Sweeten Summer with Cool, Refreshing Smoothies

(ARA) - Warm summer days call for the perfect frosty refreshment. Try homemade fruit smoothies -- sweetened naturally with pure honey. Creating your own creamy concoctions is easy -- simply blend together your favorite fruits with ice cubes, milk or yogurt and a touch of honey. Honey is the secret ingredient to enhancing the sweet flavors of the fruits.

Blend up your own delicious smoothies with these easy tips:

* Add variety: Experiment with different combinations of fresh fruits. Try melons, berries and tropical fruits such as mangoes, bananas and pineapple.
* Make it thick: Add a few more ice cubes for a creamier mix.
* Keep it cold: Instead of using fresh fruit, use frozen fruit for a colder and thicker beverage. You can buy frozen fruit or freeze your own.
* On the go: Make smoothies ahead of time and store in the freezer.
* Prevent sticky situations: Add honey and any additional liquids to the blender first to prevent it from binding up on the frozen fruit and getting stuck.

Try these simple smoothie recipes from the National Honey Board. For more recipes and additional honey tips and information, visit www.honey.com.

Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 large kiwi, peeled
1 container (8 ounces) low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup honey
12 to 15 ice cubes

Directions:
In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Serve immediately.

Tropical Smoothie
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups low-fat milk
1/4 cup honey
2 medium ripe bananas, peeled
1 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla (Substitute vanilla yogurt for plain yogurt and vanilla, if desired.)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 ice cubes

Directions:
Combine milk, bananas, yogurt, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in blender or food processor; process until thick and creamy. Add ice cubes, one at a time, and blend until smooth.

Honey Breakfast Drink
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup low-fat dry milk
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 large banana, peeled and sliced
4 to 5 ice cubes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor and mix well.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Boost Your Energy With Peanuts And Peanut Butter

(NAPSI)-If you have been skipping your favorite peanut and peanut butter recipes, it's time to add them back into your diet.

A handful of peanuts or a two-tablespoon serving of peanut butter remains a delicious, convenient and inexpensive way to add nutrients like protein, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate and dietary fiber to your diet.

People still love a PB&J sandwich, peanut butter on apple slices or celery sticks, but, say the experts at the National Peanut Board, you can also use it to add flavor to any meal or snack. Whether you're on the go or powering up before or after a workout, this Fruity Peanut Butter Spread makes a great sandwich spread or a dip for fresh fruit that is sure to be a favorite of both kids and adults. To use as a dip, add extra orange juice until it's the right dipping consistency. The Blueberry Peanut Shake makes a refreshing snack:

Fruity Peanut Butter Spread

1 medium apple, quartered but not peeled

½ cup dried cherries or dried cranberries

1 cup peanut butter

¼ cup orange juice

½ teaspoon cinnamon

In a food processor, chop apple and cranberries. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, orange juice and cinnamon. Stir apple/cranberry mixture into peanut butter mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate.

Makes: 12 servings of two tablespoons each

Blueberry Peanut Shake

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

⅓ cup creamy peanut butter

½ cup ice

2 cups frozen yogurt

1½ cups whole (or low-fat) milk

Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend at high speed for 1 minute. Pour in glass and serve.

Makes: three servings of 12 oz. each

For more recipes and nutritional information, go to www.nationalpeanutboard.org.

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What is PB's perfect pairing this National Peanut Butter Lovers Month? Produce.

PRNewswire/ -- There is no denying that most people need to increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables. For some, the recommended daily consumption seems daunting. During Peanut Butter Lovers Month this November, try dressing up those fruits and veggies with fun, flavored peanut butters and peanut butter recipes for dishes that are sure to please everyone in the family.

According to Produce for Better Health Foundation, 90 percent of Americans consume fewer fruits and vegetables than the recommended daily amount, which ranges from 2 to 6 1/2 cups each day. Peanut butter, on the other hand, is consumed in 89 percent of households in the United States.

"Peanut butter is the perfect partner for almost any fruit or vegetable because it's a flavor that we already love," said Raffaela Marie Fenn, president and managing director of the National Peanut Board. "According to Weekly Reader, 64 percent of students said they would eat more produce if paired with peanut butter. Peanut butter tastes great with many different types of produce -- from broccoli and spinach to pears and pineapple. This Peanut Butter Lovers Month, get creative to encourage healthy eating."

Peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E and an excellent source of niacin, an essential vitamin that converts food to energy, both of which are important for proper growth and development. Peanuts, peanut butter and other peanut products are high in protein, have no trans fats and are cholesterol-free.

Trying to get more fruits and vegetables in to your family's diet -- or your own? The ideas below are just a few fun ways to combine fresh produce and peanut butter into delicious, healthful meals and snacks.

-- Add P.B. Loco Asian Curry Spice peanut butter to your favorite fruit
chutney for a tasty vegetable dip.
-- In the mood for a decadent dessert? Dress up a traditional baked apple
with Peanut Butter & Co. Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter.
-- Add a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper to Sunland Onion Parsley
peanut butter and you have the perfect sauce for steamed mixed
vegetables -- serve as a side dish or over rice as an entree.

For recipes and photos of the dishes mentioned above, as well as other information about USA-grown peanuts and peanut butter, check out www.nationalpeanutboard.org .

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