Miracle Energy Drinks

Forget coffee – if you really need that energy boost, look no further than a tall glass of water. According to Metabolic Disorder and Personal Training specialist Lisa Lynn, dehydration can make you feel exhausted and even slow down your metabolism. Try one of these fun and hydrating drink recipes to zest up your day!

Super Energizer Smoothie

• ½ cup cold water
• 2 scoops of chocolate whey protein powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated coffee
• 3-4 frozen strawberries
• 5 ice cubes
• 500 mg glutamine

1. Pour water into blender and begin mixing on lowest speed. Add 2 scoops of whey protein powder and blend for 10 seconds.
2. Gradually add ice cubes, frozen fruit, coffee and glutamine and then blend on high speed for 1 minute, until ingredients are completely mixed. Serve cold!

Pineapple-Mint Infused Water

• ¼ pineapple
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 10 cups of water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

1. Add 10 cups water into pitcher or large bowl. Peel and cut pineapple into triangles, and pour pineapple and mint leaves into water.
2. Refrigerate ingredients for at least 3 hours before drinking, and strain before serving. Keep refrigerated up to 2 days.

Luscious Lemon and Lime Water

• 8 cups water
• 2 lemons
• 1 lime

1. Pour 8 cups water in pitcher or large bowl. Wash lemons and limes, cut into thin slices and add to water.
2. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before drinking, and enjoy! Keep ingredients refrigerated up to 2 days.

Read Full Post »

Banana and Nutella Smoothie with Chopped Almonds

This smoothie is rich from Nutella — a spread made from chocolate and hazelnuts — and healthy from bananas, soy and yogurt.

• 1 cup Nutella spread (found in the peanut butter aisle)
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups vanilla yogurt
• 1¼ to 1½ cups soy milk
• 4 medium frozen bananas
• Chopped almonds (optional)

1. Combine Nutella, peanut butter, yogurt, soy milk and banana in a blender.
2. Process until smooth.
3. For a thinner texture, add ¼ cup more soy milk and 3 or 4 ice cubes and process until ice is crushed.
4. Pour into glasses.
5. Garnish with chopped almonds, if desired.

Serves 6.

Read Full Post »

Banana-Pecan Smoothies

• 1½ cups low-fat vanilla yogurt
• 2 large ripe bananas, sliced and frozen
• 1 cup ice
• ½ cup finely chopped toasted pecans
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Process yogurt, bananas, ice, pecans, milk, honey, and cinnamon in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour into glasses, and serve immediately.

Read Full Post »

Blueberry-Pineapple Smoothie

Blend frozen fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and baby spinach together for a sweet and healthy breakfast treat.

• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 banana
• ½ cup vanilla yogurt
• ¼ cup chopped fresh pineapple
• ¼ cup frozen dark sweet cherries
• ¼ cup orange juice
• Chopped pineapple and/or fresh blueberries (optional)

1. In a blender combine all ingredients except the optional pineapple and/or blueberry topper.
2. Cover and blend until nearly smooth, stopping to scrape down sides of container as necessary.
3. Divide between two glasses.
4. Top with pineapple and/or blueberries.

Makes 2 (1-cup) servings.

Read Full Post »

Banana-Blueberry Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1. In a blender, combine banana, blueberries, and yogurt.
2. Blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into two glasses; serve immediately.

Serves 2.

Read Full Post »

Tim Horton’s Frozen Cappuccino

• 1½ cups strong brewed-coffee
• ½ cup sweetened condensed milk; not evaporated milk
• ½ cup half-and-half
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• Ice cubes

1. In an electric blender, combine coffee and milk.
2. Whisk in half-and-half and vanilla until well blended.
3. Add ice cubes to fill blender. Blend until smooth.

Variation:

Substitute 2 Tablespoons instant coffee dissolved in 1½ cups boiling water for the brewed coffee, if desired.

Read Full Post »

Minted Strawberries with White Wine

• 6 cups strawberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 bunches fresh mint (1½ oz.)
• 2 to 3 cups dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc
• Fresh mint sprigs

1. Halve large berries; leave hulls on a few berries. Place berries in a large bowl; sprinkle with sugar and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
2. Remove mint leaves from one bunch of mint. Stack 6 to 8 leaves together; roll the stacked leaves. Slice across the roll to create narrow strips. Repeat with remaining leaves. Add the shredded mint to strawberries just before serving.
3. To serve, evenly divide the minted berries and juices among 8 glasses; pour wine over berries until just covered. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Makes 8 servings.

For a nonalcoholic version, use white grape juice instead of wine and reduce the sugar to 2 tablespoons.

Read Full Post »

Peanut-Butter Hot Chocolate

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 Tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• Whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles

1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk and chocolate syrup until smooth. Heat over medium heat on stovetop until steaming but do not boil.
2. Add  peanut butter and stir until smooth
3. If desired, garnish each serving with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
4. Serve immediately

Makes 2 servings

Read Full Post »

Strawberry-Orange Quick Breakfast Beverage

• 1½ cups orange juice
• 1½ cups frozen unsweetened strawberries
• 1½ cups nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 2 Tablespoons sugar, if desired

1. Place all orange juice and strawberries in blender jar.
2. Cover and blend at CHOP until strawberries are chopped, about 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Add yogurt and sugar if desired.
4. Blend at STIR until smooth, about 5 to 10 seconds.

Yield: 5 1-cup servings

Read Full Post »

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Shake

• 1 pint nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1½ cups skim milk
• 4 medium bananas, broken into 4 pieces each
• ¼ cup peanut butter

1. Place all ingredients in blender jar.
2. Cover and blend at LIQUEFY until smooth, about 15 to 20 seconds.

Yield: 5 1-cup servings

Read Full Post »