I am on Cloud 9.

Maybe even on Cloud 10!

I came up with a most delicious concoction this morning. As most of you already know, Ben and I are "Smoothie Aficionados". Otherwise known as "Smoothie Enthusiasts". I even have a book of just smoothie recipes. Last June when we were in Oklahoma City, we purposely bought a blender just to make smoothies.

We particularly enjoy smoothies for a quick and delcious breakfast. It's a wonderful way to get a few servings of fruit in your daily diet without having to sit and chomp your way through apples, bananas, etc. Sometimes, we make smoothies for a dessert item when we have a sweet tooth and don't want to indulge in empty calories such as those in cookies or candy or so forth. We have a smoothie and feel less guilty and the craving for something sweet is satisfied.

For those of you unaware, June through August is the height of Cherry Season. Even Super Wal-Mart has a decent cherry selection. Dark, round cherries with their stems intact are best. They are the sweeter variety.

Ben is usually a sweetheart and washes them, removes the stems, pits & slices them. Then we put them in freezer ziploc bags and VOILA! frozen cherries to use in smoothie recipes.

So, anyway... here is the delicious concoction I came up with. Basically it involves the frozen cherries, a frozen banana, some cranberry juice (I bought 2 of the single serve containers since I don't use it for anything but smoothies and didn't want to spend a lot of money nor take up too much room in my small fridge) some orange juice and even a bit of orange sherbet.

Side Note: Super Wal-Mart carries a brand of orange sherbet that is heavenly! The brand is called "Premium" and comes in an orange and purple container. The flavor is called Valencia Orange Sherbet and is made with real valencia orange puree!

I cannot tell you enough how wonderful this smoothie is. Sweet, but with just a hint of tart. Sooooo... for all you who wanna know the secret recipe, just ask! I'll be happy to send it on over!

Note To Lissa: Thank God for the little things in life... such as living so close to M.O.M.'s. Hee, hee, hee!!! What would I do with it... I mean, you? ;-) ;-) ;-)

Thought Of The Day:"Public and private food in America has become eatable, here and there extremely good. Only the fried potatoes go unchanged, as deadly as before."--Luigi Barzini, O America, 1977

Thought Of The Day #2:Try to cook so that it will surprise a little, agreeably and astonish slightly, without shocking."--Jean Marie Amat, chef, St James restaurant, Bordeaux, France

Until next time... peace, love & HEALTH!!!