Sun Shine Smoothie & The Flavors of Islamorada , Florida

It always feels good to take a break from routine, relax and rejuvenate and comeback with double strength. After few rounds of discussion , we settled on a trip to Florida for the winter break . Being from East Coast , the name Florida itself gives that thrill and excitement to let loose yourself to that gorgeous sun shine and that too in December where Boston will be completely blanketed with white snow.

This being our second trip , we planned to visit those we missed on our first trip. Key west and Space center topped the list.

We felt as if we were liberated as we don't need layering or that heavy jackets weighing  some pounds any more. Our mornings are dedicated to Miami beach. It is one of its kind of experience to forget about anything and everything and surrender before nature, the early sunrise, the water , the golden light,the waves , the mist .  While my son shine enjoying his time in water I used to sit and relax and try to capture that scenic beauty and save for rest of my life.  The gorgeous array of coconut trees and palm trees all along the roads would remind me of my place in India and perhaps that's the reason I feel more connected to this place, I guess.

After breakfast , it was time to visit Downtown Miami. As December is peak season in Miami, we spotted tourists from across the globe. The ferry ride, the gorgeous park are something that we enjoyed the most here.

The Next 2  days all for Florida Keys & KEY WEST, the southern most city of continental USA. It was almost 3 hours of  drive from Miami . I would rather call it the Southern most paradise with  most natural scenic beauty. With the sub tropical weather, the diverse culture , the unique architecture and history, this place is bejeweled by mother nature and carries an unbeatable romantic appeal. I bet you will fall in love with this place even if you are not much into nature.

Being so close to Cuba, the Florida Keys comprises of Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon , Big Pine Key and Key West . It was all  about water , water and water and which we loved the most.  While you travel through , you will feel like you are in the mid of Atlantic as both your sides will be covered with water. The ocean, the sunshine, the water , the wind ....together it makes a whole new experience. We took our time to explore Islamorada as the island attracted us the most with impeccable , serene beauty after that long travel.

Fishing , fossils and boating  , Diving, eco tours,  water sports, on the water activities and dolphin encounter scooba diving and so much more to do here.  You wouldn't regret any single minute you spend here.  The everglades , Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay on one side and the Atlantic and the beautiful reef on the other side. What else can one ask for?

 If you haven't visited yet , all I can say is , you are missing a great experience that lasts your life time.


Now comes the smoothie I enjoyed there after my morning walk .

Ingredients 

Florida Navel oranges ........................................ 2
Pineapple .......................................................... 1 cup, chopped
Banana................................................................1/2 cup mashed
Coconut Milk .....................................................1/4 cup
Plain Greek yogurt...............................................1/4 cup, I used homemade one
Honey ................................................................2 tsp (optional)
Mint ................................................................ few leaves for garnish

Method

Blend everything except mint and transfer to a tall glass, garnish with mint, enjoy.

Those cute coasters are from my best friend Dolphia, isn't that beautiful ?

Want more options ? Check out Sandhya's Tropical Smoothie , another one on the theme KeyWest.

Disclosure :  This post is sponsored by The Florida Keys and Key West in connection with Honest Cooking 

Spring salad with Carrots and Cukes

Days are getting brighter and warmer here.The first thing I do in the morning is to open my patio blinds. I know I can't open the door , I can't step out. Still I do this every morning. Hubby would be asking me " There is nothing other than the bald trees and I wonder what you are seeing every day? "I don't know. I will stand near the patio door and see the outside world, the so called bald trees and parked vehicles and some sky . This is what I see pretty much every day.But I feel very happy when i do this. I feel like life is back when I see Sun.  Now this week , I'm seeing some buds on those bald trees . I'm all happy feet to go out and enjoy my nature walk, soon.

 It's been a long since i shared a recipe here. I kind of lost my rhythm I guess and wonder what to write. Hope to improve soon. Till then bear with me.

My sonshine loves salads and today he will be early from school. These are the days I get to feed him enough veggies and now you know why I'm making this.

This is a simple salad with available fresh produce. You can add and subtract veggies based on your choice. Most of the time I go with mix and match of veggies and nuts to make it interesting  with  some crunch in every bite.


Ingredients:

Carrots ......................... 2 medium
Cucumber ..................... 2
Lettuce .......................... 1 head
Dried Cranberries............. a handful
Toasted sesame seeds....... 1 tbsp (optional)
Salt .................................. to taste
Pepper ............................ to taste
Lime ................................ juice 1 tsp
Olive oil ............................ 1 1/2 tsp
Tahini ............................... 1 tsp


Method:

Wash and prep the veggies.
I have chopped them as disks .
Throw in all the veggies along with cranberries in a wide mixing bowl.
In a small bowl , whisk together oil, lime juice, salt , pepper. Stir in tahini.
Pour this dressing over the salad.
Top it off with toasted sesame seeds if using .
Serve immediately.

Note:

Mix the dressing just before serving , otherwise the salad becomes soggy.
You can add toasted almonds / crushed roasted peanuts .
You can use orange juice in the place of lime to make variation.