Cool Drinks for Hot Days

[justaprogressive]

One sweet, one savory

Citrus Sherbert

I love the stunning deep orange colour of this blended juice; it looks
almost as good as it tastes and is a true pick-me-up when you’re
feeling a bit groggy! This would also make a good thirst-quenching
long drink topped up with sparkling mineral water.

6 large handfuls of chopped watermelon, deseeded
4 clementines, peeled and quartered
juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons baobab powder (see page 14)

SERVES 2

Put the watermelon, clementines, lime juice and baobab powder in a
blender and blend until smooth.


* watermelon may have a high water content and be low in calories, but it is an excellent
source of lycopene, a carotenoid that is important for eye and bone health; do make sure it is ripe
for the highest nutritional status. The seeds also provide useful amounts of iron and zinc so if you’re
not adverse to a bit of crunch, do reserve a few to add to the fruit before blending.

from Super Fresh Juices and Smoothies
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/super-fresh-juices--smoothies-over-100-recipes-for-all-natural-fruit-and-vegetable-drinks/9317338/



*************************************************************************

Avocado Smoopie

A cross between a smoothie and soup, this makes a nutritious snack or
light lunch. It’s a delicious, rejuvenating combination of creamy
avocado, fresh coriander/cilantro, delicate cucumber with just a hint
of chilli/chile.

1 medium avocado, stoned, peeled and chopped
½ cucumber, deseeded and sliced
2 spring onions/scallions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped coriander/cilantro leaves
1 green chilli/chile, deseeded and sliced
250 ml/1 cup coconut water (see page 54)
splash of Tabasco sauce
juice of 1 lime
5 ice cubes
1–2 teaspoons spirulina powder (see page 18)

SERVES 2

Put the avocado, cucumber, spring onions/scallions,
coriander/cilantro, green chilli/chile, coconut water, Tabasco, lime
juice, ice cubes and spirulina in a blender and blend until smooth
and creamy.

*Fresh coriander/cilantro: This fresh herb is an effective digestive, easing stomach pains,
indigestion and nausea. It is also believed to be a tonic for the heart.

from Super Fresh Juices and Smoothies
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/super-fresh-juices--smoothies-over-100-recipes-for-all-natural-fruit-and-vegetable-drinks/9317338/

Drink Up! Make sure to hydrate during this hot weather!

[NJCher]

1. new findings on bananas in smoothies

from Good Housekeeping:

snip

Should you avoid bananas in all smoothies?
No, you can certainly have bananas in your smoothie, but based on the study’s findings, you may want to reconsider using berries in the same recipe. “Bananas remain a great fruit and a great option for smoothie preparation, but not if you’re aiming at maintaining the flavanols in your smoothie,” says Ottaviani.

Bananas go great in a smoothie with peanut, or another nut butter, or you can pair it with another high PPO fruit such as papaya, avocado or pear. If you want a fruity banana blend with less PPO, you can try combining it with pineapple, oranges or mangos.

But if you’re craving a berry smoothie, and you’re only adding the banana for sweetness or texture, there are some viable alternatives, according to Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., R.D., a professor of culinary arts and nutrition at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, author of Meals that Heal and host of the Happy Eating podcast.

Thinking about why you’re using the banana in the first place can help you figure out what to swap it out for, says Williams. “If the banana is adding sweetness and/or creaminess, you may want to replace it with ingredients that add those same qualities. For instance, I like including a little honey for sweetness, and for texture, you can add some mango and Greek yogurt, which has a higher protein content compared to regular yogurt.”

snip

for the background on this, see the article.

[justaprogressive]

2. you had me worried for a second

I was sure there wasn't a banana in either recipe

[NJCher]

3. I was thinking more in terms of getting the book

or using one that's similar from my home library.

[NJCher]

4. Here's a story that's a little more to the point

Study Shows You Should Skip Bananas in Smoothies - SciTechDaily
May 1, 2025 ... Adding banana to a smoothie dramatically cuts your absorption of heart-healthy flavanols, researchers found, by as much as 84%,

https://scitechdaily.com/study-shows-you-should-skip-bananas-in-smoothies/

Ratz, I loved putting a banana in my smoothie.