Malted Apple and Tropical Fruits Smoothie

I love smoothies. Not fond of mushy bananas but the only thing that keeps me from feeding them to the chickens is my ability to transform them to a smoothie. If you want a mixed fruit smoothie and you don't want it to taste like bananas, you should use apples. I had some frozen tropical fruit mix which had mangoes, pineapples and strawberries.

I have this as an accompaniment to my breakfast or as a mid morning refreshing drink. I like the texture of basil seeds and add a couple of tbsp. of that. Chia seeds might work as a good substitute. I found these yellow opal apples which are really sweet and the skin is fairly thin so don't have to peel the apple. Peeling or using with the peel is your personal preference.

I have my trusty mixer(the Indian style blender) while a Vitamix or a Bullet will make an easy job of it.

Get the fruits, milk, malt and ice ready. Soak the basil seeds.
Blend the fruits, pour them into glasses and top with basil seeds.

Morning or mid morning smoothie is ready to refresh.

Malted Apple and Tropical Fruits Smoothie
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Serving Size: 2 - 12 ounce glasses
Ingredients

1. 1 apple cored and cubed (used yellow opal apple)
2. 1 cup of frozen tropical fruits (fresh is perfectly fine)
3. 3/4 cup of milk (reduce or use any kind of milk you prefer)
4. 2 tbsp. of malt (I used Horlicks, Carnation malted milk is perfectly fine)
5. 5-6 ice cubes
6. 1/2 tbsp. of basil seeds

Method

1. Soak the basil seeds in 2 tbsp. of water or milk.
2. Depending on the blender/mixer thaw the frozen fruit a little bit. I have to for mine.
3. Take all the ingredients in a blender jar other than the basil seeds, and blend it in high 1-2 minutes till it is all blended smooth.
4. Pour into glasses and add about a tbsp. of the soaked basil seeds. Mix and enjoy.

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Mango Smoothie with Chia Seeds

Why is parenting wrought with so many pitfalls? While our parents' generation just seemed to wing it without the psycho mumbo jumbo and most of us seem to have turned out alright I think. So why are parents today bombarded with so much advice in books and media about how to bring up kids the right way? If you think about it, is there really a right way?

Though I read all the parental advice columns and books for their entertainment value I don't pay them all that much attention. But can't deny that I don't feel a bit guilty after reading one of those columns occasionally.

So along comes a LOL article like this one - New Parenting Study Released and puts everything in perspective. If you are interested in LOL read the article ASAP.

Now to the recipe,
This chia pudding recipe via foodgawker was what set me on the search for chia seeds. Chia I read is also used in smoothies to give a protein and fiber boost in the mornings. Looks like chia is a recent super food and it is all over the health food blogs. I do not like drinking milk but smoothies are another matter altogether. I make them almost every other day and adding a spoon full of chia gave it that soft crunch which is very appealing to the taste buds. Chia gets that gelatinous texture after it has soaked in the liquid for some time.

So for those of you who have tasted falooda, soaked chia seeds feel very similar to the basil seeds in the falooda. I am not sure what the Indian word (I mean in any language) is for Chia.

Mango Smoothie with Chia Seeds
Preparation Time:15 minutes
Ingredients

1. 1 cup of milk
2. 1/2 cup of mangoes (I used frozen)
3. 1 tsp of sugar or honey (optional)
4. 1 tbsp chia seeds

Method

1. Beat together the milk, mangoes and the sugar in a blender.
2. Add the chia seeds and let sit for about 5 minutes.
3. Note: Do NOT blend the chia seeds with the other ingredients. If you do not like the feel of the seeds and still want to use Chia then blend it.

Perfect breakfast for those who want a superfood in the morning ;)

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Blueberry - Avocado (or banana)Breakfast Smoothie (a la Ice cream special)

Here is the big reveal! Going by the looks of it not many people were interested in knowing. But in the hopes there are a few silent one interested in knowing how to enjoy a perfect ice cream like meal in the morning I am typing up this post. This smoothie usually sustains me through afternoon better than any carbohydrate filled breakfast has ever done.

I got a big bag of frozen blue berries at Costco and I crave for this smoothie every single morning. If there is time amid all the rush to get the kids out of the door in the morning they get a share too else it is all for me. Of course it is great afternoon back from school snack and filling enough to last through to dinner time.

