Chilling with Smoothies


There are a few ways to put together a good smoothie. You can use ice-cream or sherbet as a base and combine with fruit, veggies, juice. Or, you can use milk or yogurt with crushed ice as a base and combine with other ingredients. Directions are simple for all listed smoothie recipes - just put ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth (hence smoothie). Smoothie is best in a chilled glass and ingredients used should ideally be chilled too (juice, milk, etc.). Make it more fun serving in margarita or wine glass and use cookie cutters to decorate with exotic fruit shapes. Bring paradise home!

Each smoothie Serves 2

Going Bananas

banana smoothie

  • 2 bananas cut in quarters and frozen
  • 1 orange
  • ½ mango cubed
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup crushed ice

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass. If this is your dessert, add ½ cup Chocolate chips or crushed chocolate and blend.

A Cup of Sunshine

a cup of sunshine smoothie

  • 2 cups sherbet (orange or strawberry)
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 1 orange pealed and cubed
  • ½ cup of strawberries
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup dry cranberries

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass. Garnish with orange zest. Enjoy the boost of vitamin C! You can use ice-cream instead of sherbet, but then skip milk not to make this citrusy smoothie too creamy.

Berry Good

berry smoothie

  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup sliced pears
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 2 cups ice
  • 2 tbsp honey

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass. Garnish with berries. You can also use frozen berries as long as you let them defrost for a little while.

Coffee Buzz

coffee smoothie

  • 1 cup of regular coffee chilled
  • 2 cups ice
  • 1 cup coffee yogurt
  • 3-4 pieces of milk or dark chocolate, crumbled

Blend until smooth and serve in a coffee mug. Great breakfast drink - you get the buzz from coffee and protein from yogurt; skip the chocolate to cut calories.



Peanut Butter & Jelly

  • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
  • ½ cup your favorite jelly
  • 1 cup coffee yogurt
  • 2 cups ice

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass. Who says you need bread for this? Well, if you do, use a piece of toast for garnish.

Summer Day

  • 1 pealed, cored and sliced apple of any variety
  • 2 cups chilled watermelon
  • 1 cup strawberries
  • 2 cups ice

Blend until smooth and serve in a chilled glass. Dream of summer!

Written by Home Chef.

Blend with this!

Cuisinart 40-oz. Duet Blender/Food Processor, Chrome

Cuisinart 40-oz. Duet Blender/Food Processor, Chrome

Cuisinart skillfully combines a blender with a small food processor without sacrificing the performance or features of either one. This Duet appliance is great for smaller kitchens and apartments with limited counter space and cupboard storage. The 40-ounce glass blender jar whirs at the touch of one of 7 speeds, including a special ice crush setting and pulse.To slice or shred vegetables or fruit, simply remove the blender, replace it with the 3-cup work bowl, collar and cover, and you're off! Even tough jobs like grinding beef cubes or grating Parmesan cheese are a breeze. A chopping blade and reversible slicing/shredding disc are included. The food processor's unique design lets you position the handle and feed tube facing front, side or rear, handy whether you're right or lefthanded. Extra amenities include indicator lights so you know what functions in operation, a hidden cord storage, dripless pouring spout and a feed tube pusher with a built-in liquid dispenser. It's a 2-in-1 appliance worth it's weight in dozens of meals.

Mommy Mail

Latest Question

My mom told me not to feed the baby from my spoon, since it causes cavities. Is this true? I've been sharing my food with her for a while now. She loves to eat anything I try. I am wondering if I should stop it.
Elaine, LA

Answer:

It is true. You can pass cavity-causing germs through contact - studies have shown this for over 30 years now. San Antonio dentist Dr. Lawrence Morris says a parent with active, open cavities can easily pass on the bacteria to her child. "Their enamel is a lot weaker, it's a lot thinner than permanent enamel. Cavities tend to develop a lot quicker than on permanent teeth".

It's also important to keep your own teeth clean (yes, both brushing and flossing), so you keep your own risk of cavities (and therefore passing any) to a minimum. At the same time, remember to brush your kids' teeth daily and avoid putting them to bed with a bottle or sippy cup. You can read more about Baby Teeth development here.

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