Recipe: Blueberry banana smoothies

It’s super hot outside in August, so it’s a great time to make healthy frozen treats with your lil’ chef in your kitchen at home! Chef Hannah shows us how to make blueberry banana smoothies in this video, but you can use any fruits your family enjoys.

I love to use bananas in smoothies. Bananas are a great base for any smoothie to give it flavor and will also give you a fantastic creamy texture. A few other fruits that top my list are berries, mango, peaches, grated apple or pear, and melon. Depending on which fruits you choose, you may need to add a small amount of milk to make it less thick. Also, for an extra bit of sweetness, you can add a touch of honey or maple syrup.

We make smoothies year round at my house, so I always have frozen fruit stashed in my freezer. Not only will fruit retain its’ nutritional value and flavor, frozen fruit will instantly chill your smoothie, therefore no need to add ice. To freeze bananas before they turn brown, peel and slice them, then freeze on a sheet of parchment paper on a tray or cookie sheet until solid. You can then store in plastic storage freezer bags and toss into your blender whenever you’re ready to use them. While some fruits like strawberries and melon typically do not freeze well, they are ok to freeze if you're using them in a smoothie. Most supermarkets now sell frozen smoothie packs, which are often great value and give you a good mixture of fruit in case you run out of a supply in your freezer!

Once you've mastered the basics, try adding different flavors to your “go to” recipe. Adding a spoonful of cocoa powder, cinnamon, grated nutmeg or vanilla essence before blending will give your smoothie some texture. Not only will it taste great but it will keep you fuller longer too!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 cups vanilla yogurt

Directions:

In a blender, combine banana, blueberries and yogurt. Blend on high until smooth. Serve immediately.