smoothie
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Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
This week at Holy Family, my daughter Ashlyn’s school, we were the “Family of The Week”. They asked me if I wanted to bring in a snack to the school, and I of course told them I was a smoothie expert and could blend up some smoothies for the kids. So I packed up my 1.5 horsepower (really) Blendtec Blender, some Zola Açaí Puree and some frozen fruits and headed off in the rain to Ashlyn’s school. I showed the first 5 minutes of the Zola Story so they could see how Açaí was grown and harvested in Brazil and then (with Ashlyn’s help) blended up some Açaí. The kids (and teachers) loved it!
This is the recipe that gave the kids the purple mustaches and big smiles!
Açaí Cherryberry Smoothie
- 3oz Zola Açaí Puree (available at www.amazon.com)
- 3oz Vanilla Soymilk (unsweetened)
- ½ Fresh Banana
- 3oz Frozen Strawberries
- 3oz Frozen Cherries
Posted in The Blender Diaries | 1 Response »
Tags: Açaí, blendtec, cherry, smoothie, soymilk, Zola Açaí, Zola acai puree
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Hey there! This is Allie from Pimp My Protein Shake, a blog obsessed with homemade blended protein shakes. Does that sound a bit familiar? That’s why I’m so excited to guest post on The Blender Diaries and give you the recipe for the Cralmondberry Protein Shake!
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!
Posted in Smoothie Recipes, The Blender Diaries | 2 Responses »
Tags: Allie, almond, antioxidant, blender, blendtec, crandberry, fitness, fruit, health, healthy, nutrition, Pimp My Protein Shake, protein, smoothie, supplements, whey, workout, Zola
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
I know that living in the Bay Area leaves me with little room to complain about the weather but it has been pretty chilly! I realize its not nearly as bad as it is for folks living in the Midwest and East Coast who have had record amounts of snow but cold enough to excuse a couple of nights of staying in watching DVDs with the kids and enjoying an excellent cup of hot soup.
The other night I made this delicious and filling Carrot Ginger Soup – and you guessed it, I did it all in my blender! 
Carrot Ginger Soup
- 3carrots chopped
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 ½ Tbsp shallots, diced
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1/4 c Zola Acai Original Juice
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ½ clove of garlic
- 1 Tbsp minced ginger
- 1 Tbsp miso
- Pinch of sea salt
Place all ingredients in your BlendTec or Vitamix and blend until completely smooth. Enjoy!
What’s in your blender today? Email me drinkzola@gmail.com and follow me on Twitter @drinkzola.
Posted in The Blender Diaries | 2 Responses »
Tags: blender, blendtec, healthy eating, healthy recipes, juicer, smoothie, snow, snowfall, soup recipes, Vitamix, winter recipes, winter weather, Zola Açaí, Zola Superfruit juice
Monday, December 21st, 2009
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
Posted in The Blender Diaries | 16 Responses »
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
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
For a delicious, new twist on mulled cider this holiday season, try using Zola Açaí instead of apple juice. This drink can be served hot or added to a smoothie for a truly delightful holiday brew!
Ingredients: 
- 2 cups Zola Açaí Original
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ lemon, zested
- 2 tsp clove powder
- 2 tbsp fresh nutmeg
- Ice (optional)
- Banana (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium low heat. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
If you want to drink it hot, then you’re all done! Top it with a cinnamon stick if you desire and enjoy…
If you want to add it to a smoothie, here’s what you can do next.
Let it cool for about 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Once cool, put mixture in a blender along with 1 cup of ice and a banana and blend until smooth. Pour in your favorite smoothie glass and top it with a cinnamon stick – and enjoy!
What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter: @drinkzola.
Posted in The Blender Diaries | 4 Responses »
Tags: blender, Brazilian Superfruit, Christmas, holiday beverages, holiday drink, holiday smoothie, holidays, mulled wine, seasonal drinks, smoothie, spiced cider, spices, wassail, Zola Açaí
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
With Halloween right around the corner, the time is right for pumpkins. I don’t know about you, but over the last several days, we’ve been on a pumpkin kick — carving Jack-O-Lanterns with the kids, baking pumpkin pies and cookies, and roasting pumpkin seeds. While I was helping my wife with the pies, it dawned on me that I should create a Halloween Smoothie. 
After a few attempts, I think I’ve finally come up with the perfect recipe that both my wife and kids enjoyed.
- 1 cup organic canned pumpkin purée
- 1 cup soy or almond milk
- 2 tablespoons agave syrup (maple will also work)
- 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2/3 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup ice
- Whipped cream and cinnamon as garnish
Put all ingredients in a blender except for the whipped cream. Once smooth, pour in a glass, garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon.
What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.
