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Fruity Milk Drink
Author: Alyice Edrich
When I was in elementary school, money was tight. Eating out was a treat, not the norm. And the purchase of specialty drinks, like a good Strawberry-Banana Orange Julius drink, was even rarer. So when my mother splurged on a large drink, it felt like heaven.
I'm sure what made the drink even more refreshing was the time spent with my mom. Just the two of us, walking the mall, window shopping as we shared our drink. I can't recall what our conversations were about, not really sure they had any importance other than bonding over a guilty pleasure. I do, however, remember a few conversations about the drink itself: commenting on how refreshing Orange Julius drinks always tasted and wondering if they were as healthy as they appeared.
Sometimes, when money wasn't quite so tight, we'd get our own drinks and I'd add strawberries, bananas, and yes, the dreaded raw egg. I liked how the egg thickened the drink and added a nice froth, and was very disappointed when they stopped selling raw eggs.
Years later, when I married my husband, I discovered that he had a fondness for Orange Julius, too. He enjoyed a nice chili dog, followed by a large Orange Julius. He'd never added the bananas or the strawberries. He preferred the original. It was only a matter of time, however, before I converted him.
Today, we rarely drink them. Not because we've outgrown them, but because we're not fond of shopping the mall where the drinks reside.
For years, I've been in search of a perfect substitute but could never come close. Then one day, after trying several recipes online, I decided to combine a few recipes, add a twist of my own, and voila! A fruity milk drink that tastes just as good as a Strawberry-Banana Orange Julius, even though it is not quite the same drink.
Alyice's Fruity Milk Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 C 1% Milk
- 1/2 C Orange juice, low acid, pulp free (Minute Maid)
- 1/8 C Refined white sugar or 2 Tb honey or 1 Tb Agave Nectar syrup
- 1 Tsp Pure vanilla extract (not imitation)
- 2 Orange Popsicles (homemade from orange juice is best)
- 1 Ripe medium-sized banana
- 1/2 C Frozen strawberry slices
(can go up to 1 C if more strawberry flavor is desired)
* Optional: 1/4 C Egg Beaters (in lieu of 1 raw egg)
Instructions
- Place popsicles in blender.
- Add milk and orange juice.
- Add vanilla extract.
- Place sugar in blender.
- Add peeled banana and frozen strawberries.
- Blend until smooth. (Optional: after blending well, add egg beaters.)
- Serve immediately.
And if you'd like to try another version of the famous Orange Julius...one that has some fiber, may I suggest this morning treat:
- 1 scoop "Pure Protein" vanilla cream whey protein
- 1 Tb "Citrucel" orange with smart fiber
- 8 oz filtered water
*Optional: Add a banana or strawberries, yum!
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