Tropical Smoothie

When we turn the calendar to August I find myself wanting time to s-l-o-w d-o-w-n.  As much as I love our northeastern seasonal changes I can’t help thoroughly enjoying the tropical feel of the summer days.  One of our favorite seasonal blends is the Tropical Smoothie.  It’s a sweet, savory blend of flavors mixed with a few cooking lessons for children to learn as they work through the process.  It’s a quick and easy recipe with steps that allow children of all ages to participate for some summer vacation fun in the kitchen.  This recipe allows your family to catch the wave of our short-lived northeast tropics, but yields a cool down affect as you sip your creation when it’s all blended and ready to serve.

Tropical Smoothie

Tropical Smoothie by Jodie Fitz

 1 cup coconut milk, vanilla

6 oz. pineapple juice

6 oz. vanilla yogurt

3 cups ice

½ banana

1 mango

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Peel and slice the banana. Cut the mango and remove the skin.  Add the coconut milk, pineapple juice, yogurt, ice, banana, mango, honey and vanilla extract into a blender and mix thoroughly.

 Makes approximately four 8 oz. servings.

 HOW TO CUT A MANGO: The mango has a large seed in the center.  Using a sharp knife, an adult can slice the sides off on either side of the nut, which is typically the widest side starting at the top of the stem.  If the mango is ripe, children can use a plastic knife to cut squares into the cut sides.  I like to tell them it’s like drawing a ‘tic tac toe’ board but with more lines; a grid of sorts.  Then, they can scoop out the cubes of mango with a spoon.

 IS MY MANGO RIPE? Making this smoothie provides a great opportunity in teaching children about how to tell when a mango is ripe or not.  Is it soft or hard?  If you can press on the fruit and feel its softness, it is ripe and ready to make the Tropical Smoothie.  If it’s hard, it’s not ready and needs to sit for another day or two.

 COCONUT MILK: There are a couple of different coconut milk options that you can find in the supermarket.  I personally use the Silk brand vanilla flavored coconut milk when making this smoothie.

 LITTLE HELPERS: Even the little kitchen helpers can assist in peeling and slicing the banana.  They can easily cut up the banana by using a child’s safety knife or a plastic butter knife.

 HALF BANANA:  What do you do with the other half of the banana?  Eat it!  Or, cover it with waxed paper and save it for another Sun’s Up Smoothie.

Disclosure: I am pleased to be working with MVP Health Care and the MVP Generation Go Program, which has sponsored this post. My participation is voluntary and my opinion is always my own, as is any advice offered.

89 Comments on “Tropical Smoothie”

  1. Reply

    Looks really yummy and easy! A great combo 🙂 I love to see new talent come by and share with us … Thank you for sharing on The “Sunday Stop”!
    Hugs,
    Bj@J2J

    1. Reply

      Thanks for hosting! I’m so excited to connect & hope to drop by this week. In September I will be adding a link up list & will add your ‘Sunday Stop’ – have a great day!

  3. Reply

    Hi there – Thanks, my kids LOVE smoothies too & honestly, so do I! Thanks for hosting today…I’m really excited about finally connecting to so many great blog sites. I will be adding a link up list in September to my site & will definitely include Heavenly Treats Sunday. Enjoy your day!

  4. Reply

    My daughter who is eleven has been making a smoothie a day for the last week, coming up with a different flavor everyday. Also making enough for mom!!! I will show her this one today. It looks so good!! Cheers, Tara

    1. Reply

      Good for her!!! I love to hear about kids experimenting in the kitchen…it actually warms my heart when my kids make a mess in the kitchen (most of the time – LOL!) My kids favorite is the Choco-Monkey, which you’ll find here http://www.jodiefitz.com/2011/09/26/196/
      Enjoy your smoothie making adventures! Thanks for stopping at the site 🙂

  5. Reply

    I use a recipe just like this for our tropical smoothies, but without the honey. I think I will need to add honey next time!

    Thanks so much for linking up to Totally Pinworthy

    Amy x

    1. Reply

      HI there – Thanks…love Tropical Smoothies 🙂 I’m excited about Totally Pinworthy & hope to link up again soon! Have a great evening…Jodie

  8. Reply

    This looks fabulous! I love anything with coconuts or bananas! Can’t wait to make these for my little monkeys at home! Thanks for linking up to Gettin’ Krafty!

