Everyone loves smoothies.
Well at least here in Florida, where the sun scorches and the humidity is so thick that we must wade through it to walk from one air conditioning to the next. We love icy-cold smoothies that are packed with nutrition. My proof is in the sheer number and variety of thriving smoothie stands and cafe's on almost every street corner.
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| SUPERWOMAN POWERS...ACTIVATE! |
Like coffee, a smoothie cost way more at one of these stands as it does to blend up at home. And like coffee, having ingredient control means you can make your smoothie to the exact taste, texture and content that pleases you. My family goes through summer stages in my kitchen when we want smoothies every morning for breakfast. Sometimes they are an afternoon snack. And sometimes they suffice as a lunch or dinner meal, if we aren't very hungry or are short on time.
I invested in the Superwoman of blenders, a Vitamix, about 7 years ago and have never regretted the cost. Once purchased, I started with smoothies and quickly became the lady that would do things like teach a "smoothie lesson" at my daughter's school, set up a "smoothie booth" at my neighborhood festival, and woman the "smoothie bar" at parties.
Let me tell you, teaching kindergartners how to make smoothies is an experience like no other! Years later, these kids are the smoothie masters in their own families' kitchens. I'm not sure any other mommy moment has ever made my daughter more proud of me than leading her friends in such a messy-fun experience at school. So I am writing to offer you the same information. Prerequisite requirement: a kindergarten education and an experimental nature.
You don't have to own a Superwoman blender, but you do need a blender that can pulverize stuff.
Equipment:
- blender
- knife
- cutting board
- Liquid base (examples: water, apple juice, milk of any kind)
- Fresh or frozen fruit and/or vegetables (examples: berries, bananas, apples, kiwi, mango, pineapple, peaches, lemon juice, carrots, cucumber, spinach, kale, arugula, lettuce)
- Optional Herbs and/or roots (examples: basil, cilantro, parsley, ginger, turmeric, maca root lemongrass)
- Optional supplements (examples: protein powder, coconut oil, cod liver oil, probiotics, vitamins)
- Optional honey, maple syrup, or agave to taste if needed
- Start with about 1 or 2 cups of whatever combo of frozen and fresh fruits and any roots like carrots and ginger cut in chunks your blender can handle and put directly in carafe
- Pour your choice of liquid base into carafe enough to cover the fruits
- Blend starting slowly and raising speed until content of carafe is smooth and not too thick to drink (add more water or liquid of choice if needed and re-blend)
- If you want any veggies, herbs or supplements, chop and add to carafe along with another pour of water or liquid base to cover the contents (if carafe is full of leafy greens at this point, only add enough additional liquid to liquefy the veggies)
- Blend until smooth and adjust the level of thick by adding liquid as needed according to your preference
- Taste! If too bitter, add lemon juice or a sweet thing such as honey and re-blend
- Pour and drink OR store in a mason jar with lid - straws make smoothie's extra fun
- Bananas that are starting to brown are GREAT for peeling, freezing in a zip lock, and using in smoothies
- The more frozen fruits you use, the icier the smoothie will be
- The stronger your blender, the less chopping and peeling is needed (my Vitamix pulverizes everything, skin and all, almost whole)
- After only a few experiments, you will learn what you like and can simplify and speed up your prep process
- Keep bags of frozen fruit (best from season U-pick farms, but fine from supermarket) handy for smoothies anytime as a back up snack or meal
Next up...Sexy Food!
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