Smoothies

Basic Smoothie:
1 6oz carton plain yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice or orange juice blend
2 T honey or sugar
1/4 t vanilla
1 cup small ice cubes or crushed ice

In a blender combine yogurt, orange juice, honey, vanilla, and ice cubes. Cover and blend until nearly smooth.

10 to try-
1. Peanut Butter-Banana (my favorite): Substitute vanilla yogurt for plain, milk for orange juice, and add half of a ripe banana and 2 T creamy peanut butter.
2. Tropical: Substitute pina colada flavored yogurt for plain and add 2 peeled kiwifruits.
3. Peach: Add 1 cup frozen peach slices, omit ice.
4. Mango: Add 1/2 cup chopped fresh or frozen mango.
5. Banana-Chocolate: Substitute vanilla yogurt for plain, milk for orange juice, and chocolate-flavored syrup for honey; add half of a ripe banana.
6. Pomegranate: Substitute pomegranate juice for orange juice.
7. orange Dreams: Substitute orange yogurt for plain and add 1/2 cup mandarin orange sections.
8. Mocha: Substitute coffee-flavored yogurt for plain, milk for orange juice, and chocolate-flavored syrup for honey.
9. Banana-Blueberry: Substitute blueberry yogurt for plain; add half a ripe banana and 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries.
10. Berry: Add 1/2 cup halved fresh strawberries or raspberries.

Oatmeal Blueberry-Cranberry Muffins

Sarah and I (Emily) decided to make some deliciousness today to take on our mountain hike this lovely January day. These muffins are exactly that, deliciousness. They're also really easy and very healthy.

Cast of Characters:

• 1 1/4 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 1/4 c. oats
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 c. lowfat buttermilk
• 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 Tbsps. canola oil
• 1 lg. egg, ligthly beaten
• 3/4 mixed blueberries and cranberries, or berry of your choice.
  

Mix the wet ingredients
Add the sugar.

make sure they're happy

Mix the dry ingredients and add the wet to it.
FOLD in the berries with a spoon or spatula
divide into greased or lined muffin tins
Bake at 375 for 16-18 minutes.
Et voila! The perfectly moist, deliciously berry muffin. Enjoy

Granola

If you are a granola fan, this is amazing and suprisingly easy. I got it from my friend Martha's magazine. We're close friends.
3 Tbsps unsalted butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. honey
2 tsps. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. water
4 1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. bran
2 1/2 c. tropical trail mix ( like from costco, or i got mine at walmart for 4 bucks)
1/2 c. coconut
Preheat over to 250 degrees. Melt butter in saucepan over medium-low heat. Add sugar, and gook until melted. STir in honey, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and water. Add remaining ingredients and toss. Spread on two rimmed baking sheets. Bake stirring occasionally, until golden brown and dry, about 1 1/2 hours. Let cool on sheets. This can be stored in an air tight container for up to 3 weeks, but I doubt it'll last that long if you have a hungry husband. Enjoy! EMily