Longing for a Luscious Lunch Time Frozen Fruit Yogurt Smoothie

My KitchenAid Blender and I have a very close relationship because  I survive on frozen fruit yogurt smoothies for lunch during the summer.  And like any smoothie enthusiast, I have my special favorite recipe… um, guidelines.  The 56 oz capacity of the blender makes enough for me to share with the onlookers, while still having enough left over for freezer storage.  This is how I do it:

• Add about 1.5 cups of the main frozen berries.  I usually use strawberries.  Frozen fruit is easy to store, ready to use, and makes the smoothie consistency more substantial.
• For more complex flavor, I add about 1/3 cup of something else, like frozen blueberries.
• I put in a  small banana, cut up.  I usually have peeled bananas in the freezer that were ripening too fast for fresh eating.
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar brings out the fruit flavor.  I have tried honey, but it doesn’t mix well.  I’m thinking of dissolving some honey in water and having it in the refrigerator, but it will affect the taste of the smoothie.
• A pinch of sea salt always seems like a good idea.

Now it looks about like this:

It’s time to add the more liquid ingredients. You might have to experiment some to get the proportions how you like them, but it will mix best if you have enough liquid.  I recommend:

A generous cup of milk

1/4 to 1/2 cup of fruit juice or water.  I have used anything from grape juice to sparkling flavored water.

Today, I also tossed in a little more than 1/4 cup of plum puree left over from making fruit leather. 

1 cup plus 1/4 cup of milk

1 cup plus 1/4 cup of plain lowfat yogurt

1/2 cup of cream – I am a firm believer in healthy, natural fats.  They satisfy the palate and the appetite, as well as provide important building blocks for many body chemicals and tissues.

A tablespoon or so of lemon juice gives it a lift without being lemony.

Finally, around 1.5 cups ice cubes.  But don’t overfill the blender.  It needs at least an inch of space to be able to mix without blowing the lid off…   The “crush ice” button is the most effective mode to use until all the frozen things are broken up.  Then a few seconds on “puree” and it is ready.

Take a moment to get the left overs right into their containers and in the freezer.  Tomorrow, after a few hours of gardening, you will be very glad you did.  Either leave it on the counter for a few minutes to barely soften, or microwave for 30 seconds (depending on the size of container from the freezer).