The holidays may be over, but I still have a freezer full of cranberries. Loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants, the low-glycemic cranberry is a fruit that shouldn’t be put away with the ornaments as soon as you’re sick of holiday carols…

As always with my shakes, the measurements are approximate and adjust to taste.

• 1/2 cup washed, frozen cranberries
• 1 serving of vanilla protein powder
• Almond flavoring: a splash of sugar-free almond syrup, sugar-free Almond Roca syrup or about 1 tsp almond extract
• Stevia extract if needed for additional sweetness
• Liquid: Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze, milk or non-dairy milk – just enough to blend if you want a thick shake
• 5-10 ice cubes
• Optional: 1/4 tsp guar gum plus 1/8 tsp xanthan gum to help thicken and emulsify the shake

Blend all ingredients and adjust ice cubes and liquid to desired thickness. Enjoy!

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Allie, almond, antioxidant, blender, blendtec, crandberry, fitness, fruit, health, healthy, nutrition, Pimp My Protein Shake, protein, smoothie, supplements, whey, workout, Zola

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If you want to leave Santa Claus something other than milk and cookies this year, try this delicious candy cane cocoa smoothie recipe. It can be served hot or cold depending on your mood!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups vanilla soy milk
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 5 regular-sized peppermint candy canes — crushed
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1 cup ice (for smoothie option only)
• 1 banana (for smoothie option only)

Hot Candy Cane Cocoa:

In a saucepan bring the vanilla soy milk to a simmer. Add the chocolate chips and the crushed candy canes and whisk until everything is melted and smooth. Divide hot cocoa between four mugs garnish with whipped cream and serve with a candy cane stirring stick.

Candy Cane Cocoa Smoothie Recipe:

In a saucepan bring the vanilla soy milk to a simmer. Add the chocolate chips and the crushed candy canes and whisk until everything is melted and smooth. Let the mixture cool, stirring often. Once mixture is at room temperature, add it to a blender with ice and banana. Blend until smooth and pour into four glasses. Garnish with whipped cream and serve with a candy cane stick.

Happy Holidays from The Blender Diaries! Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; follow me on Twitter: @drinkzola

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: candy canes, chocolate, christmas eve recipes, healthy, holiday recipes, holiday recipes for kids, holiday treats, hot drinks, peppermint hot chocolate recipes, peppermint smoothie, recipes, smoothie, Zola

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I’ve decided to tackle Thanksgiving in a new way this year.  Since I am generally in the kitchen all day cooking and prepping, I also find myself SNACKING constantly. I think my snacks and “taste tests” alone probably rack up another whole Thanksgiving dinner.  I’ve decided that things will be different this year. I am armed with my blender, a little Zola and a small ounce of will power.

Zola Power Smoothie:

• 1 cup Zola Acai Original
• 2 tbsps chia seeds (hemp seeds will also work)
• 1 banana
• 1 handful of blueberries (blackberries will also work)
• Ice

Place all ingredients in a blender, blend and ENJOY!

The power of this smoothie is that you’ll get natural energy and antioxidants from the Zola Acai (nothing will spread more germs than a house full of kids!), protein and healthy omegas from the seeds, and fiber (to keep you full longer) from the banana and blueberries.

Hopefully this plan will help me get the turkey carved and on the table before most of it goes in my mouth. Three cheers to not overeating before dinner even begins!

What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter: @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, berries, chia seeds, dessert, energy, energy snacks, guarana, healthy, helpful holiday hints, hemp, holiday recipes, how to stop snacking, natural, Thanksgiving healthy recipes, Thanksgiving recipes, treats, Zola Açaí

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If you’re craving a banana split, why not bring the split to the smoothie? 

Banana Split Smoothie

• 1/4 cup of orange juice
• 4 ripe bananas
• 8 oz. crushed pineapple, drained
• ½ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 tbs of agave or honey
• 3 tbs of yogurt
• 3 heaped tbs of vanilla ice cream
• ***Optional garnish: whipped cream, chocolate syrup

Blend all ingredients with the exception of the garnish until smooth.  Pour into large glasses and then add the garnish.

What’s in your blender today?  Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: banana split, desserts, fresh, fun recipe ideas, healthy, ice cream, kid friendly foods, kid recipes, kids, natural, smoothie recipe, smoothie recipes, Smoothies, Superfruit, Zola Açaí

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First of all, both will work just fine – if you just went to the Farmer’s Market and have a fridge full of fresh fruit goodies, I say blend them up!  If you’re a little low on fresh produce, I’d be wiling to bet you have some frozen fruit hiding in your freezer.

