Happy Memorial Day! Richard and I are going to a friend's house this afternoon for a Memorial Day Barbecue. The hosts are great cooks so I plan to eat lightly throughout the day, beginning with this smoothie, saving room for their goodies. (Scroll below for previous grilling blogs that may suit your needs for today.)

I was just thumbing through the latest issue of "Traverse, Up North" magazine and came across a wonderful article celebrating Michigan berries. I can't find the exact link to the hard copy but the site has some excellent articles about Michigan food, in general. Food writer, Patty Lanque Stearns wrote the story which inspired my version of her "Berry Good For Your Smoothie" recipe.

She froze the banana used for the smoothie which I've never done. I've always blended my concoctions with ice but the frozen banana allows me to eliminate that step. The banana took a couple of hours to freeze, allowing me time to take a little jog. She added honey but with my substitution of pomegranate juice for milk, the smoothie was sweet enough for our palates.

You can find Michigan strawberries from Gibb's Farm at the Farmer's Market and they are delicious. I purchased the Michigan strawberries used in this recipe from Plum Market, which were also superb.

Beef for the Grill: Marinated Beef Kebobs Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce Perfectly Grilled Steak Grilled Steak with Gorgonzola Butter Go-Blue Cheese Burgers

Chicken and Turkey on the Grill No-Burn Barbecue Chicken Grilled Chicken Fajita Bar Grilled Barbecue Chicken Pizza Turkey Burgers with Cracked Wheat and Spinach Grilled Turkey Breast Brined, Grilled Chicken Breasts with Blackberry Sauce Grilled Balsamic Chicken Breasts over Baby Greens

Pork on the Grill Applewood Smoked Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Sauce Smoked, Pulled Pork Barbecue Sliders with Hot Slaw Barbecue Spare Ribs

Fish on the Grill Grilled Wild Salmon with Caper-Tarragon Sauce Fish Tacos

Vegetables on the Grill Portobella Mushroom Burgers Other Savory Grilled Fare Grilled Mediterranean Sausages

Red, White & Blue Smoothie

Yield: 2 smoothies Time to freeze banana: 2 hours Active time: 10 minutes Cost: apx. $3.00

Ingredients

6 large strawberries, hulled and washed, plus strawberries for garnish, if desired 1 ripe banana, frozen 1 1/2 cups blueberries, washed, plus blueberries for garnish, if desired 1 cup plain yogurt (I prefer using Greek strained yogurt, such as Fage), plus dollops of yogurt for garnish, if desired 1/2 cup juice (I used 100% pomegranate juice)

Directions

In a blender, purée strawberries, banana, and blueberries. Add yogurt and juice and blend until well combined. Garnish with fruit and yogurt, if desired and serve.