Grandma Weeks' Cranberry Ice

{Cranberry Ice}

This is a double recipe that will fill approx. a 9x13 freezer container.

 

Sprinkle- 2 tsp. unflavored gelatin, onto 1/4 cup cold water –set aside.

In large pan mix:

              2 1/2 cups sugar

              3 cups water

Bring to boil and simmer 5 minutes then add gelatin and stir until dissolved. Stir in:

1 cup orange juice

1 cup lemon juice (juice of 4 lemons)

1 quart cranberry puree*

Mix well and freeze at least until there is 1” frozen on all sides of the tray.  Beat or whip until smooth. Freeze again until ready to serve- Mix with 7 up or Sprite to form a frappe type of drink. 

 

*Cranberry Puree:  1 ½- 2  packages of cranberries rinsed and sorted, barely uncover with water, cook until soft.  Let cool a little then put through a strainer to remove skins.  I use a fruit and vegetable strainer that is used to make applesauce.  Make about 8 cups puree.

Green Smoothies

Our family is really enjoying "green smoothies."  I have been drinking them for about a year and a half.  I even went to see the Green Smoothie Girl speak at a health food store here in Seattle last spring!  I will say that purchasing a Blendtec blender made all the difference for the rest of the family.  Nothing blends like a Blendtec.

So, here is our everyday smoothie recipe:
{Everyday Green Smoothie} (about 24 oz.)
8 oz. water
1/2 tsp Truvia
4-5 C spinach, not packed
1/2 of a ripe banana, 1 1/2" slices
1 good sized navel orange, peel cut but some of the pith still there
1/2 -1 C frozen Trader Farm's Triple Berry, frozen berries from Costco
Put it into the blender in that order.

Blend it up.

The berries in it will make it turn a lovely shade of "bleh."  But, if you are lucky, it kind of looks a little purple.

Here is another delicious option.  The one seen on my son's face in the first picture.
{Really Green Smoothie} about 20 oz.
8 oz. water
1/2 tsp Truvia
4-5 C spinach, not packed
1 whole banana, cut into chunks
2-3 pineapple spears, cut into chunks
Blend it up.

The pineapple does cause this particular smothie to seperate a little faster.  So, we like to drink our in a Blender Bottle.  That way we can snap it closed and remix!

Green Smoothie Breakfast

This may sound strange to many out there, but I have been drinking and really enjoying a Green Smoothie each morning this week. I had a friend who told me she was drinking them about a year a half ago, then, a woman in our Bountiful Baskets co-op said that her family drinks them too. And, I decided to give it a try since we have so much spinach and greens coming our way.{Megan's Green Smoothie}

juice of 1 orange

2 1/2 inches of banana, diced

3-4 frozen strawberries

1 tsp Truvia sweetener

2 C packed spinach (or other greens)

a couple Tbsp water

Layer in your blender with spinach closest to the blade. Blend until well mixed. Add water as necessary to get it to spin, or to a good drinking consistency. Enjoy!

159 cal, 1g fat, 37g total carb, 4g fiber, 9g sugar, 4g protein

"Healthy" Treat

When I was pregnant with Andrew, I made the comment to some ladies in my ward that I thought I ate so much better when I was pregnant. They laughed at me. But it is true. When I'm pregnant my body just does not handle sugar well. It flat out makes me ill.
So here is a recipe for my new favorite treat. The recipe makes four servings, but it is really easy to cut down for one!

Very Berry Smoothie
2 C orange juice
1 C low-fat vanilla yogurt
2 small ripe bananas
1 C berries (fresh or frozen) - strawberries, blackberries, or raspberries

Blend together until smooth.

And check this out: 168 cal, 1 g fat, 4 g fiber, 5 g protein

I like to add three ice cubes to my single-serving version. You could also add vanilla protein powder to this and have a yummy breakfast. I usually end up sharing mine with Andrew, because you can't eat in front of a two-year-old with out sharing. He says, "Mom, that's so yum!"