Amazing what little masterpieces one can create with fresh fruit and a blender.  It's like mixing paint pigments to design a new fashion color, except these colors are themselves powerful antioxidants.  Your cells just love them.  The difference between blender recipes and juicing is the added advantage of soft fibers.  They are wonderful for cleaning and maintaining a healthy colon.  Blender recipes are an excellent addition to a healing, cleansing or weight loss program.  Don't be afraid to experiment; you will be delighted with the results. 

Blender recipes are also a great way to use up over-ripened fruit.  These blended foods will keep for one day in the refrigerator.  Chill by adding four to five ice cubes in the blender or you can forget the ice cubes and throw in some fruit from the freezer like ripe bananas or strawberries.  This will not hurt the blades or motor of better quality blenders.  Keep a good stash of cut fruit in freezer bags, they work great!  Make sure you peel the bananas before freezing, or you will look like me, red-faced trying to get the rock hard peel off the frozen banana while your wife is having far too much fun at your expense.  

Blender Recipe As a Fast Food Meal Replacement
Stacy and I often have a tall smoothie as a healthy meal replacement.  There is good reason for this other than the simple fact that we love the refreshing taste.  They are a fast, highly digestible, nutritious way of getting a lot of raw fruit and protein.  They take minutes to make, no dirty dishes other than rinsing out the blender.  And best of all, they can be eaten on the fly, biking or driving in the car.  I use my retired insolated coffee mug. 

Stacy and I have decided to share our favorite blender recipe with you.  It has evolved over time, a little tweaking here and there.  One of my favorite fast foods, this recipe is packed with nutrition and is surprisingly filling.   Enjoy.

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Stacy & Ron's Favorite
one large serving

       1 cup of organic vanilla soy milk
half a scoop of powered protein
one banana
tablespoon of Sucanat
five frozen strawberries

I know what you are thinking.  Powdered Protein, I thought you guys only eat all natural foods.  Well, there are some exceptions, and this is one.  A good quality protein powder mixed in with your smoothie not only makes this a whole meal but helps moderate blood sugar by slowing down digestive time of the fruit.  The sugars in fruit act like a cellular delivery system for the protein; as a bodybuilder I add a whole scoop.  They say if you drink this about a half an hour after ripping it up in the gym, you maximize absorption and muscle development.  Keep in mind one cup of soy milk already has about 7 grams of protein.  For a healing, detoxification diet you can eliminate the powdered protein and simply add five drops of real vanilla.   Also add any kind of fruit or replace Sucanat with a 1/4 cup of frozen pineapple concentrate.  The operative word is experiment.  

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Pineapple Release

1 apple
1 orange
1/3 pineapple
1 banana
½ lemon
2 tbsp. honey

An explosion of flavors sending your taste buds into free-fall.

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Honey Mango Tango

½ honeydew melon
1 mango
2 tbsp. Sucanat
pinch of cinnamon

Like cantaloupes, honeydew melons are a great springboard for many combinations of flavors. 

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Blind Date Pudding

10 honey dates
½ cup water

Blend 10 dates with a small amount of water.  Add more water as the mixture thickens.  Pour into soup bowls, decorate with banana slices and sprinkle with Sucanat.  Chill in freezer.  This will be the best pudding you'll ever taste.  A versatile base to add to your favorite fruit.  A pinch of cinnamon and vanilla extract will lift you to heaven.  You’re best silver and china, and two small bowls of Blind Date Pudding.  A perfect treat for a special evening.  The only drawback is that dates can have a laxative effect to someone who is not accustomed to a raw food diet.  Your sweetheart will consider it well worth the trouble.

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Banana Smoothies

Frozen bananas

Bananas are filled with potassium which contributes to a strong heart and muscles. In the class of soft fruits, they are second highest in mineral content, only to be rivaled by strawberries. They are almost impossible to juice, but are versatile in making varieties of banana shakes, ice cream or smoothies.
Peel ripe bananas, put them in freezer bags and freeze. Banana will freeze in 24 hours. To make a fruit milk shake, without milk, blend chopped frozen bananas, honey, strawberries, blueberries or cantaloupe juice. Frozen banana slices make a great addition to salads.

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The Hawaiian Dip

1 avocado

pinch of basil

2 large Tbs. frozen pineapple concentrate

pinch of chives

sea salt (optional)

Blend these ingredients in food processor or blender.

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Fun Fruit Dressing

1 avocado

1 banana

2-3 Tbs. of frozen pineapple concentrate

1/4 cup of water

Blend all ingredients and pour over fruit. If you really want to impress someone who may not be a fruit eater, this is your ticket.

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Veggie Salad Delight

1 perfectly ripe avocado

1/2 tsp. honey

1/4 cup water

1 clove garlic

2 tsp. flax oil

1 tsp. dill

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 lemon, juiced

Blend until creamy and let sit in refrigerator for half an hour allowing the flavors to harmonize. Pour over salad and toss well.

Love your veggies with the smooth delicious taste of this romantic dressing. Perfect with candlelight and your favorite significant other.

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Fruit Delight

1 ripe avocado

1/4 cup frozen orange concentrate

1/4 cup water

1 lemon, juiced

Blend until creamy, chill and pour over salad. A delight that will court your taste buds.

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Milk-Free Chocolate Milk

1 avocado,

1/2 cup of Sucanat

1 1/2 cups of water

6 ice cubes

The perfect replacement for chocolate milk. It has the texture of thick cream, and the flavor is indescribably delicious. This is a dairy farmer's worst fears come true. Extremely filling, high in calories, (approximately 600) and the equivalent to a Big Mac but much better for you. Great to drink one hour before body building or long distance running.  If you are trying to gain weight, this is the drink for you!  You can also add a banana and cinnamon—or anything else your heart fancies, such as mango, pear or peach. Makes a great fruit dressing.