Post-Workout Smoothie (Milkshake?)

Pure deliciousness

At what point does a smoothie cross the line and become a milkshake?  Is it when it tastes too good to be true?  Is it when chocolate is added?  Is it when it ceases to be healthy?  Whatever the case, this beverage is so delicious that it probably crosses that line.

I've recently taken up running.  And being the perfectionist that I am, I haven't started it without doing some research.  My sources tell me that it's best to eat something--especially protein--within 30 minutes after working out.  This helps rebuild the muscles you've damaged exercising. 

Other sources have told me particular things that are good to eat after running--yummy things like dark chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter.  Considering everything I've read, this smoothie seems to be the perfect food to eat/drink after running: it cools you off, it re-hydrates you, it's full of protein, and it's delicious.  Regardless of how many calories it contains, you've probably just burned them off, and you deserve the reward!

*You don't have to work out before drinking this; but if you do, there will be no guilt in savoring every delightful sip.

Just five lovely ingredients

Here are the ingredients: cocoa powder, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, and frozen yogurt.  (There is enough sugar in everything else to sweeten the cocoa.)  I use frozen ingredients in my smoothies so that they won't be diluted with ice cubes.  If you like it thicker, go ahead--but I'm warning you, it would be better to freeze the banana.

Place it all in the blender and blend until smooth.  Vary amounts according to taste.

Tip: an easy way to clean your blender is to fill it with water and add a drop of dish soap.  Blend on low (some blenders have an "easy clean" setting) until clean.  Rinse thoroughly.

Chocolate Protein Smoothie

1 medium banana
Peanut butter to taste
Cocoa powder to taste
Vanilla frozen yogurt to taste
Almond (or regular) milk to thin

Blend until smooth.  Savor every sip.

Hot Chocolate at its Best

Hot chocolate is wonderful on cold, snowy days.  But doesn't it get old sometimes?  There are days when I want the rich, chocolatey delightfulness of a cup of cocoa, but it just seems...boring.  Here are some ways I change it up to make that mug of delight even more delightful:

Cinnamon--just a shake or two per serving.  A cinnamon stick would work too.  Sometimes, to this I will add nutmeg as well.

Peppermint--the best hot cocoa ever!  Add one mint hard candy to the dry mix.  It will gradually melt into the cocoa, diffusing its flavor throughout.

Coffee--there are two ways to do this. One way is to add instant coffee granules to the dry hot cocoa mix.  The other is to use freshly-brewed coffee as the liquid.

Happy sipping!  Do you have a favorite thing to add to hot cocoa?

Apple Soda

This is a lovely alternative to lemon-lime soda for a sick person: all of the fizz without added sugar!

1 can frozen apple juice concentrate
3 cans seltzer (carbonated) water

Mix thoroughly and serve.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Cold days call for hot mugs of chocolate.  This simple recipe is cheaper than boughten mix, and contains no high fructose corn syrup.

2 c. dry milk powder
1 c. white sugar
1 c. cocoa powder (can use less depending upon taste)


Sift ingredients together, breaking up all chunks. Store in an air-tight container.
To prepare hot cocoa, place 1/4 c. mix in a mug. Add 8 oz. hot water.

Note: For flavor variation, substitute 1 c. powdered coffee creamer.

Citrus-ade

Lemonade--but with limes and oranges! So refreshing in the summer!

6 lemons
5 limes
5 oranges (unless they are very large; adjust numbers according to taste)
4 c. water
2-2 1/2 c. sugar (to taste)

Squeeze the juice from oranges, limes, and 5 lemons. Remove any seeds. (Do not strain out pulp, unless you don't like it; in which case you might as well buy powdered "lemonade" from the store.) Add water; stir in sugar to taste until it dissolves. Chill and/or serve over ice. Slice remaining lemon; garnish each glass with a lemon wedge.
Makes approximately 6 servings; maybe 7-8 depending on glass size.

Editor's note: I used only 3 oranges, because they were enormous. Again, all amounts may be adjusted according to your tastes.