Cool treats take edge off summer heat

(“Licence to Chill” lollies from Del Monte are based on the James Bond character actor Daniel Craig/Associated Press photo)

Frozen, not stirred?

OK, now that I’ve got your attention with this photo, isn’t summer all about keeping cool with cool treats?

The new smoothie ice lolly, modeled on James Bond 007 character actor Daniel Craig, is from Del Monte. The Superfruit Smoothies are limited edition "Licence to Chill" lollies based on the sculpted torso of the James Bond actor, after more than 1,000 woman voted the “Quantum of Solace” star as the celebrity they would most like to lick. The fruit ice lolly is based on 41-year-old Craig in the scene where he emerges from the sea in the Bond movie "Casino Royale."

Now that’s what I call a refreshing treat!

There are more cool treats on the Poughkeepsie Journal’s Busy Cook today, which features freshly blended smoothies from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. CIA chef Dave Kamen offers some tantalizing recipes using fruits and yogurts that can take the edge off a hot summer day. You can even view a video of him making the smoothies by clicking here.

I love breaking out the blender for a frosty drink. Last year’s summer strawberries from the freezer have made some great shakes and margaritas. So does leftover coffee, a bit of ice cream, a splash of Kahlua and crushed ice.
Think about putting some fruit in the freezer this summer to enjoy throughout the year.
Minus the alcohol, smoothies you make yourself are great for kids and more economical than prepackaged ones.

Use your imagination when it comes to conjuring up recipes. Leftover juices, half-eaten yogurts and ripe or frozen fruits can be whipped up in no time for a cool refresher. A touch of hot pepper can add a little punch to an ice cream shake that is flavored with mango and lime. Forget about adding sugar; seasonal fruits are sweet enough without the sugar.

Ice cubes help extend the recipes, giving smoothies a lot of frost with no added calories. Crush them before adding to the blender to save the blades of the machine from overworking. I usually wrap ice cubes in a dishtowel and take it outside on the cement steps where I give it a few whacks with a mallet — works for me!

So now that it is almost starting to feel like summer in the Hudson Valley, here are a few more recipes from The Associated Press for smoothies and a shake. The pinch of salt in the recipes is optional, but it heightens the flavors without adding much sodium.

(A touch of cayenne adds a bit of zip to this tangy buttermilk mango shake/Associated Press photo)

Mango, Chili and Lime Shake

Start to finish: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 to 4 (makes 3 1/2 cups)

1. 1/4 cup cold whole or lowfat milk
2. 1/4 cup lime juice
3. 1/4 teaspoon chili powder or cayenne pepper, or to taste
4. Pinch salt
5. 1 pint vanilla bean or original vanilla ice cream, softened until just melty at the edges
6. 1 pint mango sorbet, softened until just melty at the edges
   

• In a blender, combine all ingredients. Pulse several times to begin breaking up the ice cream and sorbet. With the blender off, use a silicone spatula to mash the mixture onto the blades.
• Continue pulsing and stopping to mash until the mixture is thick, smooth and moves easily in the blender, about 1 minute.

(Recipe from Adam Ried’s “Thoroughly Modern Milkshakes,” W.W. Norton and Co., 2009)

Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Start to finish: 5 minutes
Servings: 2

1. 1 1/2 cups unsweetened frozen strawberries
2. 2 small bananas, broken into chunks
3. 1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5. Pinch salt
   

• In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
  

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 158 calories; 4 calories from fat; 0 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 1 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 5 g fiber; 327 mg sodium.

Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie

Start to finish: 5 minutes
Servings: 2

• 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch salt
  

• In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 151 calories; 7 calories from fat; 1 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 1 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber; 339 mg sodium.