Friday, March 6, 2015

Raspberry Blueberry Smoothies


You could say, "Uh, Jess. You have 16 inches of snow on the ground. Why the heck are you making smoothies??"

And I would say, "Eh."

Yes, it's true. We received a freakin' truckload of snow. I was telling the hubby that I'd never seen so much snow. And I remember uttering that exact statement last year! Around this time last year, I think the most snow we got in one day was 8 inches. We have double that now. It's so crazy.

Lucky you, dear readers, because I'm preparing a snow post for this weekend. My bird watching has been unparalleled the last couple of days. I've had several new types of birds show up to the feeders this winter, including Red-Wing Blackbirds, Starlings, and Robins. I mean, these birds never eat seed. They must be desperate. Oh well, everyone's gotta eat right? So, expect to see some snow birds this weekend :)



While we might have a more snow than I've ever seen off of Mt. Hood, I still like smoothies. I eat smoothies year round. Same with milkshakes. And pumpkin goods. And apple goods. No rules, I say. As far as smoothies go, I vacillate between Peach Smoothies and these Raspberry Blueberry Smoothies. I am a berry fiend. An absolute fiend, I swear. I mean, I think I ate 2 lbs of strawberries yesterday. 

Well, maybe not 2 lbs. But you get the idea.

I always make these smoothies with frozen fruit, but if I happen to have any fresh berries on hand, I will always garnish my smoothie with a couple of the freshies. 


Fresh berries just look so welcoming and delicious.

My dirty little secret? When I'm making a smoothie for one, I don't even bother getting the blender out. I actually use my immersion blender to make smoothies. The immersion blender actually came with a cup that you can make smoothies, beverages, or purees in. I cram all my goodies into that cup, stick the blender in, and in seconds, I have a smoothie perfectly proportioned for one. If you want to go this route, I recommend putting the fruit in first, then layering with yogurt, and finishing lastly with liquid. This order just makes it easier for the immersion blender to do its job. You know, so you are less likely to end up with frozen fruit stuck to your kitchen ceiling. 


One last point- I like simple smoothies. Like, really simple. Fruit, yogurt, and some liquid. Sometimes I'll add things like coconut oil, flax seeds, or oats to my smoothies. This is not the case with my berry smoothies. I don't like any additives. This smoothie really only tastes like berries, and that's what I like about it. Feel free to add protein, seeds, oats, chocolate, etc. Smoothies are one of the most customizable recipes out there. 

Now about that snow. Some of my readers may have heard Kentucky is under a state of emergency. I do not believe where the hubby and I live is under this order. We have a ton of snow, yes, and our private lane is buried. But, we have all of our utilities. We have power. We have water. We are stocked with water and food. The county didn't maintain the roads while the snow was falling yesterday, but they did clear the roads once the storm was passed. The hubby got a big truck again, so he was able to get to work with no problem. I did hear that closer to Lexington and Frankfort received 20 inches of snow, and motorists were stuck on interstates for 15 hours. Sheesh! Nothing like that happened here. I still won't be leaving the house though. 


So, to sum up: Jessica is staying home, the hubby has a big truck and is safe at work, and the Chihuahuas hate this snow because it's twice as tall as them. This is the only time of the year that I have to make them go outside. Normally the challenge is getting them to come in, not vice versa. Poor Chi's. 

Alright friends, I'm off. Busy day ahead! First, I've got to go feed those crazy birds that are absolutely eating me out of house and home right now. Then yoga, muffin making, picture editing, hopefully some reading of "Under The Dome", and finally making dinner. Yep, staying home and staying busy.

Have great weekend friends!

*So, I saved my editing until after I fed the birds. Sometimes I do that because walking away helps me see my errors better.  The snow is taller than my boots. It was like wading through flood water. I am dripping in sweat after only waddling my way through the snow out back. Wowsers!


Ingredients (makes 1 smoothie):

3/4 cup frozen raspberries
3/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/3- 1/2 cup orange juice (use a little more if you want a thinner consistency)
garnish- fresh raspberries and blueberries, fresh mint (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pulse until smooth. Pour into glass, and garnish with fresh fruit and mint, if using. Serve immediately. 



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9 comments:

  1. I live how berry smoothies look, but I always want to put spinach in mine to health them up, so they end up looking green or kind of mucky colored. :) Good luck with the snow storm! I've seen the coverage on the news about Kentucky and it def looks bad!

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    1. Spinach! I forgot that as an addition! While it does mucky up the color, it doesn't change the taste :) I usually have smoothies as a snack, but I do add greens if I'm making a smoothie for a meal.

      And we do have a ton of snow. I'm done with it! Bring on Spring! Have a great weekend Lauren!

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  2. Putting this on my list. I've been making smoothies for lunch, and this will be perfect.

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    1. I hope you enjoy the recipe Michael! I love having smoothies for lunch :) Hope you have a great weekend!

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  3. I love smoothies! I think they are good in between meals and when you are on the go. Raspberry and blueberry is a nice combination. I have to try your recipe.
    Charlotte @My Green Nook

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    1. Thanks Charlotte! Mixed berry is one of my favorite combinations for just about anything :) I hope you enjoy the recipe!

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  4. Mmm... that looks colorful and bursting with flavor. Yum... :)

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    1. Thanks Joy! It's definitely bursting with flavor, perfect for Spring! Have a great day! :)

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  5. You are so lucky to have a juicer!!! Some fresh veggie juice will be so refreshing when the weather heats up this weekend!

    Blendtec

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