Permit me a respite from the ground-breaking molecular gastronomic recipes I usually post to bring you this here smoothie. I've been playing with smoothies a lot lately. Blame it on my leaving-the-strawberries-to-rot-itis. At any rate, the one I whipped up today had me rubbernecking at the glass every time I'd set it down. If I were a comic book character, the bubble above my head would read, "Shazam! It really is that good!" If you can open and shut doors, press buttons, and swallow, consider yourself qualified to make it.
Stupid-simple Smoothie
Makes 1 (because I don't like to share)
Scoff if you must about the frozen fruit, but it makes a better smoothie than fresh fruit because you don't have to add ice, which will dilute the flavor. Greek yogurt is key here -- it's so much creamier and richer than regular yogurt, but if you buy 2% it isn't fattening. (Will someone second the nomination for 8th Wonder of the World?) As for the milk, before you know how much to add, you have to know if you're a spoon or a straw person. Once you decide, add as much milk as you like to achieve the right consistency.
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/4 cup 2% Greek yogurt
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 TBSP honey
Um, whir it all around in the blender. Duh.
the 0% is even less fattening and even more if wonder although since I am trying to be local I stopped eating it and buy St Benoit instead.
Posted by: sam | April 24, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Don't know anything about fattening, but here's what I make for my pregnant wife every saturday and sunday and sometimes other-day mornings.
1/2 cup of milk
12 fresh strawberries
1 banana
juice from 2 freshly squeezed oranges.
Blend.
She likes me. She likes me a lot.
Posted by: Malachy Walsh | April 24, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Sam -- I tried Benoit as a substitute but it's not the same texture/thickness at all, so... I mean, I know, I'm a sinner, but I can't help it.
Malachy -- see, every smoothie requires bananas, which we do not like in our household (unless they are buried in chocolate or buttery breads). But if I run across a spare one after I make roasted banana ice cream this weekend, I will give your recipe a shot. It sounds good.
Posted by: Catherine | April 24, 2007 at 01:05 PM
I also don't understand how greek 0% (or 2% even) can be so thick and rich. I always think perhaps they are tricking us...
Also, if you use Benoit in your recipe, maybe some banana would help compensate for the texture. or how about less milk? Although I don't know if you're really going to get that same greek yogurt texture and I don't know why I'm even suggesting it, because I'm actually going to have to agree with you - smoothies taste better without bananas. Even if you only add part of a banana, the smoothie always somehow tastes overwhelmingly of banana.
and finally, it was really nice meeting you the other week. sorry it's taken a rambling comment about bananas about yogurt to say hello again!
Posted by: sabrina | April 24, 2007 at 01:34 PM
sometimes its the simple things in life. ive never thought of using greek yogurt, sounds delicious
Posted by: Doug | April 24, 2007 at 05:56 PM
Sabrina -- Hi again! It was lovely to meet you (even if I ordered badly!).
It's not just the creaminess of Greek yogurt, it's also the flavor. Benoit is a very tart yogurt, even more so than Greek. To compensate for that, I'd need extra fruit and honey, and girl is trying to lose weight!
Doug -- it will change your life. (Hey, who you calling melodramatic?)
Posted by: Catherine | April 24, 2007 at 07:19 PM
YOU DON'T LIKE BANANAS?
WHAAAAAT ISSSS WRRRRRONG WITH YOOOOOOOOSE GUYS!!!!!
I hope yer allergic or something, cuz like that is just wrong.
But I digress. And am looking forward to your mango thing. Mangos are loved here.
Posted by: Malachy Walsh | April 24, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Malachy -- I think it's a texture thing. Mushy-gushy fruit = bad. So is anything with strings, pulp, or hairy skin.
Posted by: Catherine | April 24, 2007 at 07:34 PM
the thing with the st benoit - to make it the same consistency as the Greek - and this really does work but it decreases the volume by half which makes it expensive - YOU HAVE TO STRAIN IT but I advise - DO NOT BUILD A YOGHURT STRAINING CONTRAPTION USING SKEWRES AND RUBBERBANDS.
And bananas arent local either - but I think you can get mangoes locally later in the summer.
Posted by: sam | April 25, 2007 at 08:08 AM
I think one near-death-by-yogurt in the city is enough! I have learned my lesson from you.
Posted by: Catherine | April 25, 2007 at 09:05 AM
This is just idle wondering, (or musing? ;) but aside from the optional rosewater this sounds an awful lot like a mango lassi? I guess those are all blurry borders and still sounds good though...
Posted by: rachel | April 28, 2007 at 01:58 PM
Rachel, you're right, it is, and that could be why it is so damn good!
Posted by: Catherine | April 28, 2007 at 10:50 PM