Thick Juicy Pear and Sweet Strawberry Smoothie

From reading my blog you all know I love pears:)
So I wanted to use it in my smoothie.I began thinking, what can I add to it to make it a really delicious smoothie?
For me pears have a mild sweetness, I don't want to loss the flavor of pears.
I needed to add a fruit that was going to have a burst of sweetness.
My first thought strawberries, they have a great sweet flavor, so you don't have to add
a sweetener.
The combo is really amazing, you can really taste the separate flavors of pears
and strawberries. That was what I wanted, to taste the juicy pears:)
The smoothie has a thick consistency!
This one is my favorite;)


Thick Pear and Sweet Strawberry Smoothie
makes 3 cups


4 pears
4 Tablespoons of yogurt (vegan)
1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)

Wash fruit, and cut pears, strawberries into chunks, blend all ingredients until
smooth!!
                                                       Birch Life

Cooling Cucumber Pear Salsa

For me cucumbers are cooling, even when they are at room temperature.
When it is hooottt outside I feel they hydrate me with all their liquid:)
 Pears are a very different ingredient for salsa, but they sure
work well. They have a sweet and soft texture that is very welcoming
to the crisp crunch of cucumbers. I show you the salsa with rice cakes
and corn crackers, but it is sooooooo good with tortilla chips.
The salty and sweet combo is delicious:)


Cooling Cucumber Pear Salsa
serves 4 people

1 English  cucumber ( I took the seeds out of mine)
1 medium ripe pear
1/4 cup fresh parsley
2 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon of lime juice
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Finally chop the cucumber( I removed my seeds), pear, and parsley and add to a bowl.
Pour fresh juices over the cucumber pear mixture and stir in salt.
Let stand in the refrigerator for 20 minutes covered.
I would double or triple the recipe because it is soooo good,
this won't last long at a party!!!!
                             
                                                              Birch Life

 

Cooling Cucumber and Pear Salad (vegan)

This salad is so so so good, because you have the crunch of cucumber and the sweetness of the pear.
Traditionally it is not a combo, but works so well together.
I add butter for a extra sweetness to the rice.

Just a refreshing salad for hot days.
I like making salads, because you can eat them as a light meal or add them to a main meal!
I have just rediscovered pears in the past months, and WOW what I was missing!
I used to purchase pears to hard and they never ripened :(
So I would end up with a hard tasteless pear, no more!!
When buying pears, pick ones with a slight give, they will finish ripening in a few days:)


Cooling Cucumber and Pear Salad


2 1/2 cups rice (still warm)
1 large pear (diced)
1 medium cucumber(diced, I remove my seeds)
1/2  parsley (chopped)
2 Tablespoons butter (vegan)
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
sea salt to taste
curls of cheese(vegan)

Mix together cucumber, pear add the parsley, pour in the lemon juice,and a pinch of sea salt. let stand 10 minutes.
When rice is still warm mix in the butter and let cool to room temperature.
Then add the cucumber mixture with more sea salt to taste
Finish with curls of cheese!

                                                                 Birch Life