People tend to think of smoothies in two ways--"that stuff at the place", or "that stuff that takes too much energy to make at home". I'm somewhere in the middle. To get a good smoothie, you have to find a place that doesn't use sugary syrup to amplify the sweetness. Those usually cost more, depending on where you go. With a little research, you can easily figure out the ins and outs of making your own. The second method (usually) prevents the result of the super sugary mess that's not really healthy.
I gotta be honest--I don't do smoothies. Not because I don't like them. It's usually because I don't have all the ingredients together at the same time. They're just not a common part of my liquid consumption. Well, the culinary stars aligned themselves this fine past weekend. I had the stuff, I did the thing.
Best Chiquita Banana Smoothie Recipe
- 2 whole Chiquita bananas (best with brown flecks on the peel.)
- 1 cup milk or yogurt
- 3 cups ice
Pour all the ingredients into the blender, adding ice last. Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until banana smoothie thickens. (Makes 2 Servings)
It wasn't a bad smoothie. It wasn't very sweet, so I added a few squirts of organic honey to my smoothie. Just enough sweetness without a lot of calories and sugar. I'd say about 1/4 teaspoon. I used milk instead of yogurt, trying to be cautious of how much sugar was already in the smoothie. I know that's usually the top complaint about US yogurt--too much sugar. Eventually the taste grew on me, and I finished my glass within minutes. It was sweet and satisfactory enough (with the honey) to curb my dessert craving for that day. If you want it healthier, use milk. If you want it sweeter, use your favorite yogurt. (I think authentic Greek yogurt would be awesome in this smoothie!)
So there ya have it--takes five minutes to throw together, fruit doesn't go to waste, and you get a little potassium in your system. High five for you, reader. Drink it down and pat yourself on the back.