the adventures of clay ball

 

                                                                                     

There is nothing like an icy cool,  sweet & refreshing strawberry smoothie!

 

 

 (copy-&-print recipe is at bottom of page!)

This is a simple, cold & summery recipe, perfect for the hot weather!

 

 

 

 

The thing is, you will need a blender of some sort! 

 

If there is no blender in your kitchen, that’s okay!  You can host a smoothie fiesta–just gather all the ingredients & invite a friend with a blender over to enjoy with you!

 

 

 

 

 

Before we had a blender, I did experiment with a chopping bowl…but it did not work too well! 

 

  

 

 

 Frozen strawberries are the main ingedient, & the banana adds a bit of sweet creaminess…

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups frozen strawberries–first you will add 2 cups, then 1 more cup at the end!

2 frozen bananas

4 tablespoons sugar

1-1/2 cups water

 

A word about bananas:  Frozen ones seem to work best, so if I notice a banana on the counter is approaching the point of no return, I just put it into a bag in the freezer until it is time to make a smoothie.  I freeze them right in the peels.   The skin will be entirely black & shrinkled-looking, but don’t be alarmed!  Even with a touch of freezer burn, they seem to work well!

This is what they look like after being  frozen & peeled with a knife (the skin does not come off as easily when frozen)!

 

 

 

…somewhat like a crocodile.

 

 

For a long time, I had problems with making smo0thies, because the blade would always get caught & it would grind to a lurching, high-pitched, screeching halt…

Then my sister told me this (yes, I have sisters!  hi, my dear sisters, wherever you may be!),

If there is a higher proportion of liquids when you first start blending, everything won’t get stuck!

 

 

So, first add the 1-1/2 cups water, only 2 cups of the strawberries & 1 banana, & sugar, & blend that up.

(you can add  more water if the blender is still sticking!)

 

…Then you can add the remaining 1 cup of strawberries & the 2nd banana…this way the blender doesn’t seem to get as stuck!

 

This will make about 4-1/2 cups to 5 cups of a thick, creamy smoothie–enough for 3 good sized servings, or more little portions.  Sometimes on a hot day when there are a lot of kids around, I will give them each a small little 2-ounce Dixie cupful,  & they are seem to be perfectly satisfied with that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding in some yogurt also makes for a delicious & creamy smoothie…the more yogurt, the creamier!

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

love,

 

Clay Ball

  

 

 

copy-&-print version below!

 

Strawberry & Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups water

2 frozen bananas, peeled & cut into chunks

3 cups frozen strawberries

4 tablespoons sugar

 

Add water, 2 cups of strawberries, & 1 banana with sugar to the blender & blend 10 or 20 seconds, or until smooth.

Add the remaining cup of strawberries & the other banana, & repeat. 

If you want a super-smooth consistency, just blend longer, & if you like it a little more granular, a shorter time will do!

That’s it!   You can adjust sugar to taste & garnish with a sprig of mint if you’d like.

Note:  This is really delicious with some yogurt added…you can start with 1/2 cup yogurt & add more in if you would like it even creamier!

Enjoy!

love,

Clay Ball