Leti’s Chai

Leti’s Chai
by Gabriel Constans

This smoothie is one of our daughter Leti’s favorites. Chai is a traditional Indian spiced tea made with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, dates, and cardamom. It can be bought prepackaged, or you can make it yourself*.

Yield: 3 cups

2 cups chai, steeped and cooled
1/2 cup rice milk
1 tablespoon honey, or to taste
1 tablespoon dried mint

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and mix on medium speed for 1 minute.

Pour into tea or coffee cups and serve.

*Chai can be bought prepackaged at natural food stores or made at home by combining equal amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, dates, and cardamom. Add 8 cups water, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes.

The Tex-Mex

The Tex-Mex
by Gabriel Constans

Jicama is a root vegetable similar to the turnip. It is popular in Mexican dishes throughout Mexico, Texas, California, and New Mexico. This smoothie is sweet, hot, nourishing, and filling.

Yield: 5 cups

2 cups chopped fresh pineapple
1 small jicama, peeled and sliced
1 large mango, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon chopped jalapeno pepper*
Juice of 1 lime
2 cups filtered water
1 banana

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on high speed for 1 minute.

Pour into tall glasses and serve.

*Jalapeno and other hot peppers must be handled carefully. Don’t touch your face
and wash hands thoroughly.

Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!!!

Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!!!
by Gabriel Constans

The fig’s praises have been sung for centuries. It is used extensively in the Mediterranean and the Middle East in a variety of dishes. It is also a surefire laxative when needed. You are encouraged to sing while making this smoothie. Pretend you’re Placido Domingo or Kiri Te Kanawa performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, or in the shower.

Yield: 3 cups

4 baked figs *
1/2 cup cooked raisins **
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup filtered water

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Don’t forget to sing!

Pour into silver goblets or glasses and serve.

*Bake figs at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
** Place raisins in a saucepan with enough water to cover, bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Raspberry Razzle Dazzle

Raspberry Razzle Dazzle
by Gabriel Constans

This is a favorite and legendary thirst-quencher from Wisconsin in the 1960s and 1970s. Folks used to drive long distances to obtain this sweet, fresh drink. Raspberries are reported to help cleanse the body of toxins, and also contain vitamins C and A.

Yield: 4 cups

1 cup fresh raspberries (or frozen if out of season)
2 cups vanilla pudding
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup filtered water

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and mix on medium speed for 50 to 60 seconds.

Your Broadway hands will come alive for the old razzle dazzle, as you pour this luscious drink into containers of your choice and serve with pizazz.

Bird of Paradise

Bird of Paradise
by Gabriel Constans

To thoroughly enjoy this smoothie, take off your shirt (and whatever else you desire), throw on a flower garland necklace, and let your mind drift off to a warm night in Tahiti, Hawaii or the islands of Indonesia.

Yield: 5 cups

1/2 cup fresh, shredded coconut
2 cups filtered water
3 large bananas
1/2 mango, peeled and chopped
1/2 papaya, peeled and chopped
1/4 passion fruit, peeled and chopped
1/2 guava, peeled and chopped
1 small slice pineapple

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on high speed for 30 seconds. Include shaved ice for sweltering days.

Pour into tall glasses or pineapple husks, put on your feathers and enjoy.

Twist & Shout

Twist and Shout
by Gabriel Constans

The Twist was a popular dance, and a song by Chubby Checker, that swept the nation in the early 1960s. You put one foot in front of the other and twist your body from side to side, lifting one foot at a time for emphasis and bending your knees up and down. When you’re finished doing The Twist, try this smoothie – it’ll give you something to shout about.

Yield: 4 cups

2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
2 cups almond milk
2 dates, chopped
2 bananas
6 teaspoons carob powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and mix on medium speed for 45 seconds.

Pour into a container of your choice and twist it up on the dance floor.

Cold Comfort

Cold Comfort
by Gabriel Constans

Garlic is truly the patient’s best friend. It helps cleanse the throat, sinuses, nose, and lungs. It has been used to ward off werewolves, vampires, and “the evil eye,” and has been praised as a cure for every calamity imaginable. Some people believe that if you eat or drink enough garlic, you will live forever: Of course, you may live alone, due to its strong smell.

Yield: 3 cups

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3 ripe bananas
2 cups apple juice
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1/4 cup soft tofu

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and mix on medium speed for 30 seconds.

Pour into short glasses and drink a wee bit at a time. Cold Comfort has a strong kick.

Strawberry Strut

Strawberry Strut
by Gabriel Constans

Clasp this drink in your hand and truck on down to your favorite hot spot to “strut your stuff.” With the added oxygen your body receives from the strawberries, you’ll have all the extra energy you need.

Yield: 4 cups

2 cups almond milk
20 fresh, ripe strawberries
1 small European or Japanese plum
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons honey

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds.

Pour into tall, short, large or small cups and feel the rhythm.

Tango with the Mango

Tango with the Mango
by Gabriel Constans

It is believed the tango is a dance that originally derived from the milonga of Argentina and the habanera of Cuba and the West Indies. It became popular in the United States and Europe around World War 1. The tango is a flowing, elegant combination of movements accompanied by romantic, lively music with a throbbing beat.

There are hundreds of varieties of the delicious mango, including red, green, yellow, and orange. Mangoes are reported to help rid the body of unwanted odors, and to reduce fevers. They are high in vitamin A, and are said to delay some effects of aging if they are eaten frequently.

Yield: 5 cups

1 ripe mango, peeledand seeded
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1 tangerine, peeled, seeded, and sliced
1 banana
1 ripe papaya, peeled, seeded, and sliced
2 cups filtered water

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on medium speed for 45 seconds.

Pour, serve in tall glasses, wrap your arms around your partner and drink, as you dance the sultry tango.

Cantaloupe Waltz

Cantaloupe Waltz
by Gabriel Constans

The waltz is a gliding, turning dance that overcame hostile opposition to dominate social dancing from 1750 to 1900. It involves six even steps and full turns as slowly or swiftly as the music will take you. Famous early proponents were Johann Strause and Josef Lanner.

Cantaloupes are said to alleviate some allergies, reduce bladder infections, relieve bursitis, and prevent memory loss.

Yield: 5 cups

1/2 cantaloupe, peeled, seeded, and sliced
1/2 honeydew, peeled, seeded, and sliced
2 cups filtered ice water
1 1/2 fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, or 1 tablespoon dried mint
8 ice cubes
3 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
10 fresh strawberries

Place all the ingredients in a blender, and blend on medium speed for 1 minute.
Pour into champagne glasses and glide.