Storms and chickens

[Jules.]

Now I have my Kenwood chef I want to put its liquidiser to good use by making lots of yummy, healthy smoothies, but I can't really think of what to put in them.

What do you use to make smoothies?

[Snowy]

I use anything that's going Jules! A basic milk and bananas is great for the kids. In fact bananas are good in any smoothie - I like mangos, tinned peaches, strawberries and pineapple. I look out for reduced exotic fruit in the co-op. One of my favourites is pineapple, coconut milk, banana and some milk or yoghurt - alcohol free pina colada! Just experiment!

[Lesley]

Yoghurt makes a lovely thick smoothie.

 

I'm afraid my favourites aren't very healthy

 

Banana and Coffee (I use Camp Coffee)

Banana, Maple Syrup and Cinnamon

[The Dogmother]

I'm another one who bungs in whatever is handy. This morning, I had... organic SS milk, banana, strawberries, kiwi fruit, blueberries. Sometimes I use yoghurt too.

[chickencam]

We freeze our soft fruit when we have a glut in the summer and then make smoothies, I also freeze bananas if they are atarting to go brown. I take the skins off and put them in a bag and then they cut up from frozen pretty well and they thicken a smoothie and sweeten it at the same time.

 

We make smoothies with yoghurt or milk depending what is to hand and sometimes just fruit juice with whole fruit whizzed into it.

 

A bit of lemon or lime juice gives a smoothie a zing.

 

I use a stick blender these days after I broke my plastic blender by trying to whizz frozen strawberries in it . The washing up is easier too, you just need a deep jug.

[Louise]

I usually use fruit juice as the base either apple or orange and bung in one banana and either strwberries or raspberries

 

I sometimes add a little oat bran as well but I usually let it stand for ten minutes if I do that so it is soft

[redhotchick]

My favourite recipe is 2 bananas, 2 tablespoons of frozen berries, or fresh. 3 to 6 ice cubes. Some water. Blitz in a blender until smooth. Add water until you get the consistency you like. It makes about a pint.

 

I sometimes add a dash of cream or yoghurt, don't need it, just depends what I've got in and how I'm feeling.

 

Bananas, ice and flavoured low fat yoghurt blitzed together are nice too. Peach yoghurt say.

 

Honey is a nice sweetener. Oats are nice and give it another health dimension.

 

I used to get one from a health shop with "sea moss" in it. It was a gel made from seaweed. I can't remember what else was in it but it was lovely.

[Mutrix Farmers]

Handful of frozen summer fruits, fresh strawberries, cranberry and raspberry juice and yogurt. Fab on a hot summer day

 

Honeydew melon, tinned pineapple (and juice) and a little grated ginger

 

Watermelon and strawberry, may need a bit of cranberry juice to loosen it. The watermelon seeds add extra crunch.

[redfrock]

Handful of frozen summer fruits, fresh strawberries, cranberry and raspberry juice and yogurt. Fab on a hot summer day

 

Honeydew melon, tinned pineapple (and juice) and a little grated ginger

 

Watermelon and strawberry, may need a bit of cranberry juice to loosen it. The watermelon seeds add extra crunch.

 

now they sound more my style - bananas make me . I can never drink a shop bought one because of it. BTW I see you are just up the road from me - I know Margate very well

[Mutrix Farmers]

Hi redfrock. I don't like bananas in smoothies either

 

I have a book of juices and smoothies that you might like. It came from Lakeland Limited (www.lakeland.co.uk) and is called "The Big Book of Juices and Smoothies" - 365 recipes and it only cost a fiver (but that was 2 years ago)!! ISBN number 1-904292-23-2 if you need it.