I have used Avocados which is my favorite or bananas and cold milk besides the blueberries. For a vegan version almond milk or just plain water will work. The only requirement is whatever liquid you use has to be cold like milk in the fridge cold. The blueberries have to be frozen if you want a thicker smoothie and frozen bananas well makes everything taste good.

Most days just this smoothie by itself is big enough for a breakfast. Sprinkle some granola on top for a change or more fresh fruits.

Blueberry Avocado (or banana) Breakfast Smoothie
Preparation Time:15 minutes
Serving Size:1
Ingredients

1. 1/2 Avocado or 1 banana (cut and freeze if preferred) or 1/4 Avocado + 1/2 banana
2. 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
3. 1/2 cup of milk (or 1/4 cup water)
4. 1 tsp or less of raw sugar or honey (optional)
Take all the ingredients in a blender and blend together and pour out and enjoy.

Dried Figs and Fresh Peaches Smoothie - Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast as we all know is the most important meal of the day. But for a lot of us getting something done that is both appetizing and good is not an easy task. Eating cereal, doughnut or muffins while easy also adds unnecessary sugar early in the morning be it kids or adults. While homemade muffins could be nutritious and not filled with sugar, store bought ones are no better than doughnuts methinks. While I am still debating if eating sugary foods is bad or compared to no breakfast at all.

The day after we came back from India I made oatmeal. We had not eaten it for breakfast for a month so it would be welcomed or so I thought. The look on DD and DD2's faces said it all. After a month of pampering and a wide variety of hot and tasty breakfasts, oatmeal did seem like a punishment. I have turned to oatmeal so many times now that though I don't exactly like it I don't hate it either.

There was an article in the Washington Post about how important breakfast is for everybody and especially school age kids and the many options that are available to provide a good hearty breakfast. By the way did you know Washington Post was bought from the family who owned the paper for more than 80 years by Jeff Bezos of Amazon? Not to digress, If you are interested in what the paper had to say about breakfasts here it is - 'Taking the stress out of weekday breakfasts with kids'. It gives a lot of ideas so if you are one like many of us struggling to come with breakfast ideas for your kids please do read.

Anyway back to the oatmeal, so when oatmeal is on the table what makes it even palatable is the suggestion of a smoothie. For some unknown reason this always makes ups for whatever else that I put up for breakfast.

Smoothie is a gift that keeps on giving. Seasonal fruits with a few dried fruits for the sweetness is all that is needed. I have to tell you though that if you have dried figs on hand you are in for a real treat. With farm fresh peaches available now everywhere you have got to try this smoothie.

If you are open to it add a few spinach or kale leaves into the smoothie for added nutrition. I can't drink the smoothie after I have done that though.

Leaving oatmeal aside, alongside smoothie a couple of toasted whole wheat bread slices with a spread makes for a hearty breakfast.

It is a good idea to have some spreads like these in the fridge/pantry,

hummus

harrisa

home made tomato thokku pickle

jams and jellies (the smoothie is sweet so we prefer the savory kind)

Dried Figs and Fresh Peaches Smoothie
Preparation Time:5 minutes if soaking 20 minutes
Serves: 3
Ingredients

1. 3-4 Peaches (we used yellow and white) pitted and diced
2. 4 Dried Figs chopped
3. 3 cups of milk (we used fat free)
4. 1-2 cups of ice

Method

1. Soak the chopped figs in about 1/4 cup of milk for about 15 minutes or so (optional really, you can still blend without soaking).
2. Take the soaked fig with the ice and diced peaches and a cup of milk and blend till smooth.
3. Add the remaining milk give another whirl. Pour into glasses and if required add more ice and serve.

Breakfast in a hurry - Mango Banana Smoothie with honey

Bad things happen! Duh! We all know that. The reason I bring this up is because this blog has had to suffer. Not that I am a super talented photographer but my camera was a very important part of this blog's upkeep. Last week the camera slipped from my hands and fell, lens side down and broke. The heartache from breaking the lens on one hand and being called reckless by DH on the other all conspired to keep me away from posting anything new.

After moping for a few days I am now researching for a new lens and also learned a few tricks with the other long range lens which I rarely use. Now the not so often used point and shoot camera has been commandeered for service and seems to be coping just fine.

