Peanut Butter Banana Milk Drink Recipe

This recipe is for the ones who love the good old combination of peanut butter and banana, but with fewer calories. As I've said in the past, I always try to find ways to ensure that my husband Lulu, who is a vegetarian, has enough nutrition in his diet. He's also been exercising regularly lately, so I figured a healthy treat was in order.

I made banana milk that is vegan (Lulu's lactose intolerant too!). The drink is a blend of bananas, soy milk, peanut butter, cinnamon, whey protein and vanilla extract. It's a delicious way to start the day with healthy servings of potassium and protein, which is great for a vegetarian diet. Best of all, Lulu loves it! And if you like this drink, I'll post more whey protein-enhanced beverages soon.

Mango Lemonade Recipe

I love Kesar mangoes. The fruit is so soft and juicy that we usually just cut them in halves and scoop the flesh out. Unfortunately, I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach at the Asian market this week, when I bought two cases of mangoes. To put a dent in my stockpile, I made mango purée, cooked it in sugar to enhance the flavor, then mixed it with regular lemonade.

I added cardamom to give a more exotic twist to this already tropical drink. If you're looking for something special to serve for your Memorial Day weekend barbeque, mango lemonade could be it. And to satisfy the adult palate, you could always spike it with rum!

How to Make Horchata (Cinnamon Rice Milk Drink Recipe)

I actually first discovered horchata during a 1993 summer family vacation in Valencia, Spain. We loved the drink so much, we drank liters and liters of the delicious, cool, sweet horchata. That particular variety was made with tiger nuts, but there are many variations that are made with nuts and grains such as rice, blanched ground almonds, sesame seeds or barley. It all depends on which region the beverage comes from.

I’ve had the rice-based version several times at Mexican restaurants recently, and I’ve been itching to learn how to make it at home. The recipe requires patience but is worth the wait. I’m definitely going to be bringing a big jug of this to the next family picnic!

Pumpkin Protein Drink Recipe

I think if he could, my husband would drink pumpkin pie. He already inhales it every Thanksgiving! So this pumpkin protein drink is about as close as it gets to making his dreams come true. It's an ultra easy breakfast to make when you're on the go, and it’ll get you in the mood for the soon-to-be holiday season.

The drink is packed with vitamins, protein (I added soy protein) and calcium, making it markedly healthier than the real deal, and perfect for vegetarians like my husband Lulu.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe

A strawberry banana smoothie is perfect when you need breakfast on the go. I whip up the drink with frozen strawberries and a banana whenever Lulu is running late. Strawberries aren't quite in season yet, so frozen is your best bet. When you can get them fresh, this drink is even more delicious.

Besides being a vegetarian, Lulu is also lactose-intolerant, so it's a challenge to make him calcium-rich food. I used almond milk and yogurt to deliver calcium without adding too much lactose. I also added a scoop of whey protein to fortify the drink with a little protein. I placed the smoothie in a cup that I sealed with a lid and added a straw.

Lulu left for work with a strawberry banana smoothie in his hand and a kiss on his cheek. I think that's a pretty good way to start the day!