Kermit Shake

My sister-in-law, Lindsey, once mentioned to me that she uses avocados when making smoothies. I figured, why not? Avocados have a very creamy texture and a very delicate, buttery flavor. I came up with this shake after my husband started experiencing joint pain; he needed to get more potassium in his diet. Unfortunately, he hates bananas, so I put this shake together for him and he loved it. Remember to drink within 20 minutes as avocados tend to darken after a while. Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 2)

• 1 large ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 medium ripe avocado, peeled, seed removed and cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 1/2 cup milk (I used half and half; if you want your shake less creamy, add 1/4 cup more milk)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• A good dash of nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

In a blender add the banana, avocado, and remaining ingredients. Blend on medium for 10 seconds, then on high for 10 more seconds. Serve and enjoy.

Strawberry-Avocado Smoothies

My sister-in-law gave me the idea of adding an avocado to a fruit smoothie. At first I thought that the flavors wouldn't meld, but to my surprise they go amazingly well. Make sure the avocado is slightly ripe, but not over-ripe. I also cleaned, dried and stemmed my strawberries first then froze them. You can also buy a bag of frozen berries and use them instead. Give this smoothie a try, it will definitely surprise you!

INGREDIENTS (2 large smoothies or 4 small)

• 10 large frozen strawberries, halved
• A handful of frozen raspberries, about 5
• 1 large slightly ripe avocado, cubed
• 1 banana, cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup frozen mango, or any tropical fruit
• 1/3 cup unsweetened or light soy milk
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup cold water (start with 1/4 cup and add more if smoothie is too thick)
• 4 packets of Splenda

In a blender, add all of the ingredients and blend it until you get your desired consistency. Add more water, if needed. Serve in tall glasses and enjoy! These smoothies make a great alternative to breakfast or a light lunch.

Best Pork Steaks Ever

Pork is the perfect meat for grilling. I was never a huge fan of pork because it usually tasted dry and bland. If I had baked pork, it was a little juicer, but still not a whole lot of flavor. After I became a grill addict I began experimenting with pork chops and a variety of other pork cuts and, as you may already know, I found that the indirect grilling method is the best way to grill pork. Through many trials and taste tests, I found that Pork Steaks are the best cut of pork to grill. These cuts are sometimes called blade steaks, which are cut from the pork shoulder and contain the blade bone. Blade steaks are flavorful like roasts because they are rich in marbling, which keeps them tender during cooking. First, you are going to need a dry rub mixture. If you already have a favorite, use that one or make a homemade one. My favorite rub is called "Butt Rub" and it is excellent on pork, steak and even fish! Secondly, either find or make your favorite BBQ sauce. Again, I found "Bone Suckin' Sauce" to be an incredible BBQ sauce.

For 4 servings, you will need 4 pork steaks, 1/4 cup dry rub (I recommend Butt Rub), and 1 cup BBQ sauce. 1. Turn on your grill and let it heat up for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, prepare the grill for indirect grilling. 2. Generously coat your pork steaks with the dry rub. Place them in the fridge while you're setting up your grill. 3. Once the grill is ready, place your steaks and grill, turning them only once. Grill for about 10 to 15 minutes per side or until your meat thermometer reads 160 degrees. 4. Slather the BBQ sauce on top of the steaks and grill a little longer (about 5 minutes) until the thermometer reads 170 degrees. 5. Remove from the grill and let them rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Serve the pork steaks with Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

Protein Smoothie

My doctor recommended that I should drink a lot of water if I ever want to snack on junk food. But sometimes water just wont do. And if I'm really hungry for a snack he suggested I try protein shakes. Now, I don't know about you, but I've tried many shakes and they are, sad to say, quite unappetizing. I came up with this smoothie because, 1. its fun and easy to make and 2. it tastes really good. Thank God for my Cuisinart hand blender. This handy appliance works really great and there is less clean up than a regular blender. In a large, wide mouth cup (the hand blender comes with one) add 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, slightly thawed, 1/3 cup raspberries, slightly thawed, 1/3 cup non-fat yogurt, 1/3 cup low-sugar juice like apple juice, OJ, or you can substitute with soymilk, 1 scoop of strawberry protein powder, and 2 packets of Splenda sugar. Then blend with your mixer. If the mixture is too thick, add more juice or soymilk. I used strawberries and raspberries that were frozen. I thawed them down slightly on my microwave for 1 minute. Serve and enjoy!