Cran-Apple Smoothie

How can you have a Cran-Apple Smoothie if you have no cranberries!!! I had been all set to make this smoothie today. I had gotten dried cranberries a week or so ago, and then just yesterday I went out and got three Honey Crisp Apples. I was really looking forward to making something new, as with all the hustle and bustle around here, I had just been making the same things or using someone else's recipes. I had my apples peeled, and blended. I reached for the cranberries. No cranberries. I was NOT amused. Either they were used in another recipe and not replaced, or someone snacked on them. [sigh] So... because I was all ready to blog about my newest smoothie I threw in a couple of handfuls of Goji berries! Yum!!!

Cran-Apple Smoothie

3 apples
apple juice - enough to blend apples
1 or 2 handfuls of dried cranberries

Blend the apples and juice until smooth, then throw in your cranberries and blend to chop them up a bit. If you have no cranberries... goji berries will do! [grin]

Minty Pear Sensation

I originally made the recipe with one each of three pears, Bartlett, Red Anjou and Brown Asian. The Asian Pear had a crisp texture and a pleasant, almost spicy flavor. The Bartlett was a fine example of a pear. Good pear flavor and juiciness. The Red Anjou was a bit of a disappointment to me. Though, by far, the prettiest of the pears... it's flavor was rather bland for me, and it was not at all sweet. Therefore the below recipe replaces the Red Anjou with a second Bartlett (or use a Red Bartlett). You could also try replacing one of the pears with two Seckel Pears which are very sweet.

Minty Pear Sensation
(makes about 4 cups)

2 Bartlett Pears
1 Brown Asian Pear
2 or 3 sprigs of mint
enough Apple (or Pear) Juice to blend
1 T light Raw Agave Nectar*

Whip up everything except the Agave Nectar in the blender. Do a little taste test. If the pears were sweet enough for you, go to the next step. If it tastes like it needs a little something, add the Agave and blend again. Place in dessert bowls and chill in refrigerator for at least one hour. Decorate with additional mint leaves if desired.

NOTE: I initially made this up as a smoothie, but I put a small dessert bowl of it in the fridge to see what would happen and Bob and I agree it makes a really refreshing little dessert. If you do want a smoothie, though, just add more liquid.

Harvest Sauce and Smoothie

Raw Apple-Pear Sauce
(makes about 4 cups)

2 Jonagold Apples - peeled & cored
4 Seckel Pears - peeled & cored
1 cup apple juice or cider
1 large handful of Dried Cranberries

Slice the apples and pears and place in your blender along with just enough liquid to blend and process. Add the cranberries and blend until the mixture starts to turn pink with red flakes. Chill in fridge. When ready to serve, spoon into pretty dishes and garnish with dried cranberries. (As the apples and pears oxidize they will turn to regular applesauce color.)



Harvest Smoothie
(makes a little more than a quart)

Make the Raw Apple-Pear Sauce recipe, but add more liquid to make it thinner. Also add a handful of your favorite mixed fall greens to make a nutritious smoothie. You can garnish this with your dried cranberries, too. It is especially nice if you stir those cranberries into your smoothie. By the time you get to the bottom of your drink, the cranberries will have reconstituted in the liquid and you have a little post drink snack!


NOTES: Jonagold Apples are a firm and slightly tart apple. Seckel Pears are small very sweet pears. In fact, they taste a lot like the canned pears that are packed in light syrup, but they are raw and have no added sweeteners! Great snack for children, too!

My First Subscriber!

Wow!!! I got a message today that someone has actually subscribed to my blog!!! I'm so excited that I have recipe block. Furthermore, I don't even recognize the e-mail address, so it is not my hubby just humoring me. [grin] Well, whoever you are, and anyone else that is reading... Welcome! And please go ahead and vote on the poll right over there, under my profile. Also, feel free to leave me a comment and introduce yourself! I'll try to get another recipe posted in a day or two.

BBC Smoothie

I just made the best smoothie for my breakfast!!! This is what happens when you get up in the morning and look around, only to find that the only fresh fruit you have left in the house would not make a good smoothie. What then? Hit the freezer!!!

BBC Smoothie
(Banana, Blueberry and Cherry)

2 cups apple juice
1 fresh or frozen banana
1 cup frozen Blueberries
1 cup frozen Dark Sweet Cherries

Blend it all thoroughly and you will be rewarded by a nice, thick, deep purple smoothie!

I'm sure that this would taste great with greens, but the color would be atrocious!!!