Taste of the Tropics Smoothie

Being in the warm weather in Aruba is the perfect opportunity to drink up.

I didn’t add rum to this, but you could.

Rum makes life more interesting.

But even without the rum, just blend this up and pretend you’re on vacation.

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Taste of the Tropics Smoothie

1 medium banana (previously frozen is ideal but not essential)

1/3 c pineapple (I used canned, crushed pineapple but fresh would be great)

1/4 c yogurt (I used peach passion fruit)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)

1/4 c milk (nut milk, vanilla flavored nut milk, milk, cream, or peach mango milk <– I used that)

1/3 c additional fruit (optional, such strawberries, mango, peaches, plums, nectarines, papaya, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc.)

1 ounce rum (optional, such as dark rum, light rum, Malibu)

1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

1 scoop protein powder (optional)

sweetener to taste (optional, such as honey, agave, sugar, stevia, vanilla NuNaturals stevia drops)

6 ice cubes (use your judgment)

Blend everything in Vita-Mix, Magic Bullet, or blender until smooth.

Yields: one hearty portions or double the recipe, pour into plastic glasses and freeze, and pull out of the freezer as needed over the next few days to save time.

For Vegan Options: Use Coconut Milk or Nut Milk of your choice, or simply use water.  For the yogurt, use soy or coconut based yogurt, or omit.

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Add everything to the Magic Bullet.  I left the Vita at home.

Cream infused with Peach + Mango.  Hello heaven.  Omg.

Stuff everything in & blend

 

And then go out to the pool and enjoy!  Or drink at your desk in the middle of the day and use your imagination.

By the time I got done shooting the photos for this post, I was dripping in sweat.

I really did shoot at the pool.

And it was 3:30pm, 90F degrees and humid, and I was laying on the concrete of the pool deck to “get the shot” .

I really am a food blogger!

It was definitely time to inhale this smoothie.  I wanted to drink them both, so badly, while I was photographing them!   I exercised Big Time Restraint.

I made my way inside and made a second batch of smoothies and shared them with Scott and Skylar.

It was kid and husband tested, and they both approved.  And asked for seconds.  Tomorrow family, tomorrow.

Sweet, tropical, creamy.  Perfect.

From my last post on the Full Moon & Beach Pictures, thanks for sharing if you feel the full moon has effected you the past few days, or in general if you feel full moon effects.

And I’m glad you enjoyed the Aruba beach pictures!

Questions:

1. What’s your favorite smoothie combination?

Other recent smoothies of mine include:

Vanilla Avocado Banana Smoothie in a Bowl

And my Purple Rain Smoothie

Featured by Women’s Health Magazine

For me, a smoothie has to be sweet and creamy.  I eat plenty of vegetables, I don’t have an urge to put kale and chard in my smoothies.  That’s what salads are for.

Smoothies, for me, are basically dessert in a cup. Or bowl.

2. Are you a smoothie person?

In general, as I mentioned, I’m not.

They don’t really sustain me and I usually finish them feeling strangely full, i.e. bloated with liquid, yet unsatisfied.  And within an hour or two, I am on the food prowl, again.

However, being in the warm weather here in Aruba, they are perfect!

P.S.  Thanks for the entries for the $50 Ecolissa giveaway.  Keep them coming!

Enjoy your day!  I’m off to the beach.