Summertime Faves: Stone Fruit Smoothie

I didn’t actually know that they were called stone fruits until a conversation with a co-worker last week, but apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries all fall under the category. Basically, if it has a pit, it’s a stone fruit. Summertime is when these soft and juicy bad boys are in season, but only for like the months of July and August. They are one of the many things that mean summer has arrived, for me anyway. That and fireflies, cookouts, and the errant firework a neighborhood boy might set off in the dead of night.

Anyway, my mother bought a ton of stone fruits last weekend, and they got those creative juices flowing! I couldn't resist the temptation of combining some of them to make a smoothie with my Nutribullet. As a mentioned way back when I started Bringing Up Brittany, my parents got me a Nutribullet for my birthday, and I've been hooked on smoothies ever since. I've used stone fruits in other recipes but never combined them, so I was very interested to see if this would turn out incredibly well or horrifyingly awful. Since it turned out to be delicious though, I thought I'd share the recipe!

Stone Fruit Smoothie

You’ll Need…

1 peach, pitted and roughly chopped 

1 nectarine, pitted and roughly chopped

1 cup of cherries, pitted

1 cup of vanilla yogurt

1 banana, peeled

And the Steps…

Add all ingredients to Nutribullet (or blender) and blend until liquid is the desirable thickness. I usually blend for a little under a minute.

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After washing my hands so that I didn't look like I'd murdered somebody (cherry juice looks freakishly like blood...), it was time to try my concoction. It was like drinking a cup of sunshine, I kid you not. I had that sweetness I love from ripe stone fruits but a subtle tartness from the black cherries. This is certainly a recipe I'm going to have to try again before the fruits are out of season!

It was really an easy treat to make and so incredibly refreshing, even at room temperature. But you could probably chill the fruits or add ice on a particular hot day to cool you off.

Summertime Faves: Mint Iced Tea

One of the many (and I mean many) reasons I look forward to summer—apart from the sun, the summer fashion, and summer Fridays at work—is the refreshing beverages. And I’m not just talking those of the alcoholic persuasion either. My all-time favorite summer drink is Mint Iced Tea. It’s something I grew up on, so it has a lot of pleasant associations for me: picking the fresh mint from my grandfather’s garden, sitting on the front porch with my grandmother, and even sipping a glass of iced tea after playing tag with my cousins.

So when I bought mint for my little herb garden earlier this summer, the one use I had in mind for my mint leaves was a nice, cold glass of Mint Iced Tea. And I thought I’d share my recipe! I like my iced teas sweet and not quite so tea-y, so if you like stronger brews or less sweetness I’ll provide a couple suggestions for you.

Mint Iced Tea

You’ll Need…

1 gallon of boiled water

4 tea bags

7-8 fresh mint leaves

¼ cup of lemon juice

8-10 tbsp. of sugar

And the Steps…

Boil a pot of hot water and steep 4 tea bags. Muddle (crush or “bruise”) 4-5 mint leaves and add to the pot. Leave the tea bags and mint leaves steeping in the boiled water until it has cooled to room temperature. I tend to do this early in the morning so it’s ready by afternoon, or I leave the tea to brew overnight. It’ll take several hours. When the water has reached room temperature, remove the tea bags and the mint leaves. Stir in sugar and lemon juice until both are fully incorporated, and transfer mixture from the pot to your pitcher. Muddle the remaining mint leaves and drop them into your pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled and serve over ice.

For those of you who like strong iced teas, I’d suggest adding a tea bag or two more than the above recipe. And depending on how sweet you like your teas, you may wish to use less sugar or maybe even a bit more. I’d suggest doing the sugar to taste though—this is just how I like mine.

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There is seriously nothing more refreshing in my book! You can also experiment with different flavored teas, but I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to mine.

What's your favorite summertime drink?

It's Tough Being A Girl, Summer Edition

I love summer. I love the heat (you can keep the humidity though), the clothes, and that summer state of mind. For a few months out of the year it’s okay for productivity to ease up a little so you can enjoy the gorgeous weather and jet off to some vacation you’ve been looking forward to all year. And there are few things better than sitting outside at dusk with a glass of homemade sangria in hand watching the fireflies blink across the lawn. It’s the season of barbecues, pool parties, and festivals. What’s not to love, right?

Well, I was talking to a friend of mine recently and somehow we got on the subject of how hard it is to be a girl in the summer. And when we sat down and thought about it, there was actually a lot more to be said than either of us realized.

• It’s tough being a girl because of bikinis. Summer fashion usually means you’re showing a lot of skin, but few things are as revealing as a bikini. If you don’t have what the media calls a “beach body,” then going to the pool or beach can be a source of anxiety. Belly fat, cellulite, and arms and legs that aren’t toned are just some of a girl’s woes. Want to wear a one piece? The season might be over before you find something cute, sexy, and fun. A lot of this applies to street clothing too. This is the one season when your body is truly on display. It can be a shot to your confidence if you aren’t toned and looking runway ready.
• It’s tough being a girl because of hair. And I’m not talking hair on your head (that comes later). We all have body hair, but it’s girls who have to spend an astronomical amount of time shaving, waxing, or depilating, especially during the summer. Want to wear shorts or a dress? The legs need to be shaved. What about a tank top? The underarms need to be shaved. Wearing a bathing suit? Odds are you’ll probably need to do a bit of maintenance around the bikini line. At least in the winter if you forget to shave (aka you’re feeling lazy) no one will know, and we all do that (I know I do, at least). In the summer that’s a no-no, so we spend time and money making sure we’re nice and hair-free.
• It’s tough being a girl because of tanning. Once summer comes around be prepared for commercials and ads for all sorts of products that promise a “summer glow.” We’re told that pale is sickly, especially in the summer, so we tan, go to tanning salons, or buy lotions that are supposed to give us that sun-kissed look. It’s a huge monetary investment, and not everyone can get a natural “glow” without turning into a lobster first. Raise your hand if you burn like me!
• It’s tough being a girl because of frizz. Okay, so not every girl has this problem, but I certainly do. The summer humidity is not my friend. No amount of product can keep my hair from getting frizzy if there’s a drop of moisture in the air. And let’s face it, wild, flyaway hair isn’t exactly cute.
• It’s tough being a girl because of sweat. Women don’t sweat, they glisten…except in summer. And except for working out in the gym, sweat isn’t a great look. It makes you feel sticky, makes make-up run, it wreaks havoc on your hair, and let’s not forget the embarrassing sweat stains that can materialize on the worst days. Sweat is one of those things we’re raised to think is unladylike (and smelly). Staying fresh as a daisy can be a lot of work on those super hot days. It’s another expectation that women are supposed to live up to.

Do you agree with my list or have anything else to add?