Category Archives: Smoothies & Shakes

Bailey’s Shamrock Shakes

15 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Boozy, Desserts, Holidays, Smoothies & Shakes

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Bailey's Shamrock Shake

I don’t remember my first Shamrock Shake, but I know they have been around for quite some time. I remember wondering what this green milkshake from the drivethru was all about and wondered how it was so darn good. It was simple while still being really unique, and it was GREEN.

Years later, the Shamrock Shake seems to have drawn quite a cult following. Everyone makes a really big deal about them every March. However, since I made my first Shamrock Shake at home, I haven’t worried about going to the drivethru. This year…it was only natural to add one of my favorite Irish boozes to the mix. Baileys……..of course. It’s pretty much your standard Shamrock shake…with Baileys. Just treat yourself to one and don’t worry about it.

Recipe
Bailey’s Shamrock Shake
By Baked Northwest
Makes 1 large or 2 small shakes

Ingredients

  • 3-4 scoops of good vanilla ice cream
  • 1/2 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • 4 ice cubes
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. mint extract (depending on how much mint flavor you want mixed with your Bailey’s)
  • 5 drops green food coloring
  • whipped cream and green sprinkles for garnish, and maybe a maraschino cherry
  1. Add first five ingredients to a blender and blend until thick and smooth. If shake is too thin, add a bit more ice cream. If it’s too thick, add a small splash of Bailey’s or another ice cube.
  2. Pour in a glass (or two), add whipped cream and sprinkles to the top. Enjoy, and be happy you didn’t sit in the drive thru.

Red Velvet Oreo Milkshakes

10 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Cookies, Desserts, Easy, Events, Holidays, Smoothies & Shakes

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Red Velvet Milkshakes

I’m sure by now you have heard of these Red Velvet Oreos that everyone can’t seem to stop talking about. I had only heard good reviews, and I managed to procure a few boxes of them.

Red Velvet Oreo Milkshakes

Now, I don’t know about you, but my favorite way to have an oreo (or let’s be real, multiple oreos) is in a milkshake or mixed into ice cream somehow. Sooo it was obvious that a Red Velvet Oreo milkshake was in order for Valentine’s Day.

Red Velvet Oreo Milkshakes

Note – this is not a sponsored post. I bought these oreos and made this milkshake on my own accord. You’ll be the first to know if someone ever decides I should write a sponsored post…

Recipe
Red Velvet Oreo Milkshakes
by Baked Northwest
Makes 2 small shakes or 1 large shake 

Ingredients

  • 6 red velvet oreo cookies
  • 2 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup milk (I used nonfat)
  • about 4 standard sized ice cubes
  • 1 or 2 drops of red food coloring (optional)
  • whipped cream, for topping
  • red sprinkles, for topping

Note: When it comes to milkshakes, you can really wing it. Take these measurements as purely a guide. Different blenders may bring you a different consistency, and feel free to add more or less ice cream or milk depending on how thick you like your shakes. Ice is completely optional, but it’s how I have always liked to make milkshakes.

Directions

Add the red velvet oreos, the vanilla ice cream, milk and ice cubes to a blender. Put on the lid and blend everything on medium to medium-high until you have a smooth mixture. Depending on the blender you have, you may have to stop it and give everything a stir. Add a few drops of red food coloring, if desired. Blend again if necessary. Pour contents into 2 small or 1 large glass. Top with whipped cream and red sprinkles and enjoy!

 

Chilled Strawberry Soup

11 Sunday May 2014

Posted by in Easy, Entertaining, Healthy, Smoothies & Shakes, Soups, Vegetarian

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strawberry soupIs this one of the weirdest things you haver ever heard of? Strawberry…soup? Ok, it’s probably not the weirdest thing…but still. Not your everyday soup. However, this soup is quite tasty and I highly recommend making it under several different circumstances:

