Serves: 5

Like the yogurt craze of the 1980s, smoothies became one of the success stories of the 1990s and into the new millennium. This is not to say that smoothies are a new phenomenon. When the home blender was introduced in the 1940s, people soon learned that they could combine fruit and ice in it to make a great fruit concoction. As early as the 1960s, health food stores on the West Coast were selling smoothies. More recently, the widespread popularity of these refreshing creations has become increasingly obvious with the proliferation of smoothie shops everywhere across the nation. You will also find smoothies highlighted on menus of eating establishments ranging from yogurt or ice cream shops, to juice bars, to trendy restaurants. Take a stroll down the ice cream aisle of your local supermarket, and you will find commercially made smoothies. But the smoothie revolution isn't confined to shops and restaurants. The sheer number of blender models available speaks volumes of smoothie enthusiasts' desire to create these flavorful drinks in the comfort of their own homes. Smoothies not only are delicious and healthful taste treats in a glass, but making them also provides an opportunity to showcase your creative talents. With this book as a guide, you will discover how easy it is to transform a fabulous combination of fruits, fruit juices, and dairy products into a mouthwatering temptation. I hope that after a while you will attempt to experiment by substituting or eliminating an ingredient in a recipe and experience the delight of creating your own signature smoothies. For example, if you're lactose intolerant, use a lactose-free product instead of milk, or if you have sugar sensitivity, use unsweetened fruit juices.

ULTIMATE SMOOTHIES was written for all smoothie lovers who savor the delicious and exotic flavors of fresh fruits, as well as the health benefits derived from them. Whether you are a new recruit to the smoothie army or a certified smoothie maven, you will be delighted with all the temptingly delicious recipes found in this book and surprised at how easy and exciting they are to prepare. Along with the recipes you'll find helpful general information, including a description of the wide variety of blenders available to help you choose the one that will meet your needs, a discussion of the fruits that are best for preparing a smoothie, and information on how to increase a smoothie's health benefits. Finally, helpful preparation hints are provided so that each smoothie will be a glass of perfection.

In creating this cookbook, I aimed to provide a contemporary collection of flavorful recipes that would be exciting, fun to read, and easy to prepare. If you crave excitement, don't overlook your blender. Just flip the switch and whir your way to a flavorful, refreshing ecstasy.

From ULTIMATE SMOOTHIES: delicious recipes for over 125 of the best smoothies, freezes, and blasts. Copyright © 2000 Donna Pliner Rodnitzky. All Rights Reserved.

More Recipes from the Cook'n Ultimate Smoothies Cookbook:
_1 Preface
_2 Introduction
_3 Health Benefits of Smoothies
_4 The Incomparable Fruit: How to Select, Prepare, and Store Fresh Fruit
_5 Making the Ultimate Smoothie: Equipment and Techniques
_6 International Conversion Chart