1. Make sure your blender is powerful enough.
2. Use frozen fruit.
3. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie.
4. Experiment with different ingredients to find one you like.
5. Try using frozen fruit juice instead of ice.

</note>

• by Darcy Logan

• Smoothies are cool blended drinks that have three major ingredients: fruit, liquid and a thickener. They make great choices for people who are trying to lose weight or those who need a quick solution for breakfast. There are thousands of recipe combinations. Finding the right one for you can be a very tasty journey. Before you get started, you will need to understand the basics of how to make a smoothie.

• 
• If you want to make a good smoothie, you may need to invest in a powerful blender.Consumer Guide: Blender Buying Guide Crushing ice is one of the toughest things a blender needs to do.Abt Electronics: Blender Guide If your blender isn't powerful enough, it can ruin your smoothie. Don't make the mistake of thinking that more power means it is a better blender. Higher wattage does not always mean better performance.Abt Electronics: Blender Guide

• Top-Rated Blenders for Smoothies

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• Black and Decker Crush MasterAbout.com: Top 7 Top Blenders for Smoothies
• Blendtec Total BlenderPerfectSmoothie.com: The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies
• BlenderBosch Porche Designer Stand BlenderAbout.com: Top 7 Top Blenders for Smoothies
• Braun PowerMax Jug BlenderConsumerSearch: Blenders Reviews
• Cuisinart Smart Power 7-SpeedAbout.com: Top 7 Top Blenders for Smoothies
• Cuisinart Brushed Stainless and Black Bar BlenderThe Wall Street Journal: Blenders Enter the Ice Age (June 22, 2007)
• Hamilton Beach Wave Station PlusGood Housekeeping: The Best Blenders
• </td>
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• KitchenAid Five-Speed Custom BlenderThe Wall Street Journal: Blenders Enter the Ice Age (June 22, 2007)
• Oster Classic Beehive Stand BlenderPerfectSmoothie.com: The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies
• Oster 10 SpeedGood Housekeeping: The Best Blenders
• Viking Professional BlenderReal Simple: The Best Blenders
• Vitamix 5000PerfectSmoothie.com: The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies
• Vitamix 5200PerfectSmoothie.com: The Best Blenders for Making Smoothies
• </td>
• </tr>
• </table>
• Expert Village: Make a Smoothie

• Liquid is added to your smoothie to make everything blend smoothly. Which liquid you use is up to you. Start with 1/4 cup and add more as necessary. BellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe If you plan on adding ice in Step 3, expect to add more liquid to keep your blender from freezing.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007

• Popular Liquid Choices

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• Fruit juice
• Soy milk
• Rice milk
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• Milk
• Heavy cream
• </td>
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• Coffee (chilled)
• Vegetable juice
• Water
• </td>
• </tr>
• </table>

• Choosing which fresh fruit you are going to use can help decide on what other ingredients to add. The most common choices for smoothies are strawberry and banana.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007 Make sure you wash or rinse the fruits and remove any stems before using. If possible, freeze your fruit before using. Freezing your fruit in advance will make your smoothie colder and thicker.Spiffy Smoothies: Smoothie Tips
  1. For bananas, peel and slice before placing in an airtight container.Martha Stewart: Too Many Bananas?
  2. Spread pieces on a plate or baking sheet until they are frozen to keep them from becoming one big lump. Then, move them into a freezer bag or airtight container.Spiffy Smoothies: Smoothie Tips
  3. For more information, check out Mahalo's how to freeze peaches or how to freeze strawberries.

• Expert Village: How to Make Healthy Fresh Fruit Smoothie Recipes

• Finally, you need to add a thickener.BellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe The thickener will give the smoothie its texture and consistency.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007 Some fruit, such as bananas, can double as your thickener especially if they are frozen.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007 The more of these ingredients you add, the thicker your smoothie will be.About.com: Tips for a Perfect Smoothie

• Popular Thickener Choices

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• Yogurt
• Frozen yogurt
• Tofu
• </td>
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• Ice cream
• Frozen juice concentrate
• Sorbet
• </td>
• <td align="left" valign="top" width="233px">
• Frozen fruit
• Ice
• </td>
• </tr>
• </table>

• 
• While Steps 1 through 3 will give you the basic smoothie, many people opt to add additional items either to add nutrition or flavor. Here are a few of the more popular for smoothies.

• Nutritional Supplements

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• Protein powderPerfectSmoothie.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• Fiber supplements (powdered)PerfectSmoothie.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• Vitamin supplements (powdered)PerfectSmoothie.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• Wheat germBellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
• </td>
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• </td>
• <td align="left" valign="top" width="349px">
• Ground flaxseedBellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
• Soy protein isolate or concentrateBellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
• Brewer's yeastAbout.com: Tips for a Perfect Smoothie
• </td>
• </tr>
• </table>

• Flavor

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• CinnamonBellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
• Vanilla extractBellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe
• HoneyFood Network: Smoothies
• </td>
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• Peanut butterFood Network: Smoothies
• Coconut flakesAbout.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• </td>
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• NutsAbout.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• Chocolate chipsAbout.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• Cocoa powderAbout.com: How to Make a Smoothie
• </td>
• </tr>
• </table>

1. Add ingredients into the blender starting with the liquid.
   1. Although the quantities of your ingredients will vary, a good rule is to add 1 part fruit, 1 part liquid, and 2 parts thick base.BellaOnline: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe For example, add 1/2 cup banana, 1/2 cup orange juice and 1 cup frozen yogurt for a 2 cup smoothie.
   2. Don't put too much in your blender or it won't achieve enough circulation.PerfectSmoothie.com: How to Make a Smoothie
2. Don't forget to put the lid on the blender.
3. Start your blender a couple of settings below the highest setting.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007
4. Add any additional ingredients once you see a slight whirlpool at the top.Oodora: Basic Fruit Smoothie Recipe October 26, 2007
5. Blend ingredients until the liquid is fully circulating in the blender, usually between 15 to 45 seconds.PerfectSmoothie.com: How to Make a Smoothie
6. Check to make sure all the ingredients are pureed before pouring.About.com: How to Make a Smoothie

• There are literally thousands of smoothie recipe combinations. If you are interested in finding some interesting combinations, check out some of the following resources.

• Food Network: Six Easy Smoothie Recipes
  
• Simply Recipes: Berry Banana Smoothie
  
• Mango Blueberry "Fool" Recipe
  
• RecipeZaar: Banana Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe
  
• Epicurious.com: Vanilla-Date Breakfast Smoothie Recipe
  
• Smoothie Web: Key Lime Smoothie
  
• Better Recipes.com: Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Smoothie
  

• All Recipes: Smoothies Recipes
  
• Martha Stewart: Smoothie Search
  
• PerfectSmoothie.com: Smoothie Recipes
  
• International Smoothie Week: Recipes
  
• Spiffy Smoothies: Smoothie Recipes
  
• RecipeZaar: Smoothies Recipes
  
• Food Down Under Recipe Database: Smoothie Recipes