Cranberry-Pear Smoothie

Cranberries and pears are two of my favorite winter fruits. With all the rich foods we eat during the holidays, it's a nice change making something a little more healthy...like a smoothie. Smoothies are wonderful for breakfast because they're so quick and easy to make. I thought the pear and cranberry combination would be good together...and perfect for this time of year! Without the honey, this smoothie has a very light sweet taste, naturally sweetened by the pear. If you like sweeter smoothies, you can add some honey as indicated below.

CRANBERRY-PEAR SMOOTHIE by Cottage Flavor

Makes about two 8-oz. servings

• 1 medium to large pear, cut into small chunks (about 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 medium banana, broken into chunks
• 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup milk or soymilk
• 1 Tablespoon honey (optional)
• Additional cranberries for garnish (optional)

Place pear chunks, cranberries, and banana in blender; add yogurt, soymilk, and honey, if desired. Blend ingredients until smooth (this is a thicker smoothie, so you may have to help the mixture along at first with a large spoon). Garnish with additional cranberries if desired and serve immediately.

What types of healthy foods do you like to enjoy during the holidays?