Enjoy a quick Strawberry & Coconut Milk Smoothie #Recipe

I know, I know… another Strawberry recipe. It’s Strawberry Season in Florida and what can I say, I just love the little red, sweet berries to pieces. I could eat them all day long, so what better way to enjoy them and feel good about it, to share them with you! I cannot tell you how much I love this season, I have not had one bad berry and they are getting sweeter and more flavor every time I pick up a new case of Strawberries, it’s the first time in a long time where I tell everyone to run out and pick up some, they are THAT good.

A few days ago I shared our Strawberry & Cream Parfait, it was delicious and I won’t lie my all-time favorite way to enjoy Strawberries is to mix them with a little Vanilla Sugar and Heavy cream, lots of Heavy cream… I know… Ohh the calories, but you know what… I don’t really care, it’s THAT good, and I even skip dinner for that. Oh, and I will not share it either, the kids can’t have all those calories, right? Right, my story and I’m sticking to it!

I did decide to find a way where I can have my Strawberry & Cream and eat it, too; without feeling guilty about all the heavy cream and I tried using milk, was ok just not creamy enough, I used a dab of Cool whip, well… was ok, just not how I like my Strawberries & Cream. I found Coconut Milk at my last shopping trip to Publix and decided I would give it a try, was fairly affordable and all I would need was a small can anyways. I love coconut, but never had the milk. Let me tell you… it was AMAZING! Wow… place the can of Coconut Milk in your freezer for a few hours prior to mixing your smoothie and you will think homemade ice cream, it’s really good. So creamy, so strawberry and ohhh so healthy.

You need:

• 1 cup Coconut Milk, partially frozen if you like
• 1 cup (or more if you like) fresh strawberries, washed and cleaned
• 1/2 package Vanilla Sugar (World Market has it, it’s a German product and it is YUMMY) or a little sweetener of your choice

Mix all ingredients in your handy dandy smoothie mixer, blender or food processor and within seconds you will have a very delicious smoothie. I know you will ask for seconds, my kids did and Yes… I shared it!

Did you know that Coconut Milk has health benefits? I had no idea, check out below, just to name a few (p.s. I’m just a mom not a Dr.,so any information is what I found online, I would recommend you ask your Dr. just to make sure if you have questions.)

• Strengthen Bones. Coconut milk does not contain as much calcium as dairy milk but it does contain high amounts of phosphorus that can help to strengthen bones
• Regulate Blood Sugar. The manganese in coconut milk helps you metabolize glucose in the body to help the metabolism working at the optimum level. Manganese can also help to prevent osteoporosis, PMS, inflammation and vitamin absorption.
• Relieves Arthritis. The selenium in coconut milk acts as an antioxidant that will help to reduce free radicals that can cause joint inflammation. (I was super excited to hear about this and can’t wait to see if it helps my pain… how awesome would that be something I love and something that may ease my pain… AWESOME!)
• There are lots more healthy benefits and beauty benefits… WOW… who would have known?

Coconut milk is not the liquid that is drained from a coconut when you cut it open like many people assume. In order to make coconut milk you will take the coconut and process the flesh, steeping it in hot water and squeezing the milk out through a cheesecloth. As this liquid sits, the cream will rise to the top and Compared to cow’s milk, coconut milk is simple to make, easy to digest and contains an abundance of nutrients. I had no idea, but loving it already. It’s healthy, delicious and I can pick it up in almost any grocery store. Have you tried Coconut Milk yet?

Do you love Strawberries? What is your favorite way to enjoy them?
Would love to hear your ideas, feel free to leave a comment below.