Sangria

The beauty of the basic Sangria recipe is that it is as delicious as it is easy, and it only gets better as you spice it up with your favorite fruits, spice and liquors.

Chill and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Shot brandy
2 Cups ginger ale or club soda


PREPARATION:

Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine.

Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.

If you'd like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice.

Additional ideas: sliced strawberries, peaches, handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, a shot or two of gin, brandy or rum, a cup of ginger ale, citrus soda pop or lime juice.

Fruit Smoothies

Ingredients
1 C. vanilla-flavored fat-free soy milk or 1/2 C. vanilla yogurt plus 1/2 C. skim milk
1/2 frozen banana
1 C. frozen fruit: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, melon etc.
1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)


Directions
Place the soy milk (or yogurt/skim milk) and banana in a blender and mix until smooth. Add the frozen fruit and blend until smooth.


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When I'm seriously dieting, smoothies made with the powder form of Slim Fast are my primary meals. My smoothies are loosely based on this recipe with the following variations:

I use fat free half and half . . . makes a very creamy, rich tasting smoothie . . . add a handful of ice to the blender to make it thick like a milk shake.

For flavored smoothies, I use vanilla Slim Fast with fat free yogurt in my preferred flavor, add a handful of ice and fat free half and half.  The yogurt makes it much creamier and provides a greater variety of flavors.


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Tropical Smoothie

Ingredients
6 oz. cold water
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate
6 oz. vanilla or strawberry yogurt (for a creamy or more fruity taste)
1 banana, sliced
1/2 C. frozen mixed berries

Directions
Put all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and purple.

Strawberry Milk Shakes

July is National Ice Cream month and strawberry ice cream is my favorite ice cream flavor . . . here is one of my favorite things in the world, Strawberry Milk Shakes . . .

I substitute no fat half and half for the milk and strawberry frozen yogurt and omit the sugar when I'm seriously dieting.

1 1/2 pints strawberry ice cream
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh strawberries (or frozen)


Directions

Pulse all of the ingredients in a blender until the ice cream begins to break down, about 5 pulses, then blend on high until completely smooth.

Serves 4


A fabulous variation to this recipe to make an Orange Freeze . . .

use Orange Sherbet instead of ice cream, omit the strawberries

Make it richer by adding some vanilla ice cream . . .

Watermelon Cooler

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2008 Show: Paula's Home Cooking Episode: Garden Delights

4 cups sliced seedless watermelon, rind removed 1 cup lemon sorbet 1 lemon, zested 1 1/2 cups cold water Watermelon wedges and mint, for garnish


In a food processor, blend watermelon, sorbet, and lemon zest until very smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges and mint.

Recipe from the Food Network