I have heard it said a lot of times.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!"
"Eat breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dinner like a Pauper"

For me, skipping breakfast creates all sorts of problems. I feel sleepy, tired and hungry all day. Spending precious time in the morning is not an option, breakfast that is quick and filling is a necessity. This smoothies is also perfect for those trying to cut down on carbohydrates and adding more fruits in their diet. I am not a big fan of eating bananas but in a smoothie I actually like them.

This smoothie is just right when in a hurry and to eat on the go. You can be as creative as you want with the fruits. I prefer bananas or apples for the bulk and any combination of berries or while in season mango. Sweetened with maple syrup or honey. Takes exactly 5 minutes from start to finish.

What is your favorite quick breakfast?

Mango Banana Smoothie with honey
Ingredients
1. 1 ripe banana
2. 1 ripe mango
3. 1 tbsp of honey or maple syrup or sugar (see note)
4. 1 cup of pasteurized milk


Method
1. Peel and cut the fruits and combine with honey and milk in a blender. Blend till the fruit is mushed. Add more if required.

Pour into glasses and breakfast is ready. Topped with a tiny bit of mango sorbet (recipe coming soon).

Note:
Cut out the sugar completely if you prefer. Tastes just as good.

Smoothie with cereal and fruits

I made my peace with using frozen vegetables and fruits a while ago. Frozen vegetables and fruits I hear are sometimes fresher than their fresh counterparts available in grocery stores. Frozen vegetables are also sometimes the only way to enjoy some of the vegetables like peas, even though I believe there are grown here they are mostly available only frozen and occasionally I have seen fresh shelled peas but never sold in their pods. Wonder why?

I sometimes make myself a smoothie for breakfast when I want something different from the usual smoothies are the first thing that come to mind. I don't particularly care for cereal and milk but the rest of the family enjoys them so there is always serveral different types lying around. I love the banana nut crunch but by itself like a snack. So if I could powder some of these along with the fruits and the milk, that would make for a substantial breakfast. It turned out to be pretty good and something I turned to often. The kids who love smoothies are not too fond of the cereal in their smoothie so this is strictly my breakfast alone. Besides the taste I like the color berries add to the smoothies be it strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. During the winter months I have a couple of packets of these berries in the freezer just for the smoothies.

Fruits and Cereal Smoothie
Ingredients
1. 1/4 cup banana nut crunch cereal
2. 1 ripe banana
3. 1 apple
4. 1/4 cup of berries (I used frozen strawberries and blackberries)
5. 1/2 cup milk
6. 2 tsp honey

Method
1. Powder the cereal in the blender first
2. Now add the fruits,milk and honey and blend

I had it around 8.30 AM and had me going till about 12.30 PM

It is January really, Time for a Smoothie .....

Early Saturday morning opened the door to get the newspaper, usually run out bare footed and by the time the paper is retrieved from the end of the drive way and back, my legs are freezing and my ears are starting to hurt from the cold. But not on saturday opened the door to a blast of warm air and it was already 58F and expected to reach the 70s it made it to 73 and the last time it did that was way back in 1950. Something to do with El Niño and the warm air from the Pacific being trapped as opposed to the brrr cold air that blows in from Canada. And that is fine by me and a good opportunity to be outdoors. We went to Great Falls which is on the Potomac.



I have professed my love for DC and the Potomac river is an important reason why. Waterfalls and rivers amaze me no end and probably why Victoria Falls is one of the places that I want to visit really bad. Yup! I have visited Niagara Falls a few times 4 to be exact and was awed every time. I am lucky that my family also shares this love of water and watefalls. So a visit to Great Falls was on the cards. I think half of the DC suburbs also had the same plans, it took about half an hour to enter the Park but Boy did it feel good or what?



Families strolling along the path which runs along the C&O Canal and spectacular views of the Potomac along the way. Did'nt want the day to end because it was going to get 20 degrees colder the next day and it is. Kiddies each collected a bag of pebbles and had fun running, skipping, and the ageless game of throwing stones in the river..



Do you spot the lone what we think is the Great Blue Heron shot by DD



And to quench our thirst, some homemade Fruit Smoothie. Banana (2), Apple (1), Mixed Berry(1/2 cup), Milk (1/4 cup) sweetened with Honey and topped with Frozen Yogurt.