Aug 8, '06 - Smoothies and Drinks - Part 2

[Dee]

Mexican Hot Chocolate
Use this rich, thick chocolate as a dessert or as a hearty snack on a cold day. To help warm you down to your bones, add a splash of coffee or almond liqueur if you like.
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 small orange
One 1" piece cinnamon stick
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cups evaporated skimmed milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
In large saucepan, combine sugar, zest, cinnamon stick and 1 1/2 cups water;
bring liquid to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes. In medium bowl, combine cocoa and cornstarch; with wire whisk, add skim and evaporated
skimmed milks, blending until cocoa and cornstarch are dissolved. Stir milk mixture into sugar mixture; stirring constantly, bring just to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring frequently, 15 minutes.
Remove from heat; stir in almond extract. Strain milk mixture into 6 mugs; serve immediately.

SERVING SIZE: 3/4 cup
POINTS: 2.5
PER SERVING: 135 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 4 mg Cholesterol, 117 mg Sodium, 25 g Total Carbohydrate, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 9 g Protein, 294 mg Calcium

Minted Hot Cocoa
If you don't like the taste of plain milk, here's an easy and tasty substitute.
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 hard peppermint candy, crushed
1 cup hot water
1 cup low-fat (1%) milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 pkgs sugar substitute
Combine the cocoa, candy, and hot water in a large (20 oz) mug or microwave-safe container. Stir well. Microwave on High for 1 minute. Stir again. Add the milk and vanilla and continue to microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until hot. Stir in the sugar substitute. Serve immediately.
Tip: For an extra Point, top with 1/4 cup whipped cream
POINTS: 2

Mocha Milk Shake
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
16 fluid ounces chocolate, vanilla or coffee nonfat sugar-free frozen yogurt
2 cups skim milk
2 packets sugar-free hot cocoa mix
1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In blender, combine frozen yogurt, milk, cocoa mix, instant coffee and vanilla; puree on high speed until thick and foamy. Serve immediately.

POINTS: 3.5
PER SERVING: 167 Calories, 0 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 2 mg Cholesterol, 209 mg Sodium, 78 g Total Carbohydrate, 0 g Dietary Fiber, 11 g Protein, 427 mg Calcium

Mocha Mudslide
Refuel with this creamy shake that's loaded with the potassium you need after working out.
Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup fat-free milk
2/3 cup sliced ripe banana
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/4 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt
Banana slices (optional)
Place first 4 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Place the blender container in freezer; freeze 1 hour or until slightly frozen. Loosen frozen mixture from sides of blender container; add yogurt. Process until smooth, and garnish with sliced banana, if desired. Serve immediately.
Note: For a chocolate-flavored shake, use reduced-fat chocolate milk instead of the plain fat-free milk, and reduce the sugar to 1 tablespoon.

SERVING SIZE: 1 cup
POINTS: 3.5
PER SERVING: 164 Calories, 0.8 g Total Fat, 4 mg Cholesterol, 83 g Sodium, 34.4 g Carbohydrate, 1.5 g Dietary Fiber, 6.2 g Protein, 204 mg Calcium

Papaya Power Shake
This shake works equally well with jarred mango spears,
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 papaya, peeled, seeded, and cut up
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 banana
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 tsp dried mint
4 ice cubes, slightly crushed
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

SERVING SIZE: 3/4 cup
POINTS: 1.5
PER SERVING: 88 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 4 mg Cholesterol, 44 g Sodium, 17 g Carbohydrate, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 4 g Protein

Pink Sangria
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup whole strawberries, halved
1 small navel orange, cut in half and sliced
4 fluid ounces (1/2 cup) sweet red vermouth
1/2 lemon, sliced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
12 fluid ounces (1 1/2 cups) nonalcoholic dry white wine
Plain seltzer

In 1-quart pitcher, combine strawberries, orange, vermouth, lemon and sugar, slightly crushing fruit with back of mixing spoon. Stir in wine; refrigerate, covered, until chilled. Just before serving, fill 4 wine glasses with ice. Pour wine mixture into glasses, dividing liquid and fruit evenly; add enough seltzer to fill glasses.

SERVING SIZE: 1 Filled Wine Glass

POINTS: 2
SELECTIONS: 1/2 Fruit, 90 Optional Calories
PER SERVING: 105 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 2 mg Sodium, 18 g Total Carbohydrate, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 1 g Protein, 29 mg Calcium

Raspberry Margarita Mellower
Add a shot of tequilla for some real fun!
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup margarita-flavored sorbet
3/4 cup lemon-lime-flavored seltzer
1/3 cup raspberries
In a blender, combine all the ingredients; puree until smooth. Pour into a tall, chilled glass.
POINTS: 3.5
PER SERVING: 204 Calories, 0 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 53 mg Sodium, 51 g Total Carbohydrate, 3 g Dietary Fiber, 1 g Protein, 36 mg Calcium

Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream Bar Booster
We promise the same luscious, creamy richness the ice-cream man delivers, but with more nutrition: This smoothie delivers a day's supply of vitamin C and more than one-third of vitamin A.
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:
1/2 cup carrot juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt
In a blender, combine all ingredients; puree until smooth. Pour into a tall, chilled glass.

POINTS: 4
PER SERVING: 176 Calories, 0 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 116 mg Sodium, 41 g Total Carbohydrate, 0 g Dietary Fiber, 5 g Protein, 174 mg Calcium

Watermelon Frosty
To make preparing this rejuvenating blend completely effortless, use seedless watermelon.
Makes 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chopped seedless watermelon
1 cup ice cubes
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tsp superfine sugar
1 mint sprig
In a blender, combine the watermelon, ice, lime juice and sugar; puree until smooth. Pour into a tall, chilled glass; garnish with the mint.

POINTS: 2
PER SERVING: 101 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 5 mg Sodium, 24 g Total Carbohydrate, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 1 g Protein, 20 mg Calcium