One Kitchen, Many Cultures

Drinks

Energizing Apple Beet Coconut Smoothie.

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Here’s one of those drinks which is guaranteed to give you a boost of energy, especially during those draining winter months we experience in Canada. I was visiting mom and dad in Toronto a while back and I saw she had brought back a ton of Turmeric from our garden in Trinidad and Tobago. She went on to mention that she makes this drink for dad and my sister (who lives close to them), so I got her to share the concoction with me. I’ve been making this smoothie ever since then.

You’ll Need…

4 beets
2 apples
1 tablespoon fresh turmeric
2 slices ginger
3-4 cups coconut water (unsweetened)
1 tablespoon honey – optional

 Important: Please wear gloves when handling the beets as the RED juice will stain your hands.

Basically all you have to do is peel and cube the beets (save the tops for salads or to cook as you would other ‘greens’)  and core/cube the apples.

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I also scrapped off the other skin of the turmeric with a spoon, but I didn’t bother to peel the ginger.

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Add all the ingredients to your blender and puree until smooth. I’d recommend chilling everything before you make the smoothie, so you don;t have to add ice and water it down.

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My intention was to post this recipe on ChrisDeLaRosa.com, but my mom mentioned that while one may not associate this smoothie with the Caribbean (because of the apple) this is made and enjoyed in one form or the other at ‘home’.

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Desserts Drinks Gluten Free Vegetarian

Refreshing Mango Raspberry Smoothie.

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Though not necessarily a “Caribbean” thing when I was a young fella’ on the islands, smoothies are making it’s way across the island chain as more and more people are looking for healthy ways to start their day, especially with the abundance of fresh tropical fruits we have available to us. Back then, you’d quicker find freshly made juices and punches with the same fruits, so I must confess that I’m not a huge fan of smoothies (it just wasn’t part of my diet). This mango raspberry smoothie only takes a couple minutes to make,  quite refreshing and a wonderful meal in a glass.

You’ll Need…

2 cups mango juice (or nectar)
2 cups ripe raspberries (freeze them if you don’t plan on using ice)
1/4 cup orange juice

* Feel free to use fresh or frozen mango instead of the mango juice I used. If using dice mango, you’ll need a bit more orange juice. For a protein kick you can always go in with some protein powder from your local health store.

This is so simple – basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients in a blender and give it a good pulse to break everything down to the consistency you like and you’re done!

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Important: If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. This recipe makes enough for 2 people so feel free to double up to make for a larger group. And if you’re making this during the summer months you can easily add a bit of rum, a tablespoon of lemon juice and a few drops of bitters for a more of a festive (big people) drink for your next BBQ gathering.

I know, raspberries are not native to the Caribbean.. this is just my take on a tribute to my homeland (the Caribbean) and the place I now call home (Canada)… ENJOY!

Desserts Drinks

Classic Caribbean Banana Punch (banana smoothie).

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What’s a month of grilling without a refreshing dessert in a glass? There’s no better way to start (or finish) the day on those hot summer days, than a refreshing glass of banana punch. I guess for most people outside the Caribbean this would be called a ‘shake’ or smoothie, but as with all thick fruity drinks in the Caribbean.. it’s a punch! With ripe bananas and cold milk as the base, we’ll build on that foundation with some spices, rich vanilla ice cream and if you’d like to make this ‘big people’ exclusive, you can go in with some rum!

You’ll Need…

2 ripe bananas
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoon honey
3 cups cold milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

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Basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients in a blender and give blitz until you have a smooth (and creamy) consistency. I didn’t add any ice to this as you’d normally do with a smoothie, but you can do so if you want to impress your kids. I don’t like adding ice to the blender (or in the glass I’m serving it in) as I find that it dilutes the overall flavor of the banana punch, so I start off with very cold milk.

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You can always go in with some coconut flavored rum (or any rum you like) to give this banana punch a more grown-up appeal, and it’s also an excellent way to put overripe bananas to use. If you like banana bread, you’ll love the subtle notes of cinnamon and nutmeg in this drink. Do serve immediately.

Are you liking the food and drinks of this year’s July Month of Grilling? Do leave your comments below and kindly share the recipes on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

Special Note: This recipe is traditionally done with sweetened condensed milk and not necessarily the honey and ice cream my version adopts!