Tropical smoothie

My husband, dog and I are smoothie lovers.

We have at least one smoothie per week, more in Summer as the heat rises and our desire for something cold and refreshing (but also filling) increases. Most often I throw in whatever I have on hand, which often includes frozen bananas as a base. They add thickness, smoothness and coldness which are three things I need in a smoothie. I've tried a few recipes, some have been great, some not so great. The ones I make randomly tend to be best. Whilst a banana and cinnamon smoothie is our classic go-to, I felt like something more 'tropical' today.

Tropical Smoothie
serves 2 generously

1 small, chopped frozen banana
1/4 fresh pineapple, chopped
1 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
1tbs honey
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup Greek yoghurt (or any plain)
1 scoop (2tbs) Vanilla protein powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

ease: 5/5.
prep time: 5mins (chopping involved).
cooking time: 1min (to blend).
total: 6mins.

taste: 4.5/5. Pineapple, with its juicy, clean sourness comes out first followed by citrusy orange juice, tart, seedy kiwifruit and finally creamy, tangy yoghurt. The smooth, creamy coconut milk comes in next before a hint of sweet vanilla and honey round it all off. Refreshing, interesting and bursting with Summer time tastes.

would I make it again: Yes.

Chamomile, peach & ginger smoothie

Spring cleaning for me means emptying fridges and flipping mattresses, for some family members it means overhauling their diet most likely beginning with a detox for a 'kick start'.

As I mentioned a while back I had a yukky bout of gastritis which my doctor hypothesised might have been due to my highly acidic diet (read: sweets, grains & starches). In my attempt to try to eat more alkaline I discovered that my father and my father-in-law were both attempting to also eat alkaline (albeit to a much higher extent than I - sugar and flour, we shall never part).

For them this included a mother load of vegetables, fruits, green drinks, certain minerals and tonics. Maybe in the future I might show their devotion to truly 'cleanse' my body, but in the mean time, I will stick to eating fewer sweets, and attempt to implement healthy meals/drinks such as this smoothie.
ease: 5/5.
prep time: 5mins.
total: 5mins.

taste: 3/5. As the smoothie was hot from the tea I added some ice cubes to cool it down quickly and it made it a little watery so hubby didn't like it at all.
If you have time I suggest putting it in the fridge to cool rather than using ice cubes so you don't lose the flavour and texture.
The chamomile is the main flavour in this followed by the subtle peach before the strong ginger comes through. It was nice, but too much like a tonic than a smoothie for me (plus Ryan won't drink it again).

would I make it again: No.

recipe: Chamomile, peach & ginger smoothie - from delicious. - February 2005, Page 62

Fruity breakfast eggflip

Pockets of french rose pink, periwinkle and heliotrope blooms border the dull cement pavement, offering splashes of saturated vibrancy.

Walking the dog is one of my favourite activities, especially on warmer days with subtle winds. Normally I chat idly to my husband but today I brought my camera along to photograph the plethora of colourful, textural plants of each neighbours gardens. I am lucky to live in a leafy suburb alongside people who value nature and strive to create beautiful and mostly native gardens.

Apart from the aesthetic appeal, having so much flora and fauna attracts a multitude of birds, all of which I love to watch as they burrow in between leaves and play tag with each other, deftly soaring in between branches.

It is the early dawns and lingering twilight that I love most about the warmer weather. Spring has managed to occupy the sun that little bit longer, allowing us to eat our supper just before the darkness descends. Another warmer day results in a cooling smoothie enjoyed outdoors.

Yoshi loves a smoothie.

ease: 5/5.
prep time: 5mins.
total: 5mins.

taste: 3.5/5. This was quite sweet for me, very fruity with a nice hint of nutmeg. Blueberries are the strongest flavour.
I made the following adjustments:

• increased the frozen blueberries to 1/3cup
• used 1 frozen banana
• 1 dried fig
• substituted oat bran for oats
• used 1 cup milk and 1 cup soy milk

would I make it again: No.

recipe: Fruity Breakfast Eggflip

Mango lassi

Mangoes of my heart, how I love thee.

Mangoes are one of those fruits that I learned to appreciate later in life. As much as I love them raw and fresh, I love them even more in creamy ice creams, or strewn through yoghurt with a little honey. But my absolute favourite way of eating them is to turn them into a mango lassi. I've made a few variations of this before, but this one is special as it combines mangoes with one of my top three spices; the delightfully fragrant cardamom.


ease: 5/5. prep time: 4mins.
cooking time: 1min to blend.
total: 5mins.

taste: 4/5. I had to score it lower as Ryan does not share my love for cardamom - it seems I will still be searching for the perfect mango lassi recipe.

would I make it again: Sort of - I will have to tweak it a little, perhaps less cardamom, more mango and maybe a touch of honey?

recipe: http://appetiteforchina.com/recipes/mango-cardamom-lassi-coconut-lime-lassi

Cinnamon hot chocolate

I was trying to think of what to pair with some chopped up strawberries with organic double cream to make it that much more dessert-y.

