Farm Direct Coop Recipesor. . . what you can do with your share!

I love smoothies. They’re yummy, healthy, and low in fat yet high in indulgence. I have them for breakfast and as a dessert or sweet treat. I’m on weight watchers and they’re a great way to get in a serving or two of fruit for low points. They’re also a great way to sneak good stuff into the hubby’s diet. And the flavors are endless, just by switching up the fruit and juice choices.

Basic Fruit Smoothie

• 1 cup fruit (I use frozen fruit, such as the strawberries from 2 weeks ago which I’d cut up and froze)
• 1/2 cup milk (cow, soy, rice, any flavor and type)
• 1/4 cup juice (again, any type)

Put all ingredients in a blender and puree the heck out of it. That’s it. However, there’s about a million things you can add to change it up, such as

• 1/2 cup yogurt (plain or flavored)
• silken tofu (didja know they make chocolate tofu now?)
• 1/4 of an avocado (makes it super smooth and creamy!)
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ (or regular Fiber One cereal, ground in a coffee grinder), to add some fiber
• ice cubes, if not using frozen fruit
• cinnamon, ginger, cocoa, or other spices
• sweeteners such as honey, molasses, Splenda (try the brown sugar version)
• different juices; apple is an excellent neutral base, orange, prune, cranberry, grape…

You can add more milk or juice to thin it to your taste. I have used many different fruit/juice/spice combos. Some of my favorite combos are

• melon/ginger/o.j.
• strawberry/cocoa (just a teaspoon or two)
• o.j./banana/coconut water (or light coconut milk)
• melon/green lettuce/apple juice
• blueberries/strawberries/grape or cranberry juice

By Salem Depot Member Michele Brown

I read in the last newsletter that people were unsure about some of the more unusual offerings from our Coop. Recipezaar.com is a great resource. I found a bunch of great recipes for kohlrabi last year. This year I’ve been making green smoothies from the lettuce. Here’s the recipe:

• 8 leaves lettuce
• 1/4 cup juice (whatever you have on hand)
• Handful of frozen strawberries, mango or banana
• Yogurt or silken tofu to taste
• Squirt of honey or flavored coffee creamer

1. Puree lettuce and juice in a blender.

2. Add remaining ingredients and process to desired consistency. The frozen fruit keeps it cold and thickens it up. Yummy!

By Salem Depot Member Leah McCoy

• 2-3 peaches
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• small hunk of ginger (to taste)
• about half the tops from a bunch of carrots (maybe a third of the blender, packed)

Fill blender about half full with water. Blend and enjoy!