Now that summer is here in NYC, I tend to eat things that are lighter on my stomach and are more refreshing. Think smoothies, ice cream, ice slushies, acai bowls, and salads. Plus, the green markets are filled with tons of summer fruits this time of year. Watermelons are 20 pounds heavy, tropical fruits like mango, papaya, and pineapple have never tasted so sweet, and stone fruits like peaches, apricots, and nectarines make their yearly appearance. Just one bite of those guys and juice will be dripping all the way down to your elbow.

For this week’s recipes, I was inspired by my recent trip the grocery store. All the new fruits coming out and the increasingly hot weather has made me grab my food processor and blender a lot more. The first recipe is a orange and mango slushie. Super refreshing drink in the afternoon to cool you off and super customizable to whatever fruit you’ve got. Next is some delicious banana ice cream that I make at least once a week and last is my go to green smoothie!

Orange & Mango Slushie

Makes 2 slushies

Slushies are prefect as an afternoon pick me up. They are super cold, light, icy and 100% customizable to whatever fruit you’ve got on hand. Living in Brooklyn, I have access to tons of different fruits and purees. So I’ve have been shopping more in my neighborhood and found tons of frozen fruit purees. Not only have I made a orange & mango slushie but I have also made a passion fruit and tamarind one in the past week. Check out your produce section for fresh fruit but make sure to stop by the frozen section in your grocery store as well for any fruit purees! They will most likely have some great fruits for a slushie as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 orange
• 1/4 cup of mango puree, frozen (this is more an eyeball)
• 2 cups of ice

1. In a high powered blender add in the meat and juice of 1 orange, 1/4 cup of frozen mango puree , and 2 cups of ice. Blend until you have a slushie consistency. If its too thin try adding more ice or frozen fruit. If your blender is having a hard time crushing the ice, add in a little bit of liquid.
2. Pour into two glasses and garnish with a mint. Enjoy on a hot summer day! Note: The more frozen item you have the thicker your slushie will be. Freezing your fresh fruit will make a thicker slushie.

Banana Ice Cream

I love this banana ice cream because its so simple to make and its dairy free. Don’t get me wrong, when those ice cream truck rolls around my block I will be getting a vanilla cone with rainbow sprinkles but this is a delicious and healthy alternative. Its also a great excuse to have ice cream for breakfast!

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas broken into pieces, frozen
• 1 tablespoon of almond butter, optional
• 1 tablespoon of crushed walnuts, optional
• 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, optional
• 1 tablespoon feuilletine aka broken & burnt crepe pieces, optional
• 1 tablespoons of freeze dried blueberries, optional

Instructions:

1. In a blender or a food processor or blender, blend the frozen banana pieces until they are smooth & creamy. This is about 2 – 3 minutes.
2. Scoop out into a bowl and top with all the toppings. Mine are listed above but use what you got!

My Go To Smoothie

Everyones got their go to green smoothie. Whether its super precise, just throw what you got into a blender and call it a day, or buy it at your local smoothie shop we can agree that its filled with crazy amounts of nutrition to fuel you through your next meal. This is my go to smoothie when I make it at home and it taste delicious! Its creamy, not crazy green tasting, and good for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 2 strawberries
• a handful of blueberries
• 1/3 cup of oat milk
• 1 tablespoon of tahini
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 scoop of green superfood powder or big handful of kale or spinach
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, optional

Instructions:

1. In a blender add in 1 banana, 2 strawberries, a handful of blueberries, 1/3 cup of oat milk, 1 tablespoon of tahini, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1 scoop of green superfood powder or a big handful of kale or spinach. Blend until super smooth.
2. Give it a taste and if you need more sweetness add in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Blend to combine and serve!

3 Ways to Instantly Turn Fruit into a Summer Treat

PRINT

Ingredients:

Orange Mango Slushie:

• 1 orange
• 1/4 cup of mango puree, frozen (this is more an eyeball)
• 2 cups of ice

Banana Ice Cream:

• 2 bananas broken into pieces, frozen
• 1 tablespoon of almond butter, optional
• 1 tablespoon crushed walnuts, optional
• 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, optional
• 1 tablespoon feuilletine aka broken & burnt crepe pieces, optional
• 1 tablespoons of freeze dried blueberries, optional

My Go To Smoothie:

• 1 banana
• 2 strawberries
• a handful of blueberries
• 1/3 cup of oat milk
• 1 tablespoon of tahini
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 scoop of green superfood powder or big handful of kale or spinach
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, optional

Instructions:

Instructions for Orange Mango Slushie:

1. In a high powered blender add in the meat and juice of 1 orange, 1/4 cup of frozen mango puree , and 2 cups of ice. Blend until you have a slushie consistency. If its too thin try adding more ice or frozen fruit. If your blender is having a hard time crushing the ice, add in a little bit of liquid.
2. Pour into two glasses and garnish with a mint. Enjoy on a hot summer day! Note: The more frozen item you have the thicker your slushie will be. Freezing your fresh fruit will make a thicker slushie.

Instructions for Banana Ice Cream:

1. In a blender or a food processor or blender, blend the frozen banana pieces until they are smooth & creamy. This is about 2 – 3 minutes.
2. Scoop out into a bowl and top with all the toppings. Mine are listed above but use what you got!

Instructions for My Go To Smoothie:

1. In a blender add in 1 banana, 2 strawberries, a handful of blueberries, 1/3 cup of oat milk, 1 tablespoon of tahini, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1 scoop of green superfood powder or a big handful of kale or spinach. Blend until super smooth.
2. Give it a taste and if you need more sweetness add in 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Blend to combine and serve!