    1. Reply

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Hope the kids love it…and, I hope to link up to Gettin’ Krafty again soon…thanks for hosting! Have a great evening, Jodie

  12. Reply

    Yummy! This looks so refreshing! I especially like the idea of coconut milk and mango in a smoothie! I need to try this one. Thanks for sharing with us!
    Blessings,
    Leslie

    1. Reply

      Hi! Thanks 🙂 I hope you enjoy….Coconut milk is great in smoothies. My favorite is the vanilla coconut made by Silk. Have a great evening, Jodie

    1. Reply

      Hi there! Great to meet you…thank you for stopping by! I hope you give it a try…it’s delicious 🙂 A great recipe to wrap up the summer. I’ll peek back – have a great weekend!

    1. Reply

      HI there 🙂 Thanks! And, double thanks for stopping by to take a peek at the site. Have a great day…

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    1. Reply

      You are so welcome! Thanks for hosting 🙂 and for stopping by! I look forward to joining you next week & checking out what everyone is sharing. Have a great weekend…

    1. Reply

      Thanks! And, for stopping by 🙂 I was glad to share & excited about the opportunity & to see what everyone else is up to! Love all of the creativity…

    1. Reply

      Thanks & you are so welcome! Thanks for hosting…love connecting with other bloggers & catching up on everyone’s creativity. Have a great weekend…Jodie

  22. Reply

    This looks delish!!! I have pinned it and plan to make it once I send my three oldest back to school. I know smoothies seem like a summer thing, but I love having them for lunch when the boys are at school since they don’t drink them, but my daughter and I love them. I found you through Happy Hour Friday’s linky party.

    1. Reply

      Hi there! Thanks for visiting & secrets told…I love them & make them for myself too (all year long)! Two of my kids are big smoothie lovers…just one is on the so-so! Have a great weekend & thanks so much for visiting! I hope you & your daughter enjoy…

    1. Reply

      Thanks for the pin & the visit! It was great visiting the passion parade & meeting other bloggers & getting a chance to see everyone’s creativity. I hope you have a great weekend…it’s looking like some awesome weather 🙂

  24. Reply

    These look great. I have a link party on Wednesdays, and I would love it if you would link this and any other posts. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party. It runs from Wednesday to Sundays.
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/tangerine-toner-and-wednesdays-adorned.html
    I hope to see you there. I am your newest follower, and I would love for your to follow me also. Have a great Day.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

    1. Reply

      Hi Debi, I will most definitely join you at ‘Adorned From Above’ – thank you for stopping by! I Love meeting up with other bloggers & connecting and learning. Have an awesome weekend :)…

  29. Reply

    Hi Jodie,
    this sounds so yummy and I love the presentation. I often make smoothies, but have not tried using coconut milk. I bet it is delicious. Thanks for sharing this with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

    1. Reply

      HI thanks for stopping by 🙂 ~ this blend is great with coconut milk. I used some coconut milk this summer with strawberry & banana blend that was great too! Enjoy…

  30. Reply

    That looks soooo yummy Jodie!! I would so love to have a glass right now 🙂

    Thanks so much for sharing at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream to Reality! 🙂
    P.S. Please don’t forget to add my button or text-link somewhere on your site 🙂

    1. Reply

      Hi there ~ thanks for stopping by! This month I will be adding back buttons…we had a crazy August & I haven’t had a chance to sit & add a page, but will be doing so 🙂

    1. Reply

      Hi there! Thank you – hope you have a great week! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but this comment went into spam…

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    1. Reply

      Hi there – thanks for visiting! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond earlier, your comment went into spam! Hope you have an awesome week!

  39. Reply

    This sounds and looks like a very tasty smoothy! I love it. I especially like the instructions that include little one’s participation. I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

  41. Reply

    This sounds so good! I want one right now, if only I had the ingredients! 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and sharing at my Throwback Thursday party. I’m so happy to have you and hope to see you again this week 🙂

    1. Reply

      Hi there! Thank you so much for hoisting, I caught up with a few link ups this week, but we were away! I will be back soon…Have a great weekend 🙂

    1. Reply

      So sorry it took so long to respond, your comment went into spam! But, it’s out & I look forward to staying connected…have a great day!

    1. Reply

      You are AWESOME!!! Thank you so much, they’re perfect for sipping up a little more summer before Labor Day is officially here! Have a great weekend…

  45. Reply

    I wanted to let you know you are one of the blogs & your recipe is in the spotlight! Thanks for linking up, feel free to enter again. & if you have a spot for featured buttons they are on the website under about in the drop down menu. Have a nice weekend!

    1. Reply

      HI there! I can’t believe I didn’t see this note before today?!?!? I’ll pop right over to peek…THANK YOU….

      Jodie

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  48. Reply

    This is my first time go to see at here and i am in fact pleassant to read everthing at alone place.

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