Mornings are a hectic time around our house. When the kids and I get out of bed, one of the first things they say is, “I’m hungry”! Sometimes that has me grabbing for a box of cereal, but other times I like to give them something a little more special like a nice orange juice smoothie.
The thing I love about smoothies is you can experiment and change them up as much as you want. Since I enjoy making up new recipes, it is a treat for me to get to play around and see what I can come up with.
My most recent concoction consisted of several different delicious ingredients like 100% #FloridaOJ, blueberries, bananas and ground flax seed . My goal was to make a smoothie that had two different flavors separated by fat free whip cream. Unfortunately as you will soon see, the smoothies weren’t thick enough so they didn’t stay separated. The good news is that it still turned out very tasty, which is the most important part.
The first smoothie I created was my favorite. I started by setting out my ingredients and blender.
Next I placed half a cup of Minute Maid orange juice, one sliced banana, 20 blueberries, half a cup of vanilla flavored yoghurt, 1 cup of crushed ice and a teaspoon of ground flax seed inside the blender.
Once the ingredients were blended together, I poured the smoothie into a cup about half way up.
I took the fat free whipped cream and added it to the top of the smoothie.
Now it was time to create the second half of my smoothie.
For this drink, I took half a cup of Minute Maid orange juice, about 12 sliced strawberries, one kiwi cut up, half a cup of yoghurt, one cup of ice and a teaspoon of ground flax seed. I blended the ingredients together and gave it a taste. I felt like this one was a little too tart, so I added agave nectar to taste. It gave it just the right amount of sweetness.
This is when I tried pouring the new smoothie over the whipped cream. As I mentioned, the two ended up blending together instead of creating the two different colors as I had hoped.
Either way, it was a really great smoothie and the kids and hubby loved it! Next time I may try to figure out a way to thicken them up a bit.
Do you guys have any ideas on how to do that? What is your favorite smoothie to make?
For some great recipe ideas, check out the Florida Orange Juice Facebook Page.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions are 100% my own, as is the recipe for the smoothie I created.
I make pretty much the same smoothie each day. I use 1 cup of almond milk, 1 banana, several strawberries, usually frozen, 3/4 cup light and fit vanilla yogurt, flax meal, a dash of almond and vanilla extracts and if my strawberries aren’t frozen I add ice cubes, I think that helps with the thickness and the texture.
That sounds like a wonderful smoothie! I have never tried an almond milk. What is a good brand to try?
Thanks for the recipe.
I alternate between Diamond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla and Silk Unsweetened depending on what’s on sale. They are 40 and 35 calories respectively per serving!
Yummy recipe darling, when you pour in the second batch, pour the smoothy onto a spoon placed in the glass, it reduces the pressure and will give you that 2 tone look you are seeking.
I would never have thought to do that. Well obviously since I didn’t. LOL I will make sure to try that the next time. Thank you so much for helping with my problem!
That smoothie looks delicious! Adding flax seeds is a wonderful addition. I love to add kale or spinach to my smoothies. I’ll try the spoon trick that Coryanne suggested the next time I make mine.
I really enjoy the flax seed because it doesn’t change the flavor. When you add kale and Spinach, is it like a freeze dried powder? Or is it fresh? I have never tried either, but I would love to branch out.
I also add spinach – just a handful or two of fresh organic spinach, but you can also use frozen spinach also. Can’t even taste the spinach flavor and adds a great nutritional punch. Definitely worth trying!
We, too, have a smoothie with our breakfasts. Like you, I put all kinds of healthy things in there. Lately I’ve been using Kefir (look in the buttermilk section of the grocery store) along with a frozen banana and frozen strawberries or blueberries and a tablespoon of honey. Kefir is incredibly healthy, has more of the wonderful probiotics than even a good yogurt — and it helps the smoothie to thicken up. Love your posts!
Barbara, I love all that I am learning from this post. I am excited to pick up some Kefir the next time I am at the store. I had never heard of it before, so thank you for telling me about it. BTW, I love your comments too!
I love experimenting with smoothies.
Me too. I think it is because they are pretty hard to mess up. They will usually at least taste pretty good.
I love smoothies too! I add honey, almond milk, and sometimes peanut or almond butter for workout smoothies.
It sounds like a few people use almond milk. I am going to have to try it. Thanks for stopping by Beth. I have been missing you.
I love combination of strawberries, kiwi, and orange! To thicken it up, you can use a little less orange juice, more berries, or more yogurt, or a combo. Also, a handful of ice cubes can also help with that. Almond milk works great too, you can make your own by just pureeing whole almonds and some water in the food processor, or buy it the store. Yummy!