Tea and smoothie questions

[DarleneH]

I'm looking for smoothie recipes. Right now I've been making an orange one that is wonderful and the cappucino one from the Slim-Fast site, but I'd love some summery, tropical tasting ones. If you've got any favorite recipes, lay them on me. http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Also, do any of you green tea drinkers ice it? Or make it up by the pitcher instead of by the cup? I'll probably just go test a batch and see, but I'd love your input too. And what, if anything, do you sweeten iced tea with? I'm thinking Splenda; I use honey in my hot tea but it won't dissolve in cold tea.

Thanks!
Dar

[DarleneH]

I'm looking for smoothie recipes. Right now I've been making an orange one that is wonderful and the cappucino one from the Slim-Fast site, but I'd love some summery, tropical tasting ones. If you've got any favorite recipes, lay them on me. http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Also, do any of you green tea drinkers ice it? Or make it up by the pitcher instead of by the cup? I'll probably just go test a batch and see, but I'd love your input too. And what, if anything, do you sweeten iced tea with? I'm thinking Splenda; I use honey in my hot tea but it won't dissolve in cold tea.

Thanks!
Dar

[DarleneH]

One more question about hot green tea: do any of you add milk? Just curious how that is.

Dar

[Zoe]

I make huge batches of jasmine green tea about 2 or 3 times a week and ice it. I sweeten it with honey while it's still hot, then ice it down, then pour into pitchers and store in the fridge. I don't like adding milk to green tea, I only add it to Lipton and English breakfast teas, so I don't know how it would taste.

[spongebobmom]

green tea w/ milk sounds gross to me, i use just a bit of splenda & lemon, iced green tea rocks, i make this by the pitcher & even my kids dig it. http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

as for smoothie recipe, anything goes, just depends on what you like. for ex.,

i take frozen whole strawberries, & blueberries, add some OJ, and whirl. no need to add ice b/c of the frozen berries.

2 bananas, chilled
2/3 cup strawberries or mango slices
1 12-ounce can grape juice or mango, apricot, strawberry, or other fruit nectar, chilled
1 8-ounce carton fat-free yogurt
1 tablespoon honey (optional)
2 tablespoons ground pistachio nuts (optional)

Directions
In a blender combine bananas, strawberries or mango slices, grape juice or fruit nectar, yogurt, and, if desired, honey. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into six tall, chilled glasses. If desired, sprinkle with ground pistachio nuts. Makes 6 smoothies.
Note: For two-tone smoothies, make mango smoothies and strawberry smoothies. Transfer to separate pitchers or glass measuring cups. Taking a pitcher or cup in each hand, slowly pour both smoothies at the same time into opposite sides of the glass.

Nutritional Information
Nutritional facts per serving
calories: 152, total fat: 2g, saturated fat: 0g, cholesterol: 1mg, sodium: 50mg, carbohydrate: 47g, fiber: 3g, protein: 6g, vitamin A: 2%, vitamin C: 33%, calcium: 14%, iron: 5%

hths!

[Peaches715]

For green tea I never add milk, I've never tried it iced, but now I want to http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

For smoothies, a lot of times I just add in a scopp of fat free vanilla frozen yougart with whatever fruits I have in there. I also use orange juice. Dannon light and fit fat free vanilla yougart is good in a smoothie too. They have a recipie on the back of the container as well.

[DarleneH]

Here's the orange shake I've been making. It's wonderful! I put the water and milk in the blender first because there are measurements on the side (don't have to mess up a separate measuring cup), then I use half a 12 oz frozen oj. I use a sugar substitute and just estimate it and the vanilla; the quicker and easier, the better as far as I'm concerned. http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I also toss in a scoop of vanilla protein powder, but it does alter the taste some.

