Smoothies and I go way back. There used to be this kiosk in a local mall that made smoothies. I don’t remember the name of the place or what made eight or nine year old me beg Mom and Dad or my baby-sitter to stop that first time. However, one time was all it took for me to be hooked. I think I typically got a strawberry concoction that was loaded with fresh fruit and probably a healthy dose of ice cream. I got a smoothie pretty much every time I went to the mall. Dad even picked one up on a special mall mission once when I was sick. I’m pretty sure a Cinnabon was part of the order too. Gotta love Dad! I don’t remember the last time I had one of these smoothies and I think the kiosk has since closed.
Then I went through my homemade smoothie phase. It was during high school when I was so upset in the mornings and during the day I found it difficult to eat. By the end of the day, I was safe at home and needed calories and yummy sustenance. We bought a pink KitchenAid blender and every day after school, Mom would blend up a banana, some strawberries, and Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream. It was cold and comforting. Since I started homeschooling junior year of high school, that pretty pink blender has been sitting, collecting dust. But it is doing so no more.
I don’t know what that is made me crave a smoothie again. Perhaps it was the warm weather. Maybe it was a desire for a healthier breakfast. Or possibly even a desire to return to childhood, sharing a smoothie with Mom. They weren’t exactly the good old days, but in many ways they were simpler.
This Banana Berry Smoothie is a lot healthier than the ones of my youth, but it smelled just like them and upon the first taste I discovered it tasted just like them too. Cold and refreshing, it’s perfect for all those warm, sunny summer days. The banana flavor comes through along with the strawberries and a hint of blueberry. It is perfectly smooth and creamy, with a fun, bright color. Plus, it’s vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free. I already made another batch for breakfast this morning.
- 2 medium to large bananas, ripe but not overly ripe
- 5 large strawberries
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup almond milk, plus more if needed
- At least 2 hours before you want to make the smoothies, peel the bananas, slice them into about 1 inch pieces, and place them in the freezer on a plate. Frozen bananas are what make this smoothie thick and creamy.
- In a blender, place the frozen bananas and strawberries. Start to blend it. You may need to stop and stir things around to get it moving. Add the milk. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to continue stopping and stirring or adding more milk. Once it is pretty much completely smooth, add the blueberries and puree until smooth. Serve immediately.