Here are a few best practices for adding the fruit to your smoothies – whether frozen or fresh:

• If you use frozen fruit, you do NOT need ice – the frozen fruit will give it a good consistency and of course, make it cold
• If you use fresh fruit, you will need to lower the juice by 1-2oz and add approx 2-4oz ice to taste.  Ice will dilute the flavor a bit, but will add some coldness and thickness
• For frozen fruit smoothies, its best to add the juice first, then the banana, then the frozen fruit.  Will help it blend
• For fresh fruit smoothies, its best to add the juice, then the banana and fresh fruit and then the ice.  Again, this will help it blend.

Hope this helps!

Email me with any questions or ideas for smoothies at drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blender, Brazil, farmer's market, fresh, fruit, fruity, health, healthy, juice, juicing, natural, recipes, smoothie recipe, Smoothies, strawberries, Superfruit, Zola Açaí

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The Ultimate Breakfast Smoothie

8-10oz Vanilla Soymilk

1 Cup   Frozen Banana Chunks

½ Cup  Favorite Granola

*Tasty Treat – add 2-3oz peanut butter

What’s in your blender today?  Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; follow me on Twitter: @drinkzola

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, Brazil, breakfast, drinks, granola recipes, health, healthy, natural, smoothie guy, Smoothies, summer recipes, Superfruit, Zola, Zola Açaí

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I hear you’re the smoothie guy – can you help me?  I’m a busy mom of 3 located  in Englewood, Colorado and I have been trying to add smoothies to my diet  because they are quick, easy and relatively healthy.  Problem is, I can’t seem to make my own at home because I hate and I mean, absolutely detest bananas!! What can I substitute in my smoothies to still give them that thickness they need without using those awful little yellow fruits?

There are a few different ways to add thickness to your smoothies:

• If you like your smoothies really thick, you can cut up bananas into ½ inch pieces and freeze – blend those up
• If you’re like our favorite mom from Englewood, and refuse to let a banana anywhere near your smoothie, try using avocado or even yogurt.  You can substitute ½ banana with 2-3 oz yogurt (whatever flavor you want!).

Hope this helps!

Email me with any questions or ideas for smoothies at drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blender, cooking, food, health, healthy, natural, recipes, smoothie, Smoothies, summer drinks, Zola Açaí

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When you sip the last drop, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be singing the song too. Come on, you know the words!

Here’s the recipe:

PB&J Smoothie

8-10oz  Apple Juice

1 Cup   Frozen Strawberries

½          Fresh Banana

2-3oz   Peanut Butter

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

What’s in your blender today?  Email me drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blender, comfort food, health, healthy, kid friendly recipes, mac and cheese, natural, pb&J, peanut butter and jelly, recipes, smoothie, smoothie recipes, Smoothies, summer drinks, Zola Açaí

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And you know me, I just had to blend.

Ginger Aid Smoothie
• ½ cup lemon or lime Juice (add more for extra tang!)
• 1 cup unsweetened soy or hemp milk
• 1 avocado
• ½ tsp fresh ginger root
• 1 sweet orange pepper, diced
• 1 Sweet Red Pepper, diced
• ¼ cup applesauce

What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, ginger root, health, healthy, healthy living, home remedies, natural, natural medicine, plant based diets, smoothie recipes, Smoothies, Zola Açaí

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Here are a few smoothie recipes that will cost you far less in calories but still have a big time taste. 

Açaí Antioxidant Smoothie

This smoothie should replace the old saying about an apple a day – drink one of these a day and you’re guaranteed to keep the doctor away!

• 8-10oz Zola Açaí Juice
• 1 Cup   Frozen Blueberries or Strawberries
• ½ Cup  Frozen Banana Chunks

Pear-Ginger Delight:

This smoothie is delicious!  I also love that it uses carrot juice, which gives this drink its orange color and lots of vitamin A.

• Combine 1 ripe pear-peeled, cored and chopped, ¼ fresh carrot juice, ¼ cup skim milk, ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger and ½ cup crushed ice
• Blend until smooth.
• You can also add in some wheat germ or flaxseed for a little added fiber or omega-3 fatty acid.

Orange Cherry Smoothie:

I love the combination of oranges and cherries – this smoothie is great when you’re in the mood for something with a little tang to it.

• 8-10oz Orange Juice
• 1 Cup   Frozen Cherries
• ½ Cup  Frozen Banana Chunks
• Blend until smooth

© Chris for The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Açaí, antioxidants, blender, Brazilian, calories, Chris Cuvelier, counting calories, diet, food, free radicals, health, healthy, lose weight, mixer, natural, skinny, Smoothies, summer drinks, Superfruit, thin, vitamins, weight loss, Zola Açaí

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