Very Cherry Berry Smoothie

 

     Several weeks ago I bought some 100% cherry juice thinking, "boy, I sure love cherries, and I really like juice...I'll take it!" I got it home and poured myself some (or drank it straight from the bottle most likely) and winced a little at the medicine like beverage.  Not what I had in mind.  While at the blender today I was thinking of something healthy to make.  Next to the Aloe Vera juice was the small bottle of cherry juice.  Thinking to myself if something tastes like medicine it ought to be good for you, I decided to base my concoction around those two primary ingredients.  

Your Recipe, Should You Choose to Accept it:

     Pour your medley  of frozen berries into the blender and cover with  2 cups of nonfat plain Greek yogurt.  I choose nonfat not because I'm a fat ass or anything, but because it has 50% more protein than regular Greek Yogurt.  Also, regular has about 60% of your daily suggested fat allotment.  Add Aloe Vera juice and cherry juice into blender and stir with a spoon to mingle it with the yogurt.  Be sure to allow some liquid to surround the blades of your blender.  Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean extract to the mixture and top off with cherries.  My container stated that it contained 12oz. of cherries, but measured out it showed about 2.25 cups.  This information can be helpful if you purchase large quantities of cherries at a time and/or do not have a scale at home, but only a measuring cup.  Be sure that the cherries are pitted, otherwise smoothies will be the only thing you'll be drinking for quite some time.  

     Blend well and taste your concoction.  If it tastes like medicine you have followed the recipe correctly.  If it tastes wonderful, then quit while you're ahead.  I added a large glop of honey with a table spoon that was easily 2 ounces - 4 ounces.  The honey made the drink magically transform from a medicinal beverage to a guilt inducing dessert.  Aside from the honey, the vanilla is also key to making this transition.    

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt
• 2 cups of Frozen Mixed Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.)
• 2.25 cups (12oz. weight) frozen Dark Sweet Cherries (pitted, of course)
• .5 cup 100% Cherry Juice
• .5 cup Aloe Vera Juice
• 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Bean Extract
• Sweeten with Honey to taste (.25 cups, give or take)

Yields 48 ounces.  Perfect for 2 hungry adults and a child, 3 modest adults, or 6 Frenchmen.  Enjoy.