Costco Connection - March 2011

RECIPE

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLENDTEC

Wow Smoothie 1/2 cup soy or almond milk 1/2 cup any type of pure fruit juice 1 cup peach or pear, or 1 apple, cut into pieces (seeds removed) 1 frozen ripe banana 11/2 cups frozen broccoli Sprinkle of flax or chia seeds Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed, secure lid and mix until creamy. Makes 2 servings. Tips: For kids, it helps to serve this smoothie in a colored cup with a straw so the green doesn’t scare them away. The riper the bananas, the more they cancel the taste of the broccoli.

Nutritional information: Each 12-ounce serving has 175 calories, 37 g carbs, 2 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 7 g fiber, 61 mg sodium, 95 mg calcium, 7 g protein, 22 g sugar. This recipe is a favorite of Cooper and Duncan Roth, made by their mom, Christine, of Manhattan Beach, California. It’s called “Wow” because that’s what the kids said when the blender motor went on.

Popeye’s Ice Cream

3/4 cup half and half or coconut milk 1/4 cup agave nectar

2/3 cup nonfat powdered milk or powdered coconut milk

2 cups spinach, lightly packed

11/2 tablespoons vanilla extract

21/2 cups ice cubes

Add ingredients to a blender pitcher and secure lid. For Blendtec models, press “Ice Cream” and serve. For other blenders, blend at medium speed for 20 seconds, then on high for 25 seconds or until smooth. Makes 3¾ cups. Recipe courtesy of the Fresh Blends cookbook from Blendtec ( www.blendtec.com).

Nutritional information: Each 1/2-cup serving has 80 calories, 11 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat, 1. 5 g saturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 25 mg sodium, 9 g sugar, 1 g protein.

Harvest Cheddar Soup

2 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons white wine

1/4 medium onion, peeled

1 celery stalk, halved

2 Granny Smith apples, quartered (seeds removed)

2 potatoes, baked and quartered 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg Pinch of white pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Recipe courtesy of Vitamix Whole Food Recipes

( www.vitamix.com).

Place all ingredients, except the cheese, into a blender container in the order listed; secure lid.

Follow the blender’s directions to bring the speed to high. Blend for 6 to 7 minutes or until heavy steam escapes from the vented lid.

Reduce the blender’s speed and carefully remove the lid or the lid plug.

Drop in the cheese and blend for an additional 15 seconds. Makes 6 cups.

Nutritional information: Each 1 cup serving has 224 calories, 28 g carbs, 8 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 407 mg sodium, 184 mg calcium, 10 g protein, 7 g sugar.

David H. Murdock’s
SuperJuice
1½ cups pineapple juice
½ orange, peeled
2 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
½ cup spinach, washed
½ medium tomato
½ cucumber (leave peel on)
½ banana, peeled
½ medium apple
½ medium carrot
Wash and cut up fruits and vegetables into
smaller sections. Place all ingredients, in the
order listed, into a blender container; secure lid
and blend on high until smooth. Divide evenly
between two 16-ounce glasses. Drink immedi-
ately. Makes 2 servings.
Recipe courtesy of David H. Murdock, chairman,
the Dole Food Company.
Nutritional information: Each 16-ounce serving has 200 calories,
48 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g total fat, 0 g cholesterol, 5 g fiber,
25 mg sodium, 760 mg potassium, 34 g sugar, 3 g protein.

Have a great recipe using Costco products? Send it to us and we’ll choose the best to feature in The Connection. Submissions should be sent via e-mail to smarttips@costco com; put “Great recipes” in the subject line. Submissions cannot be acknowledged or returned.