Cherry Berry Smoothie

You know how I love my summer fruit right?

Well I just got back from Sprouts, which is a store with a farmer's market concept.  The primary items are fruits and vegetables.  They also have a great bulk item section, and many organic foods, if you like that too.  I go for the great selection of fruits and veggies at such great, great low prices!  Make sure to try them out if you have one in your area.  Definitely worth going!


So I bought a car load of fruits.  I'm always doing that.  It's my weakness and I can't help it!  So I have to eat a LOT of fruit every day so it doesn't spoil.  This week I bought grapes, cherries, apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  See what I mean???


I really can't help myself....


So I woke up and decided to make one of my favorite drinks...a smoothie!  I've posted many many smoothies recipes before, but I think I might just say this is one of the best, if not THE BEST.  I'm torn...


This is a Cherry Berry Smoothie.  I started off with adding some berries, (blue and black) and then came the cherries, and I threw in some green grapes just for good measure!  Oh,  I got to use my handy cherry pitter...love that gadget!  It just pops the pits out! Simple!!  What is your favorite gadget??


Back to the smoothie.  It's sweet all on it's own so sugar or nectar isn't necessary.  And I forgot the banana, but it was loaded with fruit it came out thick and creamy anyway!  So try this. You'll see, it delishhhhh!


Just look at this color...purple is my favorite...who wouldn't love this!

Cherry Berry Smoothie

Serves 1

1 10oz container of lite vanilla yogurt

8 blackberries

10 blueberries

7 pitted cherries

5 green grapes

¼ c 2% milk

1 cup of ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender in order listed and then blend until smooth and ice is crushed.

Southern Sundays

Welcome to

Southern Sundays

and happy

Father's Day!

I'm sure that you are all having a wonderful time celebrating the wonderfulness of your Father's in your life.  What is everyone doing to celebrate?  Are you grilling?  Going out to eat?  Or doing something fun, that doesn't involve food??  Let me know with a comment below and share your precious moments!

So straight to this week's featured recipes. We had 4 top recipes that everyone adored! And strawberry cakes were a BIG hit!

Congratulations on this week's features!

Smokehouse Chicken

by What's Cooking Love?

Strawberry Lemonade Cake

by Michelle's Tasty Creations

Caramelized Banana Ice Box Cake

by Simple Living with Diane Balch

Strawberry Coconut Pound Cake

by Flour Me With Love

Everyone ready to party?

Guidelines:

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Link back to your specific recipe and not to your main site.
Link back to Southern Sundays either in your post, or grab my Southern Sundays Button located in the right side bar.
Please visit a few of the links in the post and say hello to your fellow bloggers!
Enjoy, have fun, cook lots of food, and relish your Southern Sunday!

Fast & Fresh: Spicy Pork and Orange Chopped Salad

I hope you are all enjoying summer.

I can't believe that it is almost the end of June.

The magnolia trees are in bloom...

The jacaranda trees are in bloom...

I just love the summer flowers that grow around my area.  Do like flowers?  What are your favorites?

Today's entry is another Fast & Fresh idea.

I mentioned the other day how MGG loves salads.  Well I eat them a lot too, but when I make a "main dish" salad I usually like to put protein in it.  It helps keep me full, gives the salad interest, and it's tasty and healthy.

Let's review what Fast & Fresh recipes are:

"Fast & Fresh"

Simple ingredients

Fresh and healthy

Easy prep

Delishhhh taste!

This salad is just perfect.  It's also unique in that it isn't your normal everyday salad.  The flavors are spicy.  Do you like spicy food? Hope so.  The spice comes from the Chinese 5 spice that flavors the pork, and the wasabi soy almonds that are used for garnish.  If you don't like spice leave out the spicy almonds for sure (sub regular ones instead), and possibly substitute an Asian seasoning blend for the Chinese 5 spice.  

Oh! and I mentioned pork didn't I??  Yep, pork.  But a nice lean pork tenderloin.  Just go grab yourself a small one from Trader Joe's and cut off enough for a quick stir fry in your skillet.  Nothing fancy.  I've found that Trader Joe's is the perfect place to get a small pork tenderloin at a great price, as the grocery stores around here carry ones that are HUGE and cost a fortune.  If you don't care for pork, substitute chicken.  It's all good.

The best combination is the oranges, and the pork.  A little sweet, spicy, the coleslaw mix lends some crunch as do the almonds.  All together you've got one interesting and tasty salad.

So tasty....!

Product Note:  Blue Diamond Bold Wasabi & Soy Sauce Almonds can be found next to the cocktail peanuts.  Beware...these are spicy!

Spicy Pork and Orange Chopped Salad

Adapted from Southern Living

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 teaspoons Chinese 5 spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 oranges

1/2 cup chinese chicken salad dressing

1 cup seeded and chopped cucumber

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 romaine lettuce heart, chopped

3 cups shredded coleslaw mix

1/2 cup wasabi-and-soy sauce-flavored almonds

Preparation

Toss pork with Chinese 5 spice seasoning and salt to coat. Saute pork in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until done.

Peel oranges, and cut sections, removing any white pith. Cut slices into chunks.

Pour dressing into a salad bowl. Stir in oranges, cucumber, and cilantro. Let stand 5 minutes. Add romaine, coleslaw mix, and pork; toss gently. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately.