I am pretty sure that it should be mandatory for everyone who lives in a cold climate in the Winter to vacation to a warm tropical place.  We have been in Maui this last week and at home it has been 9 degrees F with inversion and ice rain!  Wow - it makes me grateful for this scene: 

We stopped by a local fruit shop and got some mangoes and papayas.  My brother is a big fan of tropical fruit and said that a papaya smoothie is the best thing on earth.  We sat on our deck and cut up fresh fruit and made this smoothie.  Papayas are packed full of nutrients.  They are high in Vitamin C, A, and E which are all antioxidants.  They are also a great source of potassium and fiber.

We used 1 papaya, 1/2 banana, ice, and soy milk.  Simple, creamy and delicious.  The flavor of papaya is different that most other fruits I have tried.  It is almost a mix of peach and cantaloupe, with a twist.  A ripe papaya is smooth and sweet.  

This is the easiest smoothie you will ever make.  To use a papaya, cut it in half and then scoop the black seeds out like you would in a cantaloupe.  

Then peel the outside off with a knife and coarsely chop.  We just used 1/2 a banana so that it wasn't too overpowering.   

Place in your blender with plenty of ice.  We used soy milk because there is some lactose intolerance in my family, but you could use rice milk, almond milk, or just regular milk.  

Pour into glasses and then sit back and pretend you are on the beach.........