strawberry smoothie

one of the very best things about the summer months is enjoying smoothies.  recently, celebrities have been even discussing what they put into their own smoothie recipes.  smoothies have been around for years, formerly called shakes.  i think since many fast food restaurants serve shakes, the foodies of the world gave their recipe a new name.  however, the ingredients are often surprisingly similar.

for my summer fruit smoothies, i use about 1/2 cup of fruit or one cup of mixed fruit.  for example, i use 1/2 cup of strawberries, or 1/2 cup of strawberries with 1/2 cup of banana.

to the fruit choices, i add 1/2 to 2/3 cup of frozen vanilla yogurt or ice cream, and 1/2 cup of milk or fat free half and half.

using my blender, i mix the ingredients well and serve with whipped cream.

for chocolate smoothies, i use frozen yogurt, half and half and then 2 tablespoons of nestle nesquick.  a 99 cent package will last the whole summer.

other options for smoothies include using frozen fruit, such as peaches, raspberries, and blueberries.  caution is always required when using frozen fruit, as blender strengths vary. flavorings can also be added to taste.