A Cherry pie smoothie

Alright this is a little bit more off the path of just being outright healthy.  It is healthy but could be more decadent too.

1 cup whole milk
1 cup Pomegranate Juice  (something very good for the heart)
1/3 cup Cherry Pie filling (Actually this was taken from a cherry pie so there was a few bits of crust in it but hardly noticeable - I really didn't want the cherry pie )

Blend from low to high in stages until thoroughly mixed.  Continue to blend for about a minute to two more to add some froth to it.  Yields 3 servings.
The taste is very close to that of cherry pie, the cherry flavor easily overpowers the Pomegranate.  It is worth repeating, so as taste goes 6+ ( I would prefer my pies to be more chewy than drinkable).


Health Tip: 
A treatment for Cold sores using Vinegar. 
You can usually dry up a cold sore in short order by dabbing it with a cotton ball saturated in white vinegar three times a day.  The vinegar will quickly soothe the pain and swelling.

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Probiotics Smoothie

Sounds medical doesn't it.   But my previous post had a health tip on the benefits of Probiotics.  Well we have on hand some yogurt with prodiotics in them plus Acai and Blueberries.  Too healthy for you junk addicts, so you may excuse yourself.

1 cup Whole milk
1 cup 100% Ruby Kist Pomegranate Juice blend (Apple, Pomegranate, Gape, and Aronia )
1 ounce of Drinkables which has a good mix of antioxidants from fruit and herbs.
4 ounces  of Yoplus (Acai and Blueberry yogurt with Probiotics)

Combine all the above ingredients in a blender, and starting from low work up to high.
Makes 3 servings.

With the whole milk instead of the soymilk we have a slightly creamer taste, this is rates a 7+, for my taste buds, and not as tart.


Health Tip:
Cold Sores and Yogurt.  Eating plain yogurt (with live cultures) is a good way to quickly get rid of cold sores.   As part of a daily diet, it is a good way to prevent them also.  From my own experience, I have found that with an onslaught of cold sores coming on, yogurt as quickly nipped them within a day or two.  Plain yogurt may be more effective, but flavored yogurt has achieved the same results for me.  The active bacteria culture in yogurt is what helps in the fight of cold sores which are brought on by a form of Herpes virus.

It should be stressed that two factors are needed to be watched for in obtaining yogurt:
    -does it contain active cultures ( the yogurt itself can be made from pasteurized milk, but the yogurt shouldn't be pasteurized), it should be clearly labeled containing active cultures.
    - No gelatin listed in the ingredients.  Gelatin can cause a cold sore outbreak, by triggering the Herpes virus.

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A new fruit and herbal mixture for a healthier smoothie.

A list of some very beneficial plants. These are contained in liquid mixture (98% Juice). It should be interesting to see the results in my smoothies. The taste isn't bad, a slightly tart tangy taste. It is put out by Remington Health Products.


Pomegranate (Pomica granatum)

First cultivated by the Egyptians and Phoenician. Pomegranates contain high amounts of hydrolysable tannin (punicalagan) – a powerful ployphenol known for its antioxidant properties.


Noni (Morinda citrifolia)

Also know as the “Great Morinda”. Noni serves as a tonic in China, Japan and Hawaii for a variety of traditional health applications. The tree is native to Southeast Asia yet has spread throughout India and into the Pacific Islands.


Grape Seed Extract (Vitis vinifera)

The seeds in grapes are known to contain procryanidolic oligomers, also know as PCOs. Researchers have concluded that PCOs help strengthen blood vessels, and improve blood circulation. Grape Seed Extract is also a powerful antioxidant.


Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum)

Also know as the Chinese Wolfberry or Snowberry. The fruit plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine and is nicknamed the “happy berry” because of the sense of will being it is said to induce. Goji's richness in carotenoids, phenolics and Vitamin C creates potential for an extra-ordinary synergy of antioxidant strength.


Acai (Euterpe oleracea)

Very popular as an energy drink among surfers and celebrities. Acai is the fruit from a palm tree native to tropical Central and South America. It is rich in B vitamins, iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, and anthrocryanin (antioxidant flavonoid).


Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostina)

A tropical evergreen tree believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. Mangosteen contains an abundance of healthy alkaloids including xanthones, gartanin and nomangostin.


Cherry (Prunus avium)

Greater attention is now being paid to the cherry for its health properties. In addition to high levels of anthocyanin antioxidants, the cherry contains Melatonin. Melatonin plays important roles in both immune system support and stress level reduction.


Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Native to the United States the blueberry is highly rated for its antioxidant properties. The fruit's pigment contains phyonutrients called anthocyanidins which help neutralize free radical damage. Antioxidant compounds such as pterositilbene and ellagic acid are also present.


Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadoes)

Used throughout the world as an external balm to relieve skin discomfort, people are now starting to drink Aloe Vera for it's intriguing ability to support the immune system.


Green Tea ( Camellia sinesis)

First cultivated in China, green tea is a tea that has undergone minimal oxidation: leaving abundant polyphenol levels. The antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), has been recently identified in tea. Green Tea has also been shown to raise metabolic rates, thermogenesis and fat oxidation.


Ginkgo Biloba

The Ginkgo Tree is a living fossil, its plant family dates back to the middle Jurassic, Very long-lived, some tree specimens are more than 2,500 years old. The extract of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and ginkgolides which demonstrate alleged nootropic properties, improved blood flow to most body tissue and protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals.


Concord Grape Concentrate (Vitis vinifera)

The French Paradox: why do the French people, who eat higher levels of animal fat, also have a lower incidence of heart disease? Researchers speculate that the relatively large amount of red wine consumed by the French people has positively benefited them. Researchers are focusing their attention on the special health properties of resveratrol, a polyphenol abundant in grape skin.

A Pomegranate

There may be a similar post on this one, but this one is just another variation.  All Juices used are always 100% juice.

1/2 Cup  Vanilla Yogurt (in this case the Dannnon's Activa )
1/2 Cup Pomegranate Juice
1 cup Whole Milk
1 cup Orchard Apple Kiwi Strawberry

Blend on High.

Makes 3 servings.  This is definitely a repeater and thus around a 8 rating.  The Pomegranate taste still comes through but is knocked down.

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Chilled Pomegranate Raspberry

A good healthy drink with a good supply of Antioxidants.

1 Cup.        Milk (used organic 2% for this mix)
1/2  Cup     Pomegranate and  Raspberry Juice
1/2 cup       Raspberry Yogurt
1                 Banana
12 ice cubes

Combine all in the blender.

Start on a low setting working up to high setting.

Yields 4 cups of Frothy cool smoothie (any ice chunks left will settle towards bottom)

Rates 7+ to 8.

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Good for the Heart

Occasionally I get bold and experimental and venture into other avenues.

This time while grazing for bargains (which helps the experimental side of me) , I picked up a quart of "organic oat ' a non dairy beverage as a delicious alternative to soy.

No I am not a health nut, at least I don't view my self that way. I have been know to devour a 10 ounce bag of chips without any problems - on rare occasions. But I do like oatmeal, and porridge a lot. So I figured this wasn't too bad a loss. The bargain only set me back about $1.50. So no major loss on the experiment.

So here goes another delicious and nutritious smoothie. Definitely for the heart.

1 cup 'organic oat' drink - from Pacific Natural Foods (there is their free pitch)
1/2 cup raspberry yogurt
1 cup 100% Pomegranate Juice

Blend on high and enjoy. Serves about 2 1/2 servings.

Definitely a repeater. The tart tasted of the raspberries is mellowed out a little with the Pom. Slight oat taste, but for the most part one wouldn't know.

Personal rating 7+


Fast food tip: Pita pizzas, simple and quick to prepare only limited by your imagination.

1 Pita pocket - spread tomato sauce (preferably spaghetti sauce) -cover with some mild cheddar cheese. Bake in oven for about 5 minutes or till cheese bubbles - (uses a cookie sheet or stone underneath to catch the melted cheese).

That is the simplest version, add meats or whatever else you want plus different cheeses. Immediate success with hungry children.

Hey I did that, after taking three boys on a field trip. Stopped at my house and feed them. As a bachelor it was a immediate success, each kid had two pita pizzas each. I couldn't keep up hardly.

The Berry Heart

Well another good one for a stressed out heart, and perky to the taste buds is using Pomegranate and Raspberry premix. The sharp yet sweet tastes against the pom is good.

Here we go.

1 cup whole milk - yes I like large portions, kinda like a kid getting a large milkshake
1 cup 100% Pomegranate & Raspberry Juice (Pom being the main ingredient)
1/2 cup strawberry yogurt - some more berry flavor add with the goodness of yogurt.

blend on medium and then kick to high for a frothier mix. Pour and enjoy the berry flavors with the goodness of Pomegranate.
Yields about 2 1/2 servings.

For extra thickness you can add one banana, but it tones down the berry flavors a bit, and gives a filling serving. Without the banana my personal rating is 8+ with 7+.

Definitely one of my better mixes.


While growing up as kid and a teenager, I never considered eating a pomegranate. Thou two of my sisters would frequently get one, and enjoy them. Always thought it such a seedy fruit. Well the years have worn, and yes I finally broke down in recent history and tried the fruit straight. It is good, but seedy. Prefer the juice, I can get right to the business quick.

The pomegranate is bursting with antioxidant rich flavonoids.

A couple of links for the pomegranates (hint there are two links on this word - at the front and back)