{I received the GREENPAXX reusable silicone straws in exchange for a review. I only share products I love on my blog!}
One of my family's favorite Summer traditions is picking strawberries at a local farm. We go every year, pick several pounds of strawberries, then whip up our favorite Strawberry Banana Smoothie recipe each day until they're gone!
This Summer was the 6th anniversary of this tradition, and I can only hope we have many more years ahead of us. Summer just wouldn't be the same without it! This year we almost missed strawberry picking due to rain, but managed to go on the very last day of the season!
Strawberry picking is always more fun with friends, so we plan a group trip every year! Sometimes our group is large, and sometimes it's small, but it's always fun. This Summer, we met up with a few of our favorites at nearby Soergel Orchards!
It was a scorching, uncomfortably humid Summer day, and the threat of rain was on the horizon. I didn't have high expectations for our trip, but we didn't want to miss it. Thankfully, the rain held off while we picked strawberries!
Liam, of course, ate far more strawberries than he placed in his bucket, lost a shoe, and was covered in strawberry juice by the end of our excursion. (See the juice running down his leg?) Allowing the tiny toddler tornado to run loose in the strawberry fields was definitely entertaining!
It didn't take too long before the kids (and the moms) were hot and tired, so we ran for the lone shady spot in the entire field to take a short break. A few strawberries just might have been eaten in the process...
Finally it was time to capture the toddler tornado (oh, how I love my Lillebaby CarryOn), say goodbye to the strawberry fields until next year, and hike back down the hill. There's usually a tractor pulling a wagon to and from the fields, but it was broken down that morning. We ended up getting a bit of unexpected exercise!
We paid for our strawberries, then the kids were able to play, visit the animals in the barn, get ice cream (Liam's first cone), and cool off in the sprinkler!
Although our group was smaller than usual, we had so much fun picking strawberries that morning! I'm so glad we were able to make it to the farm before the season was over. We can't wait to do it again next year! (Then again, I can, because that will mean I will have a 13 year old, 10 year old, almost 7 year old and almost 5 year old, and that is NOT okay!)
We came home from the farm with 5 pounds of strawberries and they were gone in no time! My family loves smoothies, so we try to make them almost every day. It's such an easy and healthy way to eat all those fruits and vegetables! Our favorite one to make is a simple Strawberry Banana Smoothie recipe.
Grant and I started making this recipe when we were teenagers. We found out the "secret ingredient" at our favorite smoothie place at the mall, and it was easily duplicated at home. Although we make many other types of smoothies, this one remains the family favorite. The ingredients are basic, and I think that's what makes it so good!
The BEST Strawberry Banana Smoothie
INGREDIENTS:
- 8-10 Strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 banana
- Ice
- 8 oz water
- 1 tbsp local honey
*Note: Eating local honey is really good for you! Eating 1-2 tbsp daily can actually help if you suffer from seasonal allergies!
MAKE IT:
- Wash and hull the strawberries, then cut them in half.
- Place the strawberries and banana into the blender, then fill it to the halfway point with ice.
- Stir 1 tbsp of local honey into 8 oz of water, then pour into the blender.
- Blend until smooth!
*This recipe makes a 16 oz serving. I usually make it in my NutriBullet since it is so quick, but if I use my regular blender, I usually make enough for 4 servings.
SERVE IT:
GREENPAXX recently sent me a 4 pack of reusable silicone straws to feature on social media, and they quickly became a family favorite. Not only do they save us money because they are reusable, but they are also BPA, Phthalate and PVC Free. Plus, the 2 piece design makes them really easy to wash!
The Cool Straw is wider than traditional disposable drinking straws, which makes them perfect for our daily smoothies! The silicone is a safe alternative to plastic, and the straws are non-stick, flexible, and dishwasher safe.
My kids love them so much that they use them daily. I really want to try the Cool Cap Universal Cup Lids and the Reusable Snack Packs, too! Check them out!
This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is the most frequently requested recipe in our home. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
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I have always wanted to go to a strawberry patch. Coming home with 5 pounds sounds like heaven to me. That smoothie sounds like the perfect way to use some of them too!
ReplyDeleteWe love strawberry smoothies! I love the pictures and the kids' outfits!
ReplyDeleteI stir local honey into my green tea every morning. It has loads of health benefits including helping with allergies!
ReplyDeleteAny time we go berry picking, we always use some of the fruit for smoothies. I usually sneak some veggies in there, too, and CJ is none the wiser.
ReplyDeleteSo fun, I keep saying I will take the kids picking one day!
ReplyDeleteI always say I want to go and my husband is just not up for it lol. It looks like you guys had so much fun. And I love how adorable Liam is with his one shoe!
ReplyDeleteHow fun!! We've only gone strawberry picking once, but I hope to go again next year! I never thought to add honey to our smoothies! We just picked up some local honey from vacation
ReplyDeleteThese look absolutely delicious! And what an awesome trip to the strawberry field! :)
ReplyDeleteAwe looks like such a fun time to the berry fields!! And that smoothie looks so good!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun day! I love all the red outfits. Such a great tradition! Strawberry smoothies are my favorite. I just heard about the local honey trick this past allergy season!
ReplyDelete