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Smoothie Recipe: Mango Banana Berry

by on December 19, 2011

I love making healthy smoothies for my family. We have owned our Vitamix blender for 6 years now and despite its many capabilities, we blend up smoothies 90% of the time!

On a recent shopping trip at Trader Joe’s, I purchased some juice and several bags of frozen fruit along with some Kefir. When I make smoothies, I am known to just throw in whatever I can find in my produce drawer, my fruit bowl, or my freezer and I never measure. So bear with me as I jot this recipe down for you and know that the combinations of fruit/juice/yogurt/kefir/veggies etc are truly endless. This recipe makes 2 large servings or 2 medium and 2 small (for my whole family 🙂

Mango Banana Berry Smoothie

  • 1 cup Trader Joe’s Orange Peach Mango juice
  • 1 cup Trader Joe’s Strawberry Kefir (or Plain Whole Milk yogurt)
  • 1/2 ripe banana
  • 5 frozen strawberries
  • 6 frozen raspberries
  • 1/4 cup frozen wild blueberries
  • 5 frozen mango chunks
  • 1 orange, peeled

Combine all ingredients in blender in order listed. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Feel free to adjust the liquid measurements to your desired consistency of the end product. Many times that I make smoothies, I will throw in a carrot or two or a chunk of apple and a handful of fresh spinach leaves. It will turn your smoothie odd colors but the taste is completely masked by all that berry goodness and you get a powerhouse of nutrition in your glass 🙂

Smoothies are a fantastic way to get extra vitamins and minerals in your kids (or your husbands!)

What is your favorite smoothie recipe?

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Homemade Ranch Dressing/Dip

by on June 29, 2011

Homemade Salad Dressings are not only fast and simple, they are delicious and can be customized to suit your taste. This dressing is great on any green salad or as a raw veggie dip. I love it on a taco salad with fresh salsa – Yum!

Ranch Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. dried dill
  • 1/2 tsp. ground celery seed
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • buttermilk, enough to reach desired consistency

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar, stir or shake until well blended. Taste, adjust seasonings if desired. Refrigerate. Best if made an hour or two before serving so that the flavors can mix well, but can be served immediately.

I have also substituted mayonnaise and sour cream for plain whole milk yogurt and buttermilk and then add a dash of organic evaporated cane juice sugar. Fresh lemon juice would also be a nice addition!

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