Smoothie Crazy
My interest in smoothies was short-lived, at best. It started with sipping off my mom’s Orange Julius at the mall when I was little and stopped soon thereafter. Having to haul out the heavy machinery, and then clean carefully around the blade afterwards lest you’d care to lose a finger — it all seemed like more trouble than it was worth, especially when the results seemed so uncertain. I was, you see, at a smoothie impasse.
But when a friend was moving and wanted to unload his blender as well as a gigantic rice cooker, I took both begrudgingly at Sebastian’s behest. Cabinet space was at a premium at our house, and the last thing we needed was seldom-used specialty equipment hogging precious real estate. Both the blender and the rice cooker, it turns out, have changed my life. The rice cooker, though, is another story for another day.
What I’m about to share is my recently discovered secret of the universe. It is a secret many of you may already have discovered, but much like learning that the burn of heartache is worth the pleasure that precedes it, it’s a life lesson each must arrive at on her own terms, and at her own time: making a smoothie is like taking candy from a baby, and they turn out as well as the $3.50 variety at the mall, every time. Better still, there are no mysterious sugary syrups or questionable powders going in there — just fruit, ice, some liquid, and a couple tablespoons of milled flax seed if you’re feeling fancy.
I’m not as crazy for fruit as I am for veggies, so this is a great way to get a few servings of those seeded fellows. Another trick I’ve learned in the smoothie biz: when fruit is starting to turn, throw it in a freezer bag and save it for a smoothie. I’m heavy on the bananas cause they’re so darn affordable. Any other cheap-o fruit combo ideas? Now, without further ado, my three current faves:
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Serves 1
1 banana
2/3 cup strawberries
1/2 cup 1% milk
2/3 cup ice
2 tablespoons milled flax seed
Put in a blender and blitz!
Nutty Banana
Serves 1
1 banana
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1 cup almond milk
2/3 cup ice
2 tablespoons milled flax seed
Put in a blender and blitz!
Blueberry Banana
Serves 1
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon agave nectar (if the blueberries are particularly tart)
2 tablespoons milled flax seed
1/2 cup 1% milk
2/3 cup ice
Put in a blender and blitz!
Ann: oooh you’ve inspired me to break out the blender again. cleaning it is such a hassle, which turns me off. I LOVE the new layout, btw!1 year ago
Thanks, Ann! Yeah, cleaning the blender isn’t the easiest task, but I just remind myself it’s not as bad as the Cuisinart.1 year ago
SP: Ooh, some terrific recipes here. Thanks!
Cleaning the blender is dead simple, if you do it right away. Rinse it out, put a few drops of dishwashing liquid in it, fill it maybe half-full with warm water, and put it on puree for 5-10 seconds. (And then wash any other dishes with the nice frothy, soapy warm water.) Rinse again, and set aside to dry.1 year ago
Lisa (dinner party): I wish I had a blender (and all of the Nutty Banana ingredients) on my desk right now! Damn working on President’s Day!1 year ago
Sara Rose: If you want your smoothie to be thicker (as I usually do) you can use frozen fruit and yogurt instead of milk and ice. Thanks for reminding me that I need flax seed AFTER I just got back from the grocery store. Tee hee hee!1 year ago
SP, You’re a genius.
Lisa, that one is my fave!
Sara Rose, Oh well, it’s always fun to run back to the store for more treats!1 year ago
Audra: The mere thought of blender-cleaning shut down my smoothie production for years. Then I discovered the Magic Bullet Blender. It comes with 4 mugs perfect for making one smoothie at a time, and when finished, all you have to do is pop the mug in the dishwasher! Needless to say, I make lots of smoothies these days — especially fond of the blueberry/banana combo!1 year ago
Sandy: Add some chocolate to that nutty banana…YUM!1 year ago
Sandy: My mom use to make me shakes as a quick breakfast before school. She use to do an apple/banana combo that was really good with a dash of vanilla extract. BTW, she left the peel on the apple.1 year ago
Sarah: Audra, This Magic Bullet Blender sounds very intriguing! How have a I never even heard of it?!
Sanday, Now apple banana is an interesting idea — simple, classic. I’ll have to try that next. A+ to your mom!1 year ago
Sara Rose: So I went and got frozen fruit cheapo with coupons- got black cherries, a berry medley, and mango slices. Got myself some yogurt, got some flax seed, but what did I not get? BANANAS. Why do I even go anywhere anymore, all I do is forget things. Yeesh. I’m excited to make a cherry-berry smoothie though!1 year ago
Megan: I know it sounds weird, but if you’re a veggie fan you should try a green smoothie. To make mine I usually blend together a half a banana (and sometimes half and orange) and some milk. Then add about 2 handfuls of anything green and leafy. Spinach is sweeter, kale is more bitter. Then I add frozen fruit: can be strawberries, peaches, berries, whatever I’ve got laying around. Blend that together. Add about 10 ice cubes to thicken. Blend again and taste. Add a bit of sugar or splenda if necessary. I also add protein powder. It makes such a good breakfast and you feel extra healthy getting your greens in the a.m.1 year ago
Paige: I make smoothies a lot for me and my kids–it’s the rare breakfast we can all get behind, for some reason. For 2-3 servings, I use a banana, a half cup or so of frozen blueberries or cherries, a quarter cup of Fage yogurt, 2 or 3 tablespoons of rice protein powder, 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, 1/2 cup of either water or OJ, and a tablespoon of Omega 3 oil (Barlean’s Omega Twin.) Super healthy, delicious, digestible. I just started doing this recently, and can’t believe I resisted for so long–why in the world did I think smoothies were too much trouble to make???1 year ago
That’s what I want to know for myself, too! Love the double-whammy of the flaxseed and the omega 3 oil.1 year ago