Orange Julius Recipe

The sun is out! This wouldn't typically be news here in Hawaii, but it's been dreary and gloomy and rainy for the past several days. We don't have seasons in Hawaii, but it suddenly feels kind of like the beginning of spring does in a regular place -- the pleasure of the warm sunshine on your face, admiring the flowers for sale at Lowes or Home Depot, wearing shorts for the first time after months in pants. I was in such a springtime mood -- so much so that "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles is playing on repeat in my head -- that I just had to whip up a cool drink for myself this afternoon.

I absolutely love homemade Orange Juliuses, and after I learned the easy recipe I've never really gone back to buying them at the mall. The best thing about making these refreshing half-smoothie, half-drink beverages at home is that they're fully customizable. You control the consistency, the sweetness, the orange component, and you can add in whatever else you want -- a banana, some frozen mango pieces, whatever strikes your fancy.

P.S. I just want to let you know that we were drinking out of Mason jars long before Pinterest made it fashionable! After we moved in together, my husband's mom gave us a bunch of amazingly delicious canned green beans and dill pickles. Jarrod -- who is very Southern indeed --insisted we use the empty Mason jars as glasses and I loved the idea -- so quaint, and FREE! Now, though, I see Mason jars everywhere. Guess the secret is out!

Homemade Orange Julius

Serves 2

3-4 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate (just eyeball it)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4ish cup sugar (to taste)

8 to 12 ice cubes (depending on desired thickness)

Put everything in a blender and give it a whirl. You're now the proud owner of two better-than-mall-quality Orange Juliuses!