Posted in Smoothie Recipes | 3 Responses »
Tags: baking with family, blender, blender diaries, Halloween, healthy smoothies, holiday recipes, in the kitchen, indulgent smoothies, kitchen, smoothie, smoothie recipes, smoothies for kids, trick or treat
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
There is nothing quite like October in San Francisco because you get the best of both worlds – brisk fall temperatures in the early morning followed by warm sunshine throughout the afternoon.
On these beautiful days, I just can’t resist being outside and tend to overdo it. Since my wife is always hounding me to protect my skin, I decided to create a smoothie that was not only delicious but would give my skin the little boost that it needs.
Skin Energy Smoothie:
- 1 cup carrot juice (can also use apple if you like your smoothie a little sweeter)
- ½ cucumber
- ½ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- Lemon juice (to taste)
- Ice cubes
This smoothie is the perfect combination if your skin needs a little love. The carrots contain Vitamins A and E which help to repair and regrow skin and cucumbers are a natural skin refresher and toner because they are rich in silica, a mineral that boosts collagen to lessen fine lines as well as elasticity-preserving potassium. Lemon juice is also known to lighten the skin because of the ascorbic and citric acids present.
Give it a try! You’ll be glowing by tomorrow.
What’s in your blender today? Follow me on Twitter @drinkzola; email me drinkzola@gmail.com
Posted in The Blender Diaries | No Responses »
Tags: blender, carrots are good for skin, cucumber, energy boost, healthy juice, healthy smoothie, juicing, natural, outdoors, San Francisco, skin boosts, skin energizers, smoothie, sun protection
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
ShapeYou.com recently announced their 2009 Top Gear of the Year awards and I’m proud to say that Zola did very well! The Zola Superfood Smoothie was selected as the winner of a Top Gear of the Year Award, the Zola Original Açaí Juice as the winner of a Great Gear of the Year Award, and the Zola Energy Smoothie as a winner of the Seal of Excellence Award in this year’s Natural & Organic Products GearAwards™. 
We’re feeling kind of super about this so thought why not giveaway some of our delicious, nutritious oh so super Zola Superfood smoothies?
If you like the sound of this, why not enter to win a Zola Superfood smoothie? It’s easy. Here’s what you have to do (easy!):
- Follow us on Twitter: @drinkzola and post an @reply with the following: I love #ZolaSuperfood before 12:00 am ET on Friday, October 2.
OR….
- Fan us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=44904316076&ref=ts and leave a comment on our wall before 12:00 am ET on Friday, October 2
I told you it was easy. Once we have your entry, we’ll send you a Twitter DM or a message on Facebook to see if we can confirm your contact information. All winners will be notified by Monday, October 5.
ENJOY!
Posted in In the News, The Blender Diaries | 3 Responses »
Tags: blenders, Brazilian Superfood, drink zola, drinkzola, free stuff, gear of the year awards, giveaway, ShapeYou.com, smoothie, Superfruit, win free stuff, Zola Açaí, Zola Superfood
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
I know how difficult it can be to get kids to eat their greens each day, but let’s face it, most of us adults struggle to get our recommended servings each day. And we have so many excuses – not enough time, always on the go, I skip lunch, I skip breakfast – trust me, I’ve tried them all.
Truth is, getting your daily fix of fruits and veggies is easy if you incorporate a green smoothie into your daily routine – here are a few recipe ideas for green smoothies at home or try Zola’s Superfood Smoothie, with 1500mg of green micronutrients such as Spirulina and Chlorella, as a grab and go option.
Sweet Veggie Smoothie Blend:
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup of sliced apple
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup of cucumber (peeled and sliced)
- 2 cups of ice
- a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon
Blend this vegetable smoothie until smooth.
Greener and Meaner Smoothie
- 1 Carrot (chopped)
- 4 Florets of Broccoli or handful of brussel sprouts (chopped)
- 2 Handfuls of Spinach
- 1 Apple (chopped)
- 2 Oranges (peeled and quartered)
- Orange Juice to dilute
Blend this vegetable smoothie until smooth.
What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola.
Posted in The Blender Diaries | 2 Responses »
Tags: be healthy, Brazil, breakfast, calories, food, fruit, green and mean, greens, nutrients, protein, savory, smoothie, smoothie recipe, Smoothies, superfood, Superfruit, sweet, vegetables, veggies, weight loss, zola aca, Zola Açaí, Zola's superfood smoothie
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
I have received a few emails in the past couple of weeks about making smoothies thicker. One of my favorite was from a mom in Englewood, Colorado – it read:
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.
Posted in The Blender Diaries | No Responses »
Tags: blender, cooking, food, health, healthy, natural, recipes, smoothie, Smoothies, summer drinks, Zola Açaí
