The Smoothie.

So after Kate's last visit to Manchester, our food conversation was focused on The Smoothie.

We all love a good smoothie every now and then and it's easy to see why; a few of your 5-a-day in one small drink, that fills you and makes you feel good. I've dabbled in making smoothies before, and was completely convinced that it was a fad and i promptly stopped. After Kate reassured me of how easy it actually was, and to follow the basic rules, I decided to give it a go (plus my blender needed an excuse to be used again). I have a delicious heavenly fruity smoothie pretty much everyday now.

So here are a few guidelines to get even the novice of smoothie makers, making something delicious:

1: Do you want it creamy or fruity?
This isn't some kind of innuendo, but merely what liquid do you want to add, dairy or juice?
This kind of sets up the tone of smoothie. If you decide on yoghurt, ice cream or milk then you don't really want a lot of strong citrus flavours (Orange and milk, hell no! Milk and Strawberries, hell yes!)
If you decide on juice, i always tend to go with orange or apple. Usually from Innocent because i think the taste is closer to freshly pressed than others, and it's always on offer in a supermarket.

2: Banana?
To banana or not to banana? That is the question. I always add one in as it gives much needed texture and "smoothness", which is so important to the drink. I know some people don't like the taste, but once it's blended you really cannot taste it. If you're totally against it, you can substitute a hand full of grapes or even a ripe avocado. Kate and I recently discovered that green things generally don't add any flavour to the smoothie, just much needed minerals and vitamins, but avocado is basically the green savoury cousin of the banana, so try it!

3: Fruit, fruit, fruit.
People are so unsure about what to put into a smoothie and how much. I go by a handful of each fruit +1 banana/avocado + enough liquid to make it a consistency that i like. The most important thing to think about is how the fruits compliments one another, think about eating them in a salad rather than in a drink. Would you eat strawberries with say, um, kiwi? Maybe, but i'd much rather have my strawberries with all the other berries and keep the kiwi to the pineapple and mango combo.

4. Green is the answer, sometimes.
Like previously mentioned, green stuff doesn't really taste of anything. Once you have your flavour combo sorted, add a handful of spinach, a few broccoli florets or even some kale. Mmm, yummy iron and protein rich smoothie!

5. Ice. Ice. Baby.
Okay guys, one thing. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ADD ICE TO SMOOTHIES. It waters your smoothie down and can lead to yucky, ugly smoothie separation. Easiest way to get around this? Freeze your fruit. I buy whatever looks good at the market and whatever is on offer in the shops. Take a big bunch home, chop it, lay it in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Once frozen, it's divided into mini bags for ease. I haven't met a fruit yet, that I can't freeze. Plus, it's hella cheaper preparing your fruit this way. It also gets you making them even in your quickest rush, if you just have to empty some bags into a blender, add some juice and a banana instead of chopping everything.. you'll find youself making them more and more.

6. Additions. 
Above is the base of your smoothie, but you can add other odd things. Breakfast smoothies are good with oats and honey. Maybe some nutella or peanut butter with that strawberry and banana? Seeds, carrot, protein powder, wheatgrass, why not, go wild!

A few basic recipes:
Here are my favourites that I love and make regularly. Enjoy! (quantities are handfuls and juice till a good not-too-thick feel)

Golden Smoothie
Banana, OJ, Mango, White grapes, Carrot

Solero Smoothie
Banana, AJ, OJ, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberry

Green Giant Smoothie
Avocado, AJ, Spinach, Blackberry, Strawberry

Peaches n' Cream Smoothie
Banana, Yoghurt, Milk, Peach, Apricot, Strawberry, Honey

4-berry Smoothie
Raspberry Sorbet, Cranberry Juice, Strawberry, Blackberry

Hope you enjoy!