Sweet Summer Smoothies
Mmm… I love a refreshing smoothie on a hot summer day. It almost rivals a fragrant cup of coffee on a cold morning. Besides being delicious, smoothies are healthy, filling, and relatively inexpensive. (I sound like a smoothie commercial. But it’s true!)
So I thought I would 1) share my non-scientific, inexact, uncomplicated smoothie “recipe,” and 2) ask what you put in your smoothies, because a lot of you are probably more creative than I am. I know people who put spinach in their smoothies. Now I love spinach, but I just haven’t been brave enough to try that yet.
Without further ado, here’s how I make a smoothie:
- Get out your handy-dandy blender.
- Add 1 banana.
- Put a handful of berries in. I use frozen berries from Walmart because they’re cheap and they help make the smoothie cold. This week I’m using raspberries.
- Add about 3/4 cup yogurt. I’ve never measured, but that sounds about right. I use lowfat vanilla yogurt.
- Pour in about 1 cup milk. Again, I’ve never measured. I try to err on the side of using less milk rather than too much, because I like my smoothie a little thick. You can always add more if the mixture isn’t blending well.
- Put the lid on and blend.
- While the blender is on, add 4 ice cubes one by one.
- Voila! Pour into a glass and enjoy. Makes 1 big serving or 2 smaller ones.
Okay, it’s your turn… if you’re a smoothie-maker, how do you do it? I’d love to hear. Meanwhile, I’m finishing mine.
Ooh, those sound really good, LeAnna! Thanks for sharing! I’m especially interested in trying the second one. 
Looks so good! I usually add a tablespoon of honey to my smoothies.
So do I! I can’t believe I forgot to mention that.
I am a huge fan of strawberries, blueberries and peaches in my smoothies. Usually I use a combination of frozen and fresh fruit so I don’t have to use ice cubes, but it doesn’t kill my blender.
Also, I add wheat germ and flax (ground up), and I’d like to try kale or spinach, too. We had some smoothies at a bridal shower of mine, and the healthy ones tasted so good! I just have to replicate them.
Like you, I use yogurt, and if it doesn’t taste sweet enough (or if I’m making one for my hubby–he likes it sweeter), I’ll add a little bit of honey or jam.
Costco sells a blended frozen bag of tropical fruit and berries.. I follow that recipe (fruit, ice, milk, and yogurt) and usually add some vanilla protein powder and ground up flax seeds.
That sounds delicious!
You just made me want a smoothie super bad. I think I will have to make one soon!
I love a good little REFRESHING smoothie!
xoxo
bB
I love smoothies! I don’t know if you have an Orange Julius place in the States, (I’m in Canada) but they make amazing fruit smoothies! They’re kind of expensive though, so I like to make my own at home.
I don’t have a recipe, but it’s yummy to blend together milk, ice, vanilla yougurt, and then add some frozen orange juice concentrate. So refreshing!
Oh, that sounds really good! I love making smoothies for breakfast, especially on the days I have to leave so early. Berry smoothies are my favorite.
the spinach is reeeally good. i promise it doesnt taste anything like spinach when it gets in the smoothie. not to mention its very good for you
We love smoothies here, and have them once or twice a week. I prefer kefir to yogurt (it has more probiotics and is easy to make yourself), but other than that my “recipe” is similar to yours. Peaches with raspberries may be my favorite fruit combo, but chocolate, PB, and banana is great too.
Peaches with raspberries sounds really good!
These sound really good! My own smoothie-like drink that I have been enjoying is a frozen coffee type drink. Here is Canada, at Tim Hortons (a doughnut and coffee chain), they have something that I LOVE called an ice cap but since I am off dairy and caffeine because I am nursing, I wanted to find something like it. I make swiss water decaf coffee and freeze it in ice cube trays. I throw 8 cubes of coffee, some almond milk and a bit of chocolate syrup in my Magic Bullet and end up with a great drink that is o.k when I am nursing, if not the healthiest.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Wow, how creative! Sounds yummy!
Smoothies are absolutely delicious! My favorite is Strawberry-Blueberry. I haven’t had it for a while though.
Hi Anna. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me a comment. Nice to “meet” you. I haven’t made smoothies in a while but I like lowfat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana with some ice cubes to make it frothy. Sounds good right about now,
Wow! My smoothies are kind of boring by comparison! This summer, I’m a huge fan of raspberry smoothie. I use a cup of rice milk (my sister uses cow milk), a forzen banana and half-a-cup of frozen raspberries. Mmm … ! I really need to learn to be more creative! Have you ever taken your hand off a stick blender when mixing a smoothie in a jug? It’s not recommended. I got bits of frozen fruit EVERYWHERE!!!
P.S. By the way, I really like the new look of your blog!
Thank you! It was time for a change!
WOW, you got tons of comments! Here are my two favorite smoothies:
(I use the Bullet Blender because it makes a perfect smaller amount for just me or the kiddos to split)
1 banana
some peach slices
1 container (6-8 oz) of vanilla yogurt
4 ice cubes
OR
a few strawberries cup up
1 banana
1 tub of yogurt (any flavor 6-8 oz)
4 ice cubes
splash of water
We made smoothies last week. One with banana and strawberries; one with banana and peaches. Mmmmm. I think I need to make another one!
Our favorite smoothie recipe is this one:
3 frozen bananas
couple tablespoons of honey (or sugar!)
milk (we use rice or soy)
Blend until smooth and enjoy!
I know it sounds really simple but, trust me, it’s DELICIOUS! It has a “sorbet” type texture and since the bananas are frozen it’s chilled as well. Simply refreshing. I’m hungry just thinking of it…perhaps I’ll make it for dessert tomorrow!
Blessings!
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Mmm, yes! I usually use juice in place of milk, but that’s about the only thing different. Sometimes I’ll freeze banana chunks to avoid the need for ice cubes. Our favorite is strawberry, banana, peach with whatever yogurt we have on hand. I usually use apple juice, just a splash to thin it out because we like ours thick, too.
For a more stick-to-your-ribs protein packed variation I’ll sometimes do bananas, yogurt, and peanut butter with a squirt of chocolate syrup. (milk to thin)