VIDEO Cook it! Sunrise Sunset smoothie from Tropical Smoothie

Cook it! Smoothie

Learn the secrets to making a great ...

Learn how to make the refreshing “Sunrise Sunset” smoothie from Andrew Jessen of Tropical Smoothie on the CookIt! video.

Andrew and Terri Jessen moved from New Jersey to Naples in 2004 when they left the corporate world to start their own business. They opened the first Tropical Smoothie in Naples at 5016 Airport-Pulling Road. Today there are five restaurants in the area with three in Naples, one in Ave Maria and one in Estero. The Jessens sold their store in March and now oversee the Southwest Florida stores for the franchise. All the restaurants are locally owned and operated and keep to the franchise’s mottos of “Eat better. Feel better.”

Smoothies are made with fresh fruit, a natural sweetener or Splenda. There isn’t any ice cream, yogurt or sherbet in the drinks, and owners buy as much fruit and produce locally as they can to help the community, the Jessens say.

The most popular smoothie is the simplest, the Jetty Punch, made with strawberries and bananas. There is even a smoothie for anyone feeling under the weather; it has 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C and is named the”Immune blast.” It’s not only healthy but also tasty and is most popular during the cold and flu season.

The most popular wrap is the “King Caesar,” made with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato and Parmesan cheese. In September an expanded breakfast menu will debut, as will a new smoothie with blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, flax seeds, oatmeal, multivitamins and whey protein.

Jessen gave us this recipe for the smoothie:

Sunrise Sunset

Ingredients

Equal parts of washed, peeled and cut up mangoes, strawberries, pineapples and oranges

Sweetener, if desired

Ice

Preparation

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and smooth.

Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

Connect with Sheila Mesulam at www.naplesnews.com/staff/sheila_mesulam