Bon appetit!
Dar


Morning Orange Drink
1 cn (6 ounce) frozen orange
-juice conce; ntrate
1 c cold water
1 c milk
1/3 c sugar
1 ts vanilla extract
10 ice cubes
Combine the first five ingredients in a blender; process at high speed. Add
ice cubes, a few at a time, blending until smooth

[Trinigal76]

I drink iced green tea all the time. I make an extra strong batch and keep it in the fridge. I just add a bit of sugar and/or syrup (have about five different fruit flavours), and dilute it a bit with water when I'm ready to drink it.

I've also drunk hot green tea with milk, but only with a certain type of tea bag. Doesn't feel right with my Japanese or Chinese green teas.

[ClareJane]

I love smoothies! I have tried many of these (http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/searchResults?searchString=smoothie&site=FOOD&searchType=Recipe) and they were all good!! I love the Yummy Wake-Up Smoothie!! As for green tea...I tried it with milk and didn't like it at all. I also have mine iced, especially during the summer. http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Angel Baby]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm *drools*

[Mz LaLa]

<span class="ev_code_BROWN">I don't usually ice my green tea to the point where it is like iced tea, but I do ice it a bit too cool it down.

Sometimes I will sweeten it with honey while it is still hot but most of the time I use an artificial sweetner. I'm getting to the point now where I can enjoy it w/o sweetner.

I used milk in it one time in a desperate attempt to cool it down b/c we were out of ice lol..it did not taste right at all so I wouldn't recommend that.</span>

[DarleneH]

Thank you all for your input! Great smoothie recipes, ClareJane! http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Dar

[cutie123]

ITA with everyone-no milk in my green tea, and I do love it cold or hot. I just use Equal.

[Blinkers345]

I'm not much for making smoothies, but I love going to Jamba Juice. If there's one near you, I highly recommend it.

http://www.jambajuice.com/

My favorites are Citrus Squeeze, Carribbean Passion and Razzmatazz. Carribbean Passion sounds like the one you've been looking for, because it's summery and tropical tasting. I dont have the exact measurements, so you'll have to use your judgement...but here's the general recipe -

Passionfruit-Mango Juice
Orange Sherbet
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Peaches
Ice

Citrus Squeeze
Pineapple Juice
Orange Juice
Orange Sherbet
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Bananas
Ice


Razzmatazz
Raspberry Juice
Orange Sherbet
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Bananas
Ice

HTHS!!!

[ck_nd]

I don't add milk to green tea. If I want it sweet I add either honey or stevia (a herbal sweetner). I am at the stage where I can now drink green tea unsweetened so the adding something to make it sweet is optional for me atm

Now that I am reading all these posts about iced green tea I wanna' try it too. Thanks for the great ideas http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Peaches715]

I made the iced green tea, and it was so good! I only got one cup of it tho because my dad loved it so much he drank the whole thing http://community.icompact.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Audrey]

My favorite smoothie is a strawberry daiquiri.

1 cup fresh sliced strawberries stuck in the freezer until chilled
3 tablespoons splenda
1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup of ice

Directions: blend until smooth.

This is SO good on those hot summer days. And since its made with splenda the calories come mostly from the strawberries.

[DarleneH]

I have another question about brewing green tea. I'm thinking of buying green tea in bulk (to make a large quantity to keep in the fridge) instead of teabags, so do I need a tea pot? I've never used one, but I don't really see how to brew bulk tea using a saucepan. Unless I brew it, place a piece of cheesecloth over my pitcher, then then pour the tea over that to strain out the leaves. How would that work?

How do you who buy it in bulk brew it?

Thanks,
Dar

[Sweetie430]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Audrey:
My favorite smoothie is a strawberry daiquiri.

1 cup fresh sliced strawberries stuck in the freezer until chilled
3 tablespoons splenda
1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup of ice



Directions: blend until smooth.

This is SO good on those hot summer days. And since its made with splenda the calories come mostly from the strawberries. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ooooh this sounds really good. I'm going to have to try this. My smoothie creation would be to use pineapple juice, a cup of frozen strawberries, a banana, and some sliced peaches, with Vanilla frozen yogurt or vanilla no sugar added icecream, a little ice and blend.