Post-Run Berry Banana Smoothie

I went for a long run this morning, and when I run in the hot Atlanta summertime, the last few miles all I can think about is the icy cold fruit I'm going to devour when I get back.

I think about almost-frozen chunks of cantaloupe and watermelon, cold orange wedges, and icy fruit smoothies (possibly spiked :-)).

This morning, I made a banana berry smoothie.  I don't want to insult your intelligence, but I'll include the ingredients.

1 banana
couple handfuls frozen blueberries
tsp flax seed
Tbsp peanut butter
a little water

Blend till smooth and frothy!

The green smoothie I made a while back. It's a collard green smoothie! Though it was quite refreshing and tasty, I do not recommend using collard greens in smoothies unless you want to choke yourself. I recommend a more tender green, like wheatgrass or spinach or what have you. But nice color, right?

Vanilla Apricot-Manderin Cocktail

Pictured is the stuff you need, minus the club soda. That's:

2 oz mandarin orange vodka
2-3 oz apricot nectar
1 Tbsp vanilla-apricot simple syrup
big splash-glug of club soda
1 dried apricot, marinated 24 hours in mandarin vodka, OR fresh apricot slices, to float in cocktail glass

Shake first three ingredients with ice in shaker until cold.  Pour in glass.  Top with a splash of cold club soda.  Float a vodka-soaked apricot in the glass, or garnish with a fresh apricot slice.

Pics of cocktail to come. :-)

Vanilla-Apricot Simple Syrup

Bartenders use simple syrup instead of sugar to sweeten cocktails.  That way, you don't have anything grainy in your drink.

Simple syrup is easy as pie to make. It's just one part sugar, one part water, boiled until the sugar dissolves.  You can then store it in an airtight container and use it to sweeten margaritas, fruity martinis, or anything really where you'd normally use sugar.

But simple syrup is also easy to infuse with flavors like vanilla, lavender, cinnamon, ginger, or even chocolate.

Vanilla-apricot simple syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
5 dried apricots
1-2 tsp vanilla extract

Boil the water, sugar, and apricots, covered, for 5-10 minutes.  Stir in the vanilla.  Add immediately to a sterile glass container and seal.  Refrigerate after opening for use.