Orange Smoothie

Orange Smoothie

 Ingredients:

2 cups Greek yogurt
2 cups frozen mango chunks
2 cups frozen peach slices
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 cup chopped carrots
1 banana, peeled and chopped
1/4  cup honey
1 cup orange juice

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly.  

Notes:

*  I halved the recipe and it still made a great deal.  
* I used frozen pineapple chunks
* I used half of a banana, but I could see leaving the banana out
* I used fresh orange juice with pulp

The drink is not overly sweet, despite all of the fruit.  Theoretically, you could use any sweetener:  sugar, agave nectar, honey, Stevia, Truvia, etc.

The author of the recipe described it as a cross between a Dreamsicle and an Orange Julius.  I wouldn't go that far.  It is refreshing, not too sweet, and with it's light orange color and fruit, held the promise of Spring on a wintery day.

 

Carrot Pickle

Ingredients:

8 medium carrots, peeled
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
2 arbol chilies

Steps:

1)  Slice the carrots as thinly as possible, either into rounds or on the diagonal (bias.)  Put in a harge heatproof bowl.

2)  In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, spices and chilies and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt.  When the sugar and salt have dissolved, pour the pickle over the carrots.

3)  Let the pickles cool at room temperature and then put them into a plastic or glass container, cover, and refrigerate.  The carrot pickle will be ready to eatt the next day and will keep for two months.

*Untested