  1. It’s sweltering hot outside and you want something chilled and refreshing.
  2. You are hosting a fancy summer soirée and want to look creative and awesome.
  3. If Gazpacho (aka cold tomato soup, ugh) just isn’t your thing.
  4. There are tons of strawberries in your kitchen, and you are looking to do something “different”.
  5. You are hosting a “ladies only” event…This doesn’t really strike me as a soup a lot of dudes would be into. I’m thinking bridal shower, mother’s day brunch, baby shower…However, maybe not baby shower, since this soup has WINE in it. Which brings me to…
  6. GIRLS WINE WEEKEND. This really doesn’t have to be soup, it can pretty much be a smoothie and the best way to start a wine-filled weekend…A totally healthy breakfast alternative to mimosas or Bloody Mary’s…Because why not be smart when boozin, better to stick with one type of alcohol all day!*

So now that it’s clear I am very excited about the Riesling in this soup, I feel it’s best to put a disclaimer out there that in about a month I will be doing a day in NAPA for a joint Bachelorette party with my favorite girls! Since moving I miss everyone terribly, and I booked my flight pretty much the second the dates were set in stone. For whatever ridiculous reason, making this soup made me reallyreallyEXTRA excited for the upcoming girls wine weekend.

Strawberry Soup

*Drink responsibly. It is recommended to eat something with your breakfast booze, like a f*ckin bagel.

Recipe
Chilled Strawberry Soup
adapted from Southern Living
makes about 4 cups

Ingredients

  • 3 cups fresh sliced strawberries, washed with stems removed
  • 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 
  • 1/2 cup Riesling or other sweet white wine
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • Garnishes: olive oil, freshly ground pepper, sliced fresh strawberries, fresh mint and/or basil

Directions

  1. Process 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries, Greek yogurt, Riesling, and sugar in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Cover and chill 2 hours. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, freshly ground pepper, chopped fresh mint, and sliced fresh strawberries.

 

Toasted Oat Smoothie

04 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in Breakfast, Easy, Healthy, Smoothies & Shakes

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Toasted Oat Smoothie

A quickie smoothie recipe to start the week off right. The oats provide a little extra sustenance…Who knows what I will try next…a smoothie with flax seeds?!? To be continued, as always…

Recipe
Toasted Oat Smoothie
adapted, until almost unrecognizable, from the Joy the Baker Cookbook

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 – 1 cup frozen strawberries (about 5 large)
  • 1 cup hemp, rice, almond, soy, or cow’s milk
  • 1/4 cup toasted oats
  • 1-2 tbsp agave nectar or honey

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Lay oats flat on a baking sheet. Let toast in oven for 5-10 minutes. (If you don’t have much time in the AM, you can skip this step). Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth.

Diary of a 1 Day Juice Cleanse: Evolution Fresh

14 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Healthy, Restaurants, Seattle, Smoothies & Shakes, Uncategorized

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Everyone has been talking about juicing lately. Juicing cleanses in particular. I’ve read a lot of things here and there about it, and I was curious. Is this something I could ever do, let alone afford?  The deliver-it-to-your-door-3-day-cleanse-if-you-hate-it-you-are-screwed-plus-it-costs-twohundreddollars was a little intense for me. Lo and behold, I found a solution: Evolution Fresh.

My day of juice...all packaged up and ready to go!

My day of juice…all packaged up and ready to go!

They have wonderful 6 packs of juice for different levels of juicing. Wanting to start small, I chose the “Easy Evolution Pack.” The one day, 6 pack of juice cost me $33.20. Not bad, considering a normal happy hour usually runs me that much…

Continue reading →

Orange Carrot Smoothie

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Breakfast, Easy, Healthy, Smoothies & Shakes

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I questioned whether I could drink this orange wonder upon first glance. Pretty sure I’ve OD’ed on pumpkin and Halloween candy the past few weeks, and this smoothie looks like pureed candy corn. But it’s not! The blend of carrot juice, bananas, and peaches is healthy, fresh, and and light. Not too sweet. Somehow it reminds me of fall without weighing me down, even though I’m wearing a huge chunky sweater right now. Thank God for things like carrot juice and blenders.

Orange Carrot Smoothie

A wing it recipe – makes about 1 smoothie

Ingredients

  • about 4 oz. Carrot Juice (I used Trader Joe’s brand)
  • about 4 oz. Orange or Tangerine Juice (Again, TJ’s is the best)
  • 1 banana
  • handful of frozen peaches

Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth. The juice amount is not exact – you really have to wing it. Add more carrot juice or more orange juice, whatever you like best. You might have to stop the blender a few times, scrape down the sides, stir, maybe add another splash of juice. You’ll know when it gets to your desired consistency.  Serve immediately.

