Summer Fest: Creamy Peach and Greek Yogurt Smoothie

I’m joining in on Summer Fest again this year, but I can hardly believe it’s summer.  In some ways, it seems like I just moved back to Fresno, but as the temperatures recently started up into the hundreds, I had flashbacks to last year and realized that this is my second summer here.  I’ve been back here, in the place where I grew up, for more than a year.  Well, it’s definitely starting to feel like home again and I’m happy to be here.

Although the summer heat can seem almost unbearable at times, there are plenty of reasons to put up with it.  Living in the San Joaquin Valley definitely has its advantages and I think the amazing variety of local stone fruit is right up there on the top of the list.  Unfortunately I missed the Organic Stone Fruit Jubilee this year, but I’ve been buying local organic peaches at my favorite farmer’s market and they’re really great this year.

Since I’ve changed the way I’m eating, I probably won’t be eating a whole lot of peach cobbler or nectarine muffins this year, but I’ve been enjoying our local peaches just the same.  Since cutting out sugar four months ago, raw fruit tastes so much better to me than it ever has before.  A bowl of fresh berries or sliced peaches drizzled with heavy cream satisfies me just as much or even more than heavy, sugar-laden desserts ever did.

Since fruit does contain lots of natural sugar, and I need to limit sugar in my diet to help control my reactive hypoglycemia, I still can’t go overboard on fresh fruit.  For me, it’s become a special treat and I usually only eat a serving or two a day – either with breakfast or as a dessert after dinner.  Lately I’ve really been enjoying a small smoothie made with fresh organic fruit and yogurt (or homemade kefir) first thing in the morning.  I’ve found that I feel best if I eat something small as soon as I get out of bed and then eat a more substantial breakfast an hour or two later.  My new favorite combination is fresh peach blended with Greek yogurt and ice.  I know it’s simple, but the flavor is out of this world.  Give it a try!

Creamy Peach Smoothie

1 ripe peach, peeled and cut into chunks (juices reserved)
1/2 cup whole milk Greek yogurt, such as FAGE Total
1 packet stevia powder (or sweetener of your choice, to taste)
2 or 3 ice cubes

Place peach chunks and juice, yogurt, stevia, and ice cubes into a high-powered blender.  Cover and blend until completely smooth.  Enjoy!

More Peach (and Nectarine) Recipes:

• Peach and Peppadew Salsa
• Peach Sorbet
• Peach Cobbler
• Nectarine Muffins

Peach Recipes from my Summer Fest Friends:

• CIA Dropout: Peachy Keen Panna Cotta
• What’s Gaby Cooking: Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
• In Jennie’s Kitchen: Easy Peach Preserves
• Daily Dishin: Fresh Peaches and Cream No-Bake Pie
• Cooking with Books: Peaches and Cream Cheesecake
• Cooking With My Kid: Peach & Friends Cobbler Pie
• White on Rice Couple: Peach Heirloom Tomato Salad
• Cooking With Elise: Bruschetta with Grilled Peach Chutney
• FN Dish: Summer Fest: Peach Recipes
• Taste With The Eyes: Warm White Peach and Blackberry Cobbler
• Recipe Girl: Fresh Peach Pie
• A Way to Garden: Farm Fresh Peaches Frozen to Perfection
• Napa Farmhouse 1885: Fresh Peach Cookies
• Sassy Radish: Peach, Apricot and Blueberry Cobbler with a Cornmeal Crust
• Sweet Life Bake: Sweet Peach Ancho Chile Salsa
• Indian Simmer: Indian Peach Gujiya
• Dixie Chik Cooks: Peach Cobbler
• Food2: 5 Killer Peach Flavored Cocktails
• Healthy Eats: 8 Ways You Didn’t Know You Could Eat Peaches
• Cooking Channel: Peaches on the Grill
• Add a Pinch: My Grandmother’s Peach Cobbler
• And Love It Too: Pan Seared Salmon with Fresh Peach Salsa
• The Sensitive Epicure: A Summer Peach Tart, Gluten-Free
• From My Corner of Saratoga: Double Caramel Peaches
• She Wears Many Hats: Peach Wontons
• I Am Mommy: Peach Bread

How You Can Join in Summer Fest

Have a recipe or tip that fits any of our weekly themes? You can contribute to our online recipe swap in various ways, big or small.

Contribute a whole post, or a comment—whatever you wish. It’s meant to be fun, viral, fluid. No pressure, just delicious. Simply leave your tip or recipe or favorite links in the comments below a Summer Fest post on my blog, and then go visit my collaborators and do the same.

Or think bigger: Publish entire posts of your own, if you wish, and grab the juicy Summer Fest  tomato badge (illustrated by Matt of Matt Bites).

To join the Summer Fest conversation on twitter, use the hash tag #cookingwith.

Summer Fest 2011 Posting Schedule

June 22: Eggplant – missed this one!
July 6: Peaches
July 20: Cucumbers
August 3: Cherries
August 17: Corn
August 13: Tomatoes
September 14: Broccoli