I recently bought three jars of white, milk and dark callebaut chocolate drops along with a few other high quality ingredients. I've been sprinkling chocolaty goodness over porridge, cereal, fruit, you name it. So I thought, with the wintry weather we were having this evening, why not make a nice cup of hot chocolate to go with it.

And then I thought, what hot chocolate should I make - vanilla, orange, chilli, cinnamon... I like my hot chocolate to have a partner. And then I stumbled on this recipe, and cinnamon it was.

ease: 5/5.
prep time: 1min to grab ingredients.
cooking time: 6mins.
total: 7mins.

taste: 4/5. I made a lot of changes with this recipe so I will just post my version so you can see what I changed. Serves 4.

2 cups whole milk
1 10 cm cinnamon stick
3 tsp best quality cocoa
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp honey
3/4 cup 70% dark chocolate
2 tbsp milk chocolate
2 tsp best quality vanilla extract

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, cinnamon stick, cocoa, and the ground cinnamon. Whisk constantly. Bring to a boil, and immediately reduce heat to low. Continue to whisk and heat on low for two minutes.
2. Still using a whisk, add the chocolate, honey, and vanilla extract to the heated mixture.
3. Once all the ingredients are combined, pour into small cups.

would I make it again: Yes. Might add 1tbsp milk chocolate an subtract 1tbsp dark chocolate. It is quite a rich hot chocolate, not super thick though.

recipe: http://thepinkpeppercorn.blogspot.com/2008/11/glorious-cinnamon-hot-chocolate.html

Mango Banana Lassi

After receiving a bearating over the price I paid for a mango, my partner came shopping with me and chose a cheaper alternative which he thought would taste the same as the more expensive ones; well, he was wrong. The mango was quite firm and bland - despite being in the fruitbowl for almost 1 week. As it only had a mere hint of sweetness and lacked that refreshing juicyness of a good mango, I thought the best way to use it would be to blend it.

I accidentally bought a tub of Greek yoghurt (already had one in the back of the fridge) so I thought I'd play around and make a smoothie/lassi.

1 mango, diced
1 banana, roughly chopped
1 small kiwifruit
1 cup Greek yoghurt
1tbs honey
1 tray of ice cubes

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Both of the boys liked this, although next time I would use passionfruit rather than kiwi. It wasn't very sweet, but it also wasn't super tart either. Makes 4 250ml glasses (our glasses are quite large and hold over 500ml).

Mango & Strawberry Chiller

Absolutely gorgeous weather today; although I did spend most of my morning starting the Christmas shopping, after two hours I have a total of two presents bought - excellent use of time.

My tummy was a little sore today after polishing up two glasses last night and one today, so I thought a good dose of fruit was in order.

250ml apricot nectar
1 mango
6 strawberries
6 ice cubes

Blend all 4 ingredients together.

ease: 5/5.
prep time: 4mins to cut up mangoes and wash strawberries
cooking time: 2mins to blend ingredients
total: 6mins.

taste: 4/5. Really fresh, sweet and tangy. The strawberries add a tang that helps to cut through the sweetness of the nectar and mangoes.

would I make it again: No - mangoes tend to be pricey so I prefer to eat them, not drink them.

Banana Cardamom Lassi

1 banana
1/2 tsp cardamom
1 cup yoghurt
ice

Blend all ingredients and pour into glass.

ease: 4.5/5. Blend and go.
prep time: 3mins to put items in blender. I used frozen bananas so I did not need to add ice.
cooking time: 1min to blend.
Total: 4mins.

taste: 3.5/5. I love cardamom but found this a little thick which was probably due to me using frozen bananas so I had to add some soy milk to thin it out.

would I make it again: No. Not enough flavours for me.

Baileys Mocha Frappe

Ease: 4.5/5. Blend everything together and squirt some chocolate on the top.
prep time: 1min to pull everything out of the fridge.
cooking time: 1min to blend everything.
Total: 2mins. Super-duper fast.

Taste: 4.5/5. Really refreshing - but I did alter the quantities. I used 175ml of Baileys as it was just a hint and I wanted more of a Baileys taste. I also used 125ml of milk and 125ml of jarrah latte coffee. I made this twice - I used the chocolate the first time, and I also melted some chocolate and dropped it into the liquid where it cooled and was yummy to eat after you drank it all. I also used less ice - about 1 cup. My amounts made enough for 4 small glasses. I also added 1 frozen banana the first time which thickened it up and gave it another flavour. It would be extra yum with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Would I make it again: Yes - already made it twice.

Recipe: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15843/baileys+mocha+frappe

Warm Coconut & Banana Shake

Ease: 3.5/5. Have to blend first and then simmer on stove.
prep time: 2mins to blend bananas and coconut milk.
cooking time: 3mins to heat up on stove and melt sugar.
Total: 5mins.

Taste: 3.5/5. Surprisingly there wasn't as much of a coconut taste as I would have liked and I used 270ml of coconut milk and just 1.5 bananas. The bananas were also quite grainy so the drink was thick.

Would I make it again: Maybe - in Winter.

Recipe: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/17345/warm+coconut+and+banana+shake