Tips and Advice - Cooking from Scratch

One of the best ways to squeeze in a few servings of fruit (and maybe a vegetable) during the hot months of summer is with an ice cold smoothie. Over the last few months I have been developing smoothie recipes to make in my Magic Bullet Pro. While this blend is incredibly convenient these recipes can be made in any blending device made to handle ice cubes.

Smoothies make are a great change in the morning for breakfast, as a snack in the afternoon or as a dessert later in the day. I hope you will enjoy these smooth delights.

Five Tips Before You Get Started

• Always keep a supply of frozen fruit in the freezer (strawberries, raspberries, peaches). You never know when the opportunity to make a smoothie will strike. Having a variety of fruits available will help to satisfy different tastes.
• If a recipe calls for ice it is important to have it closest to the blades. If you are using an upright blender then you would add the ice first, if you are using a Magic Bullet then add the ice last. This insures proper pulverization of the ice and reduces the likelihood of chunks blocking straws.
• Canned fruit can easily be substituted for frozen or fresh fruit. It is important to increase the ice content to counter this substitution otherwise the drink will be quite foamy and warm.
• Don’t blend large chunks of fruit. Cut it into one to two inch pieces to properly blend it.
• When it is time to begin the actual blending pulse to break up ice before blending smooth.

Pineapple Smoothie

1 banana
1 1/2 slices of fresh pineapple, cut in large chunks
3/4 cup milk
splash of orange juice
8 to 10 ice cubes

Simple Strawberry

3/4 cup strawberries, frozen
1 banana
1 cup of orange juice
splash of milk

Raspberry Smoothie

1 cup raspberries, frozen
3/4 cup milk
1 banana
2 tablespoons sugar substitute

Mango Sunshine

1 cup mango, frozen
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup orange juice
1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar substitute

Kale and Pear Smoothie   

1 banana
1 pear (can, 2 halves)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon skim milk powder
1 tablespoon sugar substitute
2 green kale leaves, center vein removed
6 to 8 ice cubes

Feel free to share one of your favorite smoothie recipes in the comments below.

Have a cool summer!

Photo of fruit cup, copyright M. E. Wood , Squidoo

M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her Squidoo Who page.

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