"Orange" You Glad I Didn't Say Flaxseed... Smoothie

Brent and I have been trying to eat healthier and drop a few pounds lately.  We have committed to working out at least 30 minutes every single day (except for our day off on Fridays).  We also have made some changes in our diet, including changing our Sunday pizza nights into Sunday smoothie nights!  We have been experimenting with some smoothie recipes and this one was a hit!  Brent came up with the name since this was the first time we'd added flaxseed!  If you haven't tried flaxseed before, it really doesn't add any taste, but the health benefits are worth it.  So, give it a try!

"Orange" You Glad I Didn't Say Flaxseed... Smoothie

2 1/2 c frozen peach slices
3/4 c frozen raspberries
1/3 c nonfat vanilla yogurt (I use Dannon light & fit)
1 c 100% carrot juice (no sugar added)
1 c 100% tangerine juice (no sugar added)
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Makes 2 large smoothies.

Banana Punch and Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

A couple of friends and I threw a baby shower for our great friend, Erin, on Sunday.  I wanted to post two recipes from that shower.  First, a great banana punch that's super easy and not too strong tasting.  Second, a delicious fruit dip!

Banana Punch

Banana Punch

5 ripe bananas

4 c sugar

5 c water

46 oz pineapple juice

12 oz frozen orange juice

12 oz frozen lemonade

1 2-liter ginger ale

In a blender, puree bananas and pineapple juice.  Combine all ingredients and freeze.  Remove from freezer a few hours before use, serve slushy.  Immediately before serving, add ginger ale.

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 jar marshmellow creme
Mix with electric blender until smooth and creamy.  Serve with mixed fruits.

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Land Family SWEET Tea!

It's a tradition in the Land family (my mom's side of the family) to always have about 3-4 gallons of good ole Southern sweet tea at every holiday meal.  My dad is the unofficial tea maker in our family, and he does it right!  I have tested this recipe hundreds of times since being on my own, and I like to think it is pretty much perfected now.  Of course, those of you who aren't true Southerners will probably think this is way too sweet...but this is how it's done!

Land Family Sweet Tea

1-2 quarts water (depends on the size of the pot you use)
2 family-size tea bags (I always use Publix decaf tea bags since I don't drink caffeine, but my dad always used Lipton--Publix brand is the only exception to Lipton that I've found)
1 cup sugar
1/2 gallon pitcher
Bring water to boil in small pot.  When water is at a rolling boil, drop in tea bags, cover with lid, and remove from heat.  Allow tea to sit in pot for about 45 minutes-1 hour.  Pour tea into 1/2 gallon pitcher, add 1 cup of sugar.  Run water over tea bags to fill pitcher.  Refrigerate and enjoy!  (Double this recipe to make 1 gallon)