Colorful, sweet fruits and vegetables and herbs are in abundance this season.

Summer Smoothies

8 Ice cubes crushed

2 tbsp. raspberry Syrup

2 cups chilled apple juice

Divide the crushed ice between two glasses and pour over the raspberry syrup. Top up each glass with chilled apple juice and stir well.

Decorate with the whole raspberries and pieces of apple on cocktail sticks and serve,

DECORATION:  whole raspberries and pieces of apple on contact sticks

Boost your immune system and help counteract the effects of the passing years with this delicious and colorful drink.

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 cup cooked beet, chopped

5 tbsp. plain yogurt

2/3 cup water

salt (optional)

Add the water to the orange juice, beet, and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Pour the smoothie into a chilled pitcher and stir in salt to taste (if using). Decorate with chopped beet and serve

DECORATION: chopped beet

Put the yogurt, water, and blueberries into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

1/2 cup strained plain yogurt

1/2 cup water

1 cup frozen blueberries

Pour into glasses and top with whole frozen blueberries.

DECORATION: whole frozen blueberries

When you’re feeling jaded, this glorious pairing of sweet and tart will perk you up and provide the energy you need for summer.

Pour pineapple juice and orange juice into a food processor or blender and process gently until combined

1/2 cup pineapple juice

4 1/2 oz orange juice

1 melon cut into chunks

1 cup frozen pineapple juice

4 ice cubes crushed

add the melon, pineapple chunks and ice cubes to processor or blender until a slushy consistency has been reached.

Pour the mixture into glasses

DECORATION: slices of melon