Strawberry, Blackcurrant and Coconut Water Smoothie

2015 is the Scottish Year of Food and Drink and the monthly theme for July is Summer Berries and Soft fruits. On 1st July Scotland's Berry Trail was launched, celebrating and promoting more than 33 berry farmers throughout the country, during their short but sweet growing season. I've got some berries of my own in the garden - Strawberries, Blackcurrants and Raspberries. It's our first year of Rasps so I'm not expecting too much, my Strawberries have just started to form but my Blackcurrants are already looking fantastic! Time to start making use of them in a delicious breakfast berry smoothie. 

I absolutely love all things coconut but had never actually got round to trying any of the coconut water which seems to have become a bit of a celebrity trend of late. Coconut water is the clear, fat free liquid found in young green coconuts. It is hailed for its health benefits being naturally rich in vitamins and minerals, low in calories and high in electrolytes. I received some to review and turns out that it's definitely not for me. To my palate its more sweaty flip flop than a refreshing taste of the Caribbean. What else to do with it than drink on its own? The answer seem to be to disguise it in soups, salad dressings, marinades, ice lollies and smoothies. 

STRAWBERRY, BLACKCURRANT & COCONUT WATER SMOOTHIE

10 medium Strawberries

3 handfuls of Blackcurrants

2 Tablespoons Runny Honey

300ml Coconut Water

The quantities for this are somewhat arbitrary and but those I've given will give you a good starting point and you can adjust to suit your own palate.
Hull the strawberries and remove the stalks from the blackcurrants, give them a quick wash before popping them in a blender. Pour over the coconut water, add honey to taste and blitz until smooth. This will give you enough for one tall glass or two short tumblers. 
Best enjoyed drunk through a red and white striped straw. 

Back to the berries. If you don't have them growing in your garden you can track down Scottish growers via the Scottish Berry Trail Leaflet which is available at VisitScotland Information Centres and other relevant outlets, as well as online at www.thinklocalscotland.co.uk. Scotland's berry growers have a reputation for producing the tastiest seasonal fruits around. From the traditional sweetness of strawberries and raspberries to the more tart blackcurrants and redcurrants. Scotland's most northerly blueberries are grown in Aberdeenshire and the new 'superfood' aronia is grown in Angus. These berries provide an array of health benefits, as well as being a delicious and attractive addition to any meal. Whether you want to buy your berries direct from the farmer, pick your own, or sit down and have a cup of tea with a Strawberry Tart, Scotland's Berry Trail will point you in the right direction.

I asked my fellow food bloggers for some more recipes to use the glut of blackcurrants from my garden and they came up with plenty of inspiration. Scottish bloggers also shared the best of their recipes for summer fruits along with one from top Scottish Chef Mark Greenaway . Enjoy these seasonal berries while you can.

Blackcurrant Trifle by Lancashire Food 

Blackcurrant, Rose and White Chocolate Ripple Ice Cream by Tin & Thyme

Devils Food Cake with Blackcurrant Puree by Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

Blackcurrant Focaccia by Baking Queen 74

No Bake Summer Fruit Cheesecake by Shetland blog Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

Chocolate & Berry Pavlova by Southwest Scotland blog Farmersgirl Kitchen
Raspberry Gin by Edinburgh blog The Usual Saucepans
Blueberry Scones by Dundee Blog Tinned Tomatoes
Pimm's Summer Salad by Aberdeenshire blog Foodie Quine
Marinated Strawberries, White Chocolate Cheesecake by Edinburgh Chef Mark Greenaway

Made With Pink & Maison Cupcake