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Beverages, Breakfast, Gift Guides, Products, Smoothies

Gift Guide For The Smoothie Lover

This Gift Guide for Smoothie Lovers will help you choose the perfect item for those in your life who love blending and crafting their protein shakes, smoothies and smoothie bowls.

Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

The key to great smoothies is to use the right tool. It’s no secret that a powerful blender will give you the ultimate smoothie experience and allow you to blend, (ahem, pulverize 😉 ) those rock-solid or frozen ingredients that add all that nutritious goodness that you’re looking for. My favorite high-powered blender is the powerhouse Vitamix blender. This bad boy will make quick work of frozen fruits, leafy greens, little bitty seeds…you name it, it’ll blend it. There’s a reason it has stellar ratings across the board. This appliance will last you decades. I kid you not (go read the reviews!). And if for some reason it doesn’t, warranty issues and customer service from the Vitamix company is also stellar. So you can buy this investment appliance with confidence. The only hard thing you’ll have to do is figure out which model (and color) you want. Oh, and this beauty is not just for smoothies. No, sir. You’ll have fun learning the different ways it can help you in the kitchen.

You may also enjoy this Fruit Smoothies Digital Recipe Card Bundle. Beautiful and colorful fruit smoothie recipes are available as digital downloads, sized in 4 x 6, for easy printing on your end. Five recipes are included in this downloadable PDF bundle. Each recipe is contained on one page. Learn more here.

✅ May I suggest this one.

If you’re looking to up your smoothie game, check out this best-selling smoothie cookbook. You’ll learn how to combine ingredients to create superfood smoothies. If you or your gift recipient loves experimenting, then this recipe book is for you, er…them.

The totally trendy way to consume your smoothie these days is to drink it from a mason jar, with handles, of course. Here’s an affordable 6-pack of goodness for you or your gift recipients.

And if you’re more old school, you or your recipient will love these fountain shop glasses…I do! Smoothies, ice cream floats, milkshakes…they’re classy and make whatever you put in them look yummy and delicious.

For an eco-friendly way to sip your smoothie, check out these reusable stainless steel straws. Very chic! They’re wide enough for thick smoothies and shakes and they’re dishwasher friendly.

For the person who loves smoothie bowls as opposed to shakes, this beautiful smoothie bowls recipe book will delight! Ooh and ahh through the pages as the author shares how to create these visual masterpieces of nutrition.

Also for the smoothie bowl lover, may I suggest these eco-friendly handmade natural coconut shell bowls with wooden spoons. Not just for smoothies – use for salads, soup, cereals, Buddha bowls and fruits. Gorgeous!

Love making almond milk by hand? Then you’ll want this best-selling and top-rated pro-quality nut milk bag. It’s bigger and better and perfectly shaped to handle the task at hand. Its super strong construction makes this a true re-usable bag.

I have a freezer full of frozen fruit just for my smoothies. Ditch the traditional plastic freezer bags for these eco-friendly and re-usable silicon bags. They are food-grade safe and don’t contain toxins. They’re also leak-proof, fridge and freezer friendly as well as microwave friendly. These are a must-have, smoothie lover or not!

And finally, while it won’t replace my beloved Vitamix, this little personal blender will do the trick if I’m traveling or on the go. It’s lightweight enough to pack in a carry on or in your luggage if checking your bag. It will work with ice or small-chunk frozen fruits and will blend well-enough that you can still call your concoction a smoothie! 😉

LOOKING FOR SOME SMOOTHIE RECIPES?
Almond Butter and Banana Protein Smoothie
Cherry Vanilla Protein Smoothie
Healthy Gingerbread Protein Smoothie
Apple Cinnamon Protein Smoothie
Peaches and Cream Protein Smoothie
Blueberry Pineapple Protein Smoothie

If you like these recipes, consider joining the Zesty Recipes Facebook Group. We’d love to have you!

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Appetizers, Recipes

Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage and Cream Cheese

These Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage and Cream Cheese are a zesty appetizer to serve when entertaining. They are easy to make and your guests will love them!

This versatile appetizer recipe is sure to be a big hit at your next party or casual gathering. These Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage and Cream Cheese are perfect for the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s celebrations.

Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

When selecting mushrooms for this recipe, choose ones with medium-sized caps for best results. Using a mixture of baby Portobello and white mushrooms makes for an attractive presentation. However, it should be noted that the more delicately flavored white mushrooms do not compete with the filling the way the more distinctive tasting Portobello caps do.

These are easy to make. While you marinate the mushroom caps, make the filling. Stuff the caps and finish them with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and/or Panko crumbs. I like to use both, but totally up to you! Bake ’em for about 30 minutes, and that’s it! I like to use a glass baking dish, like this:

Enjoy!

Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage and Cream Cheese

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

40 mins

Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage and Cream Cheese

Author: Zesty Olive

Ingredients

2 T. olive oil
½ c. Marsala (or dry white) wine, divided
8 oz. package of baby Portobello mushrooms, cleaned
8 oz. package of white mushrooms, cleaned
12 oz. bulk spicy Italian sausage
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
4 fresh sage leaves, washed and julienned
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Salt and pepper, to taste
Toppings:
 3 T. Panko bread crumbs (optional)
3 T. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
6 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

Position rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Remove stems from cleaned mushrooms by grabbing them as close to the cap as possible and gently twisting. Roughly chop removed stems and reserve in a separate bowl, while placing intact caps in a larger non-reactive bowl.
Add olive oil and 3 tablespoons wine to bowl containing mushroom caps and toss gently to evenly coat. Set aside.
In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat until thoroughly browned. Break apart all chunks with a spatula or wooden spoon as it cooks. Once browned, drain excess fat before proceeding.
Add chopped mushroom stems and garlic to the pan and cook until mushrooms are soft and start to release liquid. Add fresh sage and remaining wine and scrap up any brown bits of sausage from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for a couple minutes until excess liquid evaporates.
Remove from heat and add softened cream cheese and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until thoroughly combined and cheese is completely melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cool slightly.
Add one rounded spoonful of sausage mixture to each marinated mushroom cap and arrange stuffing side up in a 13 x 9” glass baking dish. If desired, sprinkle each stuffed mushroom cap with Panko breadcrumbs, freshly grated Parmesan cheese or a combination of both before baking.
Place glass dish in pre-heated oven on center rack and bake for 30 minutes or until mushrooms are soft and filling is browned on top. For a crispier topping, place baking dish under the broiler for a couple minutes when done cooking. If desired, garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

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Desserts, Recipe Round-Ups, Recipes

Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

I like easy, but I also like delicious. Here are the easiest Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes (they work for Christmas, too!) that I enjoy making and eating.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

You may also enjoy this Pumpkin Digital Recipe Card Bundle. Beautiful and colorful pumpkin recipes are available as digital downloads, sized in 4 x 6, for easy printing on your end. Five recipes are included in this downloadable PDF bundle. Each recipe is contained on one page. Learn more here.