not fully convinced Ohio knows that the season’s have changed yet. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anymore snow on the ground, and it is warmer. But it’d be nice to see the sun. Friday, the first official day of spring, was very dreary – chilly, grey, and rainy. I’m pretty sure the grey and rainy is pretty standard up here though.

I am looking forward to the day when the sun is shining and it’s 70 degrees. I hope I don’t have to wait for summer for that! Now that my little man is a very successful sitter (and army crawler) I’m anxious to get him to the park and into a swing. There’s a park at the end of our neighborhood and I always head there on my walks, but I want my husband to be there for his son’s first time in a swing. So this beautiful spring day needs to happen on a weekend!

Today’s happy spring fling #SundaySupper is hosted by  DB (aka Foodie Stuntman) of Crazy Foodie Stunts and Valerie of Lifestyle Food Artistry.

When I think spring, I think Easter, tulips, pastel colors, eggs, and bunnies. I found this clever smoothie in my foodgawker favorites and decided to give it a shot. My layers weren’t as separate as hers were. But I used my own recipe for my smoothie flavors. My smoothies weren’t thick enough to give the effect I was looking for, but I went with it and it still yielded a pretty result. Phew!

My flavors were: blackberry & blueberry, pineapple & orange, and strawberry. I used whole milk vanilla yogurt and milk in each flavor, and added some vanilla protein powder to the pineapple & orange. I put too much milk in the smoothies – but I do prefer to drink my smoothies through a straw and the texture is perfect for that, just not perfect for staying separate layers. Here’s the ratio I used: 3/4 C frozen fruit, 1/4 C + 1 tbsp yogurt, 1/2 C milk. My amounts make 2 smoothies.

Here’s the how-to for an Easter Egg Smoothie:

Pick three (or more) different flavored smoothies. Use colors that will contrast.

Make each smoothie and keep in the freezer until ready to assemble.

Layer smoothies into a glass.

Enjoy!

Easter Egg Smoothie | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Beverages

Appetizers

Sides

Entreés

Desserts

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Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

#FoodieExtravaganza: Peaches

~ lk529 ~ 5 Comments

Foodie Extravaganza

I recently joined yet another food blog linky party. This one, the Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly party hosted by bloggers who love food! Each month we incorporate one main ingredient into recipes to share with you and this month, our host Kaylin of Keep it Simple, Sweetie, chose peaches as the star ingredient.

I admitted in last month’s stone fruit #bundtbakers post that I don’t like peaches. But my husband does! I didn’t want to sit out my very first month as a member of this fun group of bloggers so I “forced” him to actually measure out the ingredients in his morning smoothie so that I could write up an official recipe. 😉

Raspberry Peach Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 2 C frozen peach slices
  • 1/2 C frozen raspberries
  • 4 tbsp vanilla honey (or honey)
  • 1/2 C vanilla yogurt
  • 1 1/2 C milk

Steps:

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Raspberry Peach Smoothie

Be sure to check out the rest of these perfect peach recipes:

Peach & Blue Cheese Prosciutto Bruschetta by Keep it Simple, Sweetie

Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler by From Gate to Plate

Peach Mousse by Love in the Kitchen

Peach Orange Banana Smoothie by We Like to Learn as We Go

Peach Almond Cake by My Creative Days

Peach Donuts by Rae Gun Ramblings

Peaches & Cream Dessert Bars by The Freshman Cook

Fresh Peach Salsa by Rhubarb and Honey

Skinny Vegan Peach Coffee Cake by Baking in Pyjamas

Pistachio Peach Pie Pops by Pantry Friendly Cooking

Perfect Peach Treats

We hope you all enjoyed our delicious peach packed foods this month and don’t forget to stop by to see what next month’s ingredient is!

If you would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you!

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Strawberry Pomegranate Smoothie

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Stuart

Stuart and I are very different people. He is very outgoing, (thinks) he’s funny, and is never shy. He does a great job bringing me out of my shell, but never pushes too hard. Because of him, I have accomplished things I never thought I’d do! (like Tough Mudder!)

And just like our personalities would suggest, my husband likes to get creative in the kitchen with smoothie flavors and spice mixes. I typically need that recipe to reference – but I’m getting better and have my fair share of pork rub recipes!

This tart smoothie is a Stuart Everson Original.

Strawberry Pomegranate Smoothie

Ingredients:

  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 C raspberries
  • 5-6 strawberries
  • 1/2 pear, peeled
  • 3/4 C plain yogurt
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • juice 1 lemon
  • 6 oz pomegranate juice

Steps

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Smoothie Ingredients Strawberry Pomegranate Smoothie 1 Strawberry Pomegranate Smoothie 2