Valentine’s Day in an Irish home looks much the same as it does anywhere else. There are the pink and red cards with hearts all over them exchanged, the box of chocolates gooey and sweet, the flowers, the bottle of wine shared over dinner, and plenty of smoochin’ going on {if you’re into that kind of thing…which we definitely are!}.
Being a hopeless romantic and a foodie, I always try to find ways to make the day extra special for everyone. Starting with breakfast.
My husband likes an egg in the morning. Our girls prefer pancakes. With the aid of my trusty heart-shaped cookie cutter there’s no trouble whipping up both on Valentine’s morning.
Cranberry Banana Smoothie
All four of us love smoothies, especially this bright-pink and deep-red, healthy cranberry banana blend. Cranberries are one of the most antioxidant-packed berries around. I buy extra bags of them in November when they’re readily available in the supermarket and keep them in the freezer for the rest of the year. You get the most benefits from eating them raw, so adding them to a smoothie is a very healthy choice. Can I get a whoo hoo and a yummm…..?
And, sure, it takes a little extra time in the morning to pull it all together {15 minutes, perhaps} but the smiles I get for the extra effort warms my heart and makes it so very worth it!
From our little Irish home to yours…Happy Valentine’s Day. Cheers!
Cranberry Banana Smoothie
Makes 4
Ingredients
8oz/1 cup apple juice
12oz/2 cups whole cranberries (I use frozen)
1 large banana
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions
1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Taste and add more maple syrup, if needed. Serve immediately.
In an Irish Home 