Sunday, May 26, 2013

Banana-Berry Smoothie

20130525_0005_1
As promised, I have a new recipe to share with you--just in time for summer!

I've always been something of a smoothie nut--at least when I've had access to a good blender! I have fond memories of frequenting a smoothie place that opened up right near my house when I was in middle school. My sister and I fell in love with these smoothies, and we soon realized how easy it was to make our own delicious, refreshing drinks filled with all kinds of tasty stuff! Every summer we would pull out the blender in our kitchen and mix up all sorts of different concoctions.

When the warm weather came around this year, I was thrilled to start experimenting with my new blender. I've been mixing things up pretty much daily for the last week or so, and when my boyfriend claimed this smoothie as his favorite, I figured it would be a good pick for a post.

Banana-Berry Smoothie
Makes about 3 cups
What You'll Need:
1 1/2 cups strawberries, frozen (about 8 oz.)
1 6 oz. container almond, coconut, or soy yogurt (I use plain, but a fruit flavor would work, too!)
1/3 cup blueberries
1 banana, frozen, and broken into large chunks
1-2 medium sized carrots, peeled and roughly chopped*
3/4 cup orange juice
up to 1 cup almond, rice, or soy milk

What You'll Need to Do:
If using a high-powered blender, add ingredients in the order listed and secure the lid. Start off at a slow speed, and quickly increase to the highest speed for your blender. Blend until smooth.

*If using a less powerful blender, you will have to grate the carrots or omit them. You'll also need to add the ingredients in batches. Add about half of the strawberries and bananas in with the orange juice and yogurt and blend until smooth. Add in the remaining ingredients and continue to blend until desired consistency is reached.

If you like your smoothies really thick, you can omit the milk altogether. If you'd like to thin it out a bit, add 1/4 to 1 cup milk and blend until desired thickness is reached.

Tips and Tricks
If you like (or would like to start) making smoothies in the summertime, stock up on your favorite fruits and yogurts. Alternatively, you can use silken tofu to thicken up your smoothies as well (I have some smoothie recipes utilizing this ingredient coming soon!).

Bananas are a nutritious and inexpensive addition to any smoothie, and even if you're not a huge fan of their flavor, it is oftentimes masked by the other ingredients. You can even buy the day old bananas at the market to save even more--just be sure you get them into the freezer as soon as you can! Peel and freeze bananas in a plastic baggie or other container in your freezer. And no need to stop with frozen bananas--you can chop and freeze things like mangoes and other fruits as well.

Fruit-filled smoothies also offer an opportunity to slip in other healthy ingredients, such as the carrots in this recipe. The carrots have a bit of a sweetness to them which meshes well with the other ingredients. Their taste was virtually imperceptible in this particular recipe.

32 comments:

  1. i just love bananas in my morning smoothies!
    clarence @ best smoothie blender

    ReplyDelete
  2. Keep posting the good work. Some really helpful information in there. Bookmarked. Nice to see your site. Thanks!visit our blog

    ReplyDelete
  3. Apples don't really contain soluble fibers, but don't let that stop you from putting it in your smoothie! Adding more fruits only makes it more nutritional, so have a blast and get creative with your smoothies.
    http://smoothierecepty.cz

    ReplyDelete
  4. After that you will know exactly what your body needs, so it's better to be aware of your health. Your current health state will give you the tips for a healthy eating plan.먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  5. Usually I never comment on blogs but your article is so convincing that I never stop myself to say something about it. You’re doing a great job Man,Keep it upBest Vitamix Blender

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
    Ninja Professional Blender black friday

    ReplyDelete
  7. Every one likes juice also I am. And we can easily make it in home by blender. Thanks for sharing your idea.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
    Hunza Valley Supplement

    ReplyDelete
  9. customers or clients to spread the news and backer the center message. An all the more usually utilized expression for this, is to allude to it as viral advertising.
    blog comment service

    ReplyDelete
  10. It does anyway have its cons if the message is vague and has a proposed predisposition to a specific gathering, regardless of whether racial, social, chauvinist, strict, rich, poor and so forth. blog comments service in 1$

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
    Hunza Valley Supplement

    ReplyDelete
  12. I utilized it for a month and saw a discernible distinction in myself. Presently I don't short of going out with my companions and so forth. tu bocata

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is a brilliant blog! I'm very happy with the comments!.. real insta likes

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ephedra was very popular several years ago before several people died after using it. Doctors will not prescribe it for now long-term weight loss but for some reason it has had resurgence on the Internet. resurge supplement review

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is very nice and informative post. For easy online shop you can click Here

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is very nice and informative post. For easy online shop you can
    visit us

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am unable to read articles online very often, but I’m glad I did today. This is very well written and your points are well-expressed. Please, don’t ever stop writing. badass vegan clothing

    ReplyDelete
  18. This blog is really great. The information here will surely be of some help to me. Thanks!. 20 day rapid weight loss

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts. Tren Tabs – Methyl-Trenbolone

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can't wait to read lots of your posts. OG Kush / Oz

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am very much pleased with the contents you have mentioned. I wanted to thank you for this great article. Glifor tablet

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cool stuff you have got and you keep update all of us. Buy Winsol (Winstrol)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. Satta king online

    ReplyDelete
  24. I might suggest solely beneficial in addition to trusted facts, and so find it: Black satta king

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your article has piqued a lot of positive interest. I can see why since you have done such a good job of making it interesting. Satta result

    ReplyDelete
  26. If you would like to reproduce this article on a website: Permission is granted provided that the article is reproduced in its entirety as shown above, and appropriate credit is given 시흥 출장안마

    ReplyDelete
  27. Satta King was offered in different regions and created a lot about how to predict Satta number. Satta numbers are predicted in completely different ways. Satta King is the most popular gaming discussion forum for players.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. Renewable Energy Consultants

    ReplyDelete
  29. Occurring through you are astonished to learn Web progress structures then you ought to focus in on this article, Independent Girls Service in Delhi DD News I am sure you will get dependably more from this article concerning SEO.

    ReplyDelete