Meal Substitution: Smoothie Recipe: Pears, Bananas and Clementines

This is a great recipe that uses fruits that are particular of the fall and winter season in the part of world where I live. The bananas I used were imported, and I know I shouldn't buy imported fruits but these were organic and fair trade, at very least.

Ingredients for one big glass: 

1 banana (not too ripe, not too brown)
1 big juicy pear or two small ones
3 clementines
1/2 lemon

Utensils:

Knife, cutting board, blender. This below is the blender by Black and Decker that I use, it's cheap and never lets me down. Christmas is coming...!


1. Peal the pear, half it and get rid of the core. Mine was so juicy I had to do this over the sink! Put it in the blender.
2. Peal the banana, cut in a few pieces, throw it in the blender.
3. Juice the clementines separately and then add the juice in the blender, or if you're lazy like me and don't want to get another utensil dirty, squeeze them directly in the blender, you can help yourself with a fork.
4. Add a few ice cubes if your fruit wasn't in the fridge.

Use the "pulse" cycle and then the "liquefy" cycle. If you're clementines are tart you might want to add some agave nectar or your favorite sweetener.

Enjoy!

Valentina
RealItalianKitchen

Meal Substitution: Smoothie Recipe: Papaya, Banana & Frozen Yogurt

It's been a couple of very busy weeks for me but I'm glad that the moment I start writing my food blog again is when the temperature starts rising..!

The first thing I did on the first day of extreme heat (yesterday 30 degrees Celsius!) was make myself a delicious smoothie.

Smoothies are a great way of eating fresh fruit, there are many different combinations you can try, they are so nutritious sometimes they can even substitute a meal.

This recipe is very sweet, for all those people that want a healthy sweet dessert, but can't have any...

For 2 people:
1/2 Papaya (mine was gigantic, use a whole one if you can find a small one)
1 Banana
3 scoops of frozen yogurt

Throw everything in the blender, liquefy it, and let the heathy snacking begin!

The frozen yogurt makes it kind of heavy in texture: to make it a little more liquid use milk or almond milk or soy milk.

Enjoy!
Valentina
RealItalianKitchen
(new video coming up soon!)