Summer Smoothie Fest

[donotprint]Smoothies are my go-to summer refreshers-–delicious, nutritious, and easy. For me, frozen bananas are the starting point. Over-ripe bananas beg to be frozen. They add flavor and body to smoothies. I always have a stash in my freezer, ready to go. Just peel the banana, break into 4 chunks, wrap in plastic wrap, and then into a baggie. Often, my bananas are in the freezer 6 months or more, and turn brownish. But I’ve never detected an off flavor, and they do their job as deliciously as if frozen 2 weeks.
Below are three simple smoothies. Each uses frozen bananas and other fruits that are accessible in summer, and winter. The first recipe here appeared in Coastal Living Magazine with a collection of banana recipes I developed for the magazine’s feature article Tropical Punch in a Bunch.
And… since this is a smoothie fest, see Rosie’s Awesome Banana Walnut Shake that she developed for the Walnut Board. Do you have a favorite? Share it with us: click on “responses” at the bottom of this post![/donotprint]

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Berry Banana Smoothie
1          frozen banana, broken in chunks
1          cup frozen blueberries
1          cup orange juice
1          cup plain yogurt or milk*
1          tablespoon wheat germ (optional)
Combine ingredients in blender container. Cover and blend on low speed at first, then high speed until smooth. *If using milk, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Makes two 12 oz. smoothies (3 cups total).

Pineapple Banana Smoothie
1          frozen banana, broken in chunks
1          cup frozen blueberries
1          can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple or pineapple slices
1/2      cup (or more) orange juice
Combine ingredients in blender. Cover and blend on low speed at first, then high speed until smooth.  Makes about 2-1/2 cups.

Banana Carrot Cooler
2          medium-size frozen bananas, broken in chunks
1          cup carrot juice
1          cup orange juice
Combine ingredients in blender. Cover and blend on low speed at first, then high speed until smooth.  Makes two 12 oz. smoothies (3 cups total)

Berry Banana Smoothie