Runner's World Black Forest Blizzard

Living off of blended foods for the week after I got four wisdom teeth pulled turned me away from smoothies. I have tried to get into the whole green smoothie fad as a way to pack in the leafy greens, but I am just not a smoothie person. This Runner's World recipe, for example, had been hanging on my fridge for over a year. It even has chocolate! I finally blended it up last weekend after a run. Although it is not packed with spinach and kale, the protein from the greek yogurt and antioxidants from the cherries help reduce inflammation after a tough workout. The Black Forest Blizzard is the smoothie for non-smoothie lovers, tasting more like a light milkshake. I'm still working on drinking my greens, and finally blending up this Black Forest Blizzard is a step in the right direction. If anyone has green smoothie recipes that will convert me, send them my way!

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen, dark sweet cherries
1 frozen banana (freeze them with the peel off)
1 cup dark chocolate almond milk
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
2 teaspoons agave syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Famous Chocolate Wafer for sprinkling (optional)

Directions:
Combine all ingredients (expect the wafer) in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Top with crumbled chocolate wafer.

Cucumber Limeade

What do you do when you bought too many limes for your margaritas? Make enchiladas, blend them in smoothies, and refresh yourself with Cucumber Limeade.  Simple. Wonderful. You have no idea what you are missing until you try.

Ingredients:

2 cups of water

1.5 cup ice

1/3 cup sugar
2 English Cucumbers

3 limes

Directions:

Peel one and a half of the cucumbers. Place in a blender. Add ice, sugar, water, and two squeezed limes. Blend. If your blender has a million (hyperbole) blending options, choose liquefy. Pour into four glasses. Garnish with remaining lime and cucumber.  

Frozen Strawberry Margaritas

Brittany was our first guest in California! After an exhausting afternoon on the beach, Brittany, Brent and I decided to spend Friday night working hard to try to get the proportions to this margarita just right. It took several batches, making for a fun night! One warning though, this drink will turn you into a margarita snob. You'll never go back to expensive, syrupy restaurant margaritas.

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups strawberries
2 1/2 cups crushed ice
2/3 cup tequila
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons Cointreau
Lime wedges

Directions:
Combine strawberries, ice, tequila, lime juice, sugar, and liqueur in a blender, and process until the mixture is smooth. Pour the margaritas into 4 large glasses. Garnish margaritas with a lime wedge, if desired. Serve immediately.

The Marta-ini

March 31st was a big deal in the Johnson family. Baby Marta turned 21! Marta is a cosmopolitan girl. Miller light and cheap vodka won't do it for her. She celebrates in style. I came across this cocktail, and knew it would be the perfect way to celebrate Marta. It is a fresh, festive and fun cocktail!

Ingredients:

   6 oz cranberry juice

   2 oz FRESH lime juice

   8 oz Grand Marnier

   16 oz rose champagne

Directions:

Pour cranberry juice, lime juice and Grand Marnier into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until  the  cocktail shaker is super cold, then pour into a martini glass. Top with champagne, and drink immediately.    Serves 4.