While the origins of the smoothie will always remain a mystery, we know they could never have been made easily until the invention of the electric blender. Now smoothies are everywhere. Subway, Blimpie, Smooth Mooves, and other specialty shops are making a killing on your craving for a fruity shake-like concoction that’s better for your body than the traditional milkshake.
“You want three bucks for that little thing?” I once squeaked to the girl with braces at Subway. She just blushed and nodded as I decided to fork over the cash to get my fix. I actually looked behind the counter and watched her scoop the fruity goodness into a blender and whirrrrr. I realized I could have made a dozen fruity slurp-able treats at home for what I just paid for this one. And so it began my quest to discover how to make the perfect smoothies at home.
[STEP 1 – GET A GOOD BLENDER]
A big one. Speaking of which, I need to get a new one. My wife broke the pitcher-thingy, and now I just have the motor. What can I do with a blender motor from the 70s? Probably sell it on eBay.
[STEP 2 – FREEZE THAT FRUIT]
Many people like to chop up ice cubes in their smoothie to make it cold, but ice just waters down the flavor. If you drink it too fast, it gives you brain freeze. If you drink it too slow, the ice chips melt and it gets yucky. Buy a bunch of bananas on sale, peel them, and throw them in a freezer bag. You can also buy bags of frozen fruit at the grocery store. You can always use fresh fruit as well, but a frozen fruit base is easier on your blender than ice cubes, and makes the shake richer.
[STEP 3 – BEEF IT UP]
Don’t be afraid to do something wacky. Throw a big spoonful of sugar in the mix. I like mine creamy, so I add skim milk. If you need some energy, a packet of vanilla instant breakfast adds a boost. If you want a twist, skip the milk and add some yogurt, or even a scoop of ice cream. Don’t bother following a recipe. Get creative and experiment with combinations of flavors that you know you like.
At the end of the month, you’ll be proud to know how much cash you saved instead of dropped at the local Planet Smoothie. Your mother would be so proud.
RELATED LINKS:
MMM … SMOOTHIE RECIPES
MMM … FRUIT SMOOTHIES
MMM … MORE SMOOTHIE RECIPES
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