Blueberry Ginger Smoothie

http://www.purewow.com/recipes/Blueberry-Ginger-Smoothie

Ingredients

½ cup plain yogurt

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

Pinch of cinnamon

⅓ cup almond milk

1 tablespoon honey or agave

¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a blender, puree all ingredients until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add additional almond milk until the desired texture is achieved. 

Note: You can use fresh blueberries, but add ½ cup ice into the blender to keep the texture.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-lemonade-ever/

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c  White Sugar
1 1/2 c  Lemon Juice, fresh squeezed
8 c        Water

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
2. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups water.

Hot Mama Notes:

This recipe is good.  A bit sweet.  Next time, I will try it with 1.5 c sugar or less for the sugar syrup!

Hot Mama Grade: A-

Pear & Pineapple Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 c   Fresh, cubed Pineapple
1      Medium Bartlett Pear, quartered and cored
1 c   Spinach
1 c   Kale
1      Small ripe banana
1/2c Orange or apple juice
1 c   Ice cubes

Blend together and enjoy!

Hot Mama Notes: I used orange juice.  I detest bananas in smoothies, so I added 1/2 c of honeydew instead.  Still, my kids were not impressed with this smoothie.  I think it's because we don't like kale no matter what we do with it.  :(  It was not too sweet, but it just wasn't especially good.  We probably won't make it again.

Hot Mama Grade: B

Watermelon Mojitos

Recipe and picture found at: http://www.cookincanuck.com/2010/06/watermelon-mojito-recipe/

Watermelon Mojitos

3 cups 1/2-inch cubes watermelon
12 medium to large fresh mint sprigs
6 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp granulated sugar
6 oz. light rum
4 lime slices
4 mint sprigs

Place watermelon cubes in a blender. Blend until smooth.

In a small pitcher, combine fresh mint leaves, sugar, and fresh lime juice. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, muddle the ingredients to release the oils from the mint. Take care not to muddle to the point where the leaves fall apart. Pour rum and the watermelon puree into the pitcher and stir gently.

Fill four tall glasses (such as Collins glasses) with ice and divide the mojito amongst the glasses. Garnish with lime slices and mint sprigs, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

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Spiced Rum Mojito recipe originally found at: http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink582.html

Mojito Recipe

1.25 oz Captain Morgan® Original spiced rum
12 mint leaves
1 tbsp sugar
0.5 oz lime juice
2 oz soda

Place mint leaves in bottom of glass. Add crushed ice, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, sugar, and lime juice, and muddle. Add soda water and garnish with mint leaves.

mash the mint and sugar together and put in a glass, and then add the rest of the ingredients.

Read more: Mojito recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink582.html#ixzz1u6XQyd4S

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HotMama says: I have a plethora of fresh mint in my garden, so I am always looking for ways to use mint.  My Hubby wanted Mojitos, so I figured I would try these for a twist.  I am not certain I entirely like the way they turned out.  Then again, maybe I should try them according to the exact recipe listed.  We didn't have any white rum, so I substituted half the amount of spiced rum.