Peach Mango Smoothie with Basil

This is our new favorite smoothie. In fact, this is also our favorite breakfast right now because Breakfast Summer Edition = Smoothies, Smoothies, and more Smoothies. That's the way we have to roll when we don't get out of bed until the shameful hour of 9: 30 AM.

Yep, that's right. 9:30 in the AM. And I don't even feel that bad about it. I've got two pretty solid excuses and they've got an expiration date, so I'm putting them to good use right now. #1: The Baby. #2 It's Summer. So, there you go.

The kids sure aren't complaining about the smoothies (or the late mornings) either! In fact, Esme has arrived at a place in her almost eight years of life in which she feels very comfortable following a smoothie recipe and operating the blender all by herself. She's a smoothie making champ this summer and I'm her biggest fan.

I'm also a pretty big fan of peaches and basil right now. Peaches because they're peaches. Basil because I've got a giant bush of it in my garden this year so I have to keep asking myself, what else can I possibly add basil to?

Basil may not seem like an obvious smoothie add-in, but it is surprisingly tasty. The basil's distinctive taste pairs perfectly with the sweet peach and mango juices. I also added kefir for its flavorful tang, healthy live cultures, and vitamins . . . makes me feel better about serving up smoothies for breakfast. You can lightly sweeten this smoothie with dates, but if you have fresh, ripe peaches around this summer, you won't really need to sweeten this at all.

This is one really delicious and healthy smoothie. This is also how I am able to skirt past any mom-guilt about letting everyone stay up late and sleep in late all summer long. Sure, it's 10 AM when we sit down to the breakfast table, but I've got a yummy, nutritious smoothie on the menu and I'm serving it up on a stylish tray with matching napkins and place mats - which means, of course, that everyone has to take it seriously, right? Right.

We may be wasting 3 potentially productive hours drooling on our pillows, but I'm very willing to believe that a good breakfast evens the score.

(And if you love stripes + pretty table linens as much as I do, then you'll be happy to know that the tray and linens in this post and this post are available from Artek. They are part of the ABC Collection and I love them. I especially adore the trays and I've been using mine all summer.)

Yield: 4

Peach Mango Smoothie with Basil

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Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain kefir
• ¼ cup water
• 2 peaches, washed, halved, and pitted
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 2 dates (or to taste)
• 2 large basil leaves
• 1 cup ice cubes

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a high powered blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately.