Smoothies Unlimited

My favorite cookbook was well-tattered and well-stained, written by first generation Czech American housewives in Chicago a century ago. The recipes included no measurements of any kind. Not even for baked goods. Just "add a little this" and "stir in some that" and "bake until done." A far cry from the fussy 1/8-teaspoon-type recipes of today, it was a wonderfully liberating tome.

My smoothies are in the same vein. Don't measure! Throw stuff in, add yogurt and juice, and blend! It ALWAYS turns out well. I prefer frozen fruit because it yields such a great smoothie texture. If you use fresh fruit, make sure to add some ice cubes. A handful. Any yogurt works. Any juice works -- orange juice, cranberry, whatever you have on hand. I've even used oddities like Fresca and sometimes (shhh...!) wine! It's easy to keep frozen fruit in the house. Buy the big bags when they go on sale, and also cut up and zip loc whatever fresh fruit you have that is just starting to go south. Including old bananas! My smoothies invariably fill the whole blender -- plenty for all those people tumbling around your house this summer!