It’s hot  sultry  scorching  blistering outside this summer!  I’m sure you’ve noticed! This is the kind of summer wherein you walk outside and your makeup immediately begins melting off of your skin, and the grass under your flip-flops is crunchy.  The heat has me longing for October and its cooler temperatures, and the fall cooking that I enjoy so much. However, since we are still in the heat of summer in the South,  I’m not doing much baking.  In fact, I’m working overtime trying to find cold, refreshing treats to keep my family hydrated and cool.  I’ve gotten some great ideas from friends and from folks over on my Facebook fan page, In the Kitchen with Mama Steph on KLTV7, and I’ve shared a few good ones there, too.  (If you haven’t done so yet, I hope you’ll join me there; I’d love your input!)

Here’s one that I posted there recently; I made a blender full of these tonight and they were AWESOME.  I love getting my children to drink something that is so delicious but also really great for their still-growing bodies.  Here’s the recipe, after the pictures:

The Fruitalicious Smoothie

Ingredients
2 cups fat-free milk
1 (8-ounce) container vanilla low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup thawed pineapple-orange juice concentrate
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 banana, coarsely chopped

Preparation:
Process all ingredients in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Serve immediately.

I hope you enjoy this delicious drink, friends.  It got the seal of approval from my 18 year-old son this evening, with its tangy sweet berry and banana combination, and the smooth vanilla of the yogurt. I felt great knowing he was getting a good dose of vitamin c, potassium, calcium, and acidophilus.  All are wonderful for our health.  Let me know how you like it, and feel free to share your favorite cold drink recipe with me, too.  🙂