A Sunshiny Breakfast Drink

Of late, the skies have been overcast in the daytime, rain falls in torrents in the afternoon, and there’s a definite chill in the night air that causes people to feel more than a little sluggish come morning. Times like these, one needs what I would call supplemental sunshine to get the day off to a good start.

In my case, my take on supplemental sunshine involves fresh fruit – here, a ripe lacatan banana and a sliced nectarine from a bunch bought on a recent foray among the greengrocers in Chinatown – and some milk or a fruit-flavored yogurt. Everything gets blitzed together in a blender to create a pretty, friendly-colored (pinkish or yellowish depending on the fruit and/or fruit yogurt you have on hand) smoothie that is both delicious and uplifting,

Supplemental Sunshine

• 1 ripe banana, quartered
• 1 stone fruit (mango, peach, plum, nectarine), seeded and sliced (Note: If using mangoes, be sure to peel them; mango skins are inedible! In the case of other fruits, though, leave the skin on for extra nutrition.)
• 1 cup low-fat milk or fruit-flavored yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey or 1 sachet Splenda
• 3 – 4 ice cubes (optional if you’re using frozen fruit yogurt)

Toss everything into a blender and blitz for about 30 seconds or until well-liquefied, smooth, and frothy. Makes enough for two 8oz.-glasses or 1 large tumbler.