Classic Smoothie

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Easy, Smoothies & Shakes

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Seriously, there is rarely any reason to go to a smoothie place. They are so simple and much healthier if you invest in a decent blender and make them at home! The Classic Strawberry-Orange-Banana smoothie will never get old. One of these always makes me feel better if I am under the weather. Only 3 ingredients and you’re ready to blend!

Recipe
Classic Strawberry-Orange-Banana Smoothie
Makes 1 large smoothie or 2 smaller smoothies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups orange juice
  • about 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 banana

Add all ingredients to blender and mix until smooth. Bonus: Add about 1 cup fresh spinach. Sounds weird, but you can’t even taste it! Don’t worry about  your smoothie turning into a weird color, it’s even healthier now!

Pineapple Malted Milkshake

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in Desserts, Smoothies & Shakes

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There are some recipes out there that are so fun, so easy, and so unique that I have to try them right away. A pineapple malted milkshake? Definitely covers all three.

I happened to have everything on hand except for the malted milk powder (which I thought was weird and freaked me out) but I went for it anyways. Thank god it’s not the same as Whoppers, because I hate whoppers with a fiery passion that consumes my soul…Ok, that might be a slight over exaggeration…

The milkshake turned out divine, and the malted taste is subtle enough for me to handle. I restrained myself from adding some ice cubes (a must for me on most homemade milkshakes) and next time I would probably add a few to make it a homerun.

Recipe

Pineapple Malted Milkshake

from the Joy the Baker Cookbook

Makes one large milkshake, or two smaller ones

Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 3 tbsp. malted milk powder
  • 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh pineapples chunks

In a blender combine the milk, ice cream, malted milk powder, vanilla, and pineapple. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Pour into a tall glass and savor the goodness immediately!

Raspberry-Peach Smoothie…with Coconut Water

29 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Breakfast, Easy, Healthy, Smoothies & Shakes, Uncategorized

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Raspberry-Peach Smoothie made with Coconut Water

The last time I went to Costco (an occurring theme in my life) as soon as I walked in there were loads of coconut water. “NEW!” “ON SALE!” Naturally, I HAD to buy some. Coconut water is supposedly healthy…with antioxidants and all that jazz…I had been meaning to try some.

The stuff they sell in major bulk at Costco.

This is something that always happens. You buy a 1,239,012,839,012 pack of something at Costco because you can’t resist and then end up hating it. I LOVE coconut, how could I hate it in water form?  I don’t even know how to describe the flavor…just weird. Doesn’t quench thirst at all.

I was hatching a plan on how to pawn the stuff off to my friends when genius Jordan said, “Just use it to make one of your smoothies.”

Bananas and frozen raspberries in the blender, with frozen peaches hiding on the bottom.

So I give you…Peach-raspberry Coconut water Smoothie

I was nervous…but it ended up tasting MUCH better than the water by itself. I’m considering it even healthier than the water alone since all I added was fruit.

Recipe

Raspberry-Peach Smoothie with Coconut Water

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1 handful (about a cup) frozen peaches
  • 1 handful-ish (maybe half a cup? Wing it) frozen raspberries
  • 1 Vita Coco Coconut Water (11.1 ounces)

Throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Makes 1 really large smoothie, or 2 smaller servings.

P.S…Happy Leap Day!

Pom-Blue Strawberry Banana Smoothie

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Breakfast, Easy, Healthy, Smoothies & Shakes

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If you want to talk about wingin’ it…smoothies are the definition. It’s not hard to make a quality smoothie at home for half the cost of those juicery places – and most of the time half the calories. I almost always just pick a juice and frozen fruit…you’d be surprised how something so simple can be so good!.

Recipe

Pom-Blue Strawberry Banana Smoothie

  • 1 banana
  • about 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 2 cups Pomegranate-Blueberry Juice (I used Tropicana 50 light juice)

Throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add more juice or frozen strawberries until you get to desired thickness.