5 Tips for Perfect Smoothies

August7

5 Tips for Perfect Smoothies - Mama's High Strung

Everyone knows how to make a fruit smoothie, right? But do you know how to make the perfect fruit smoothie?

Here’s are my 5 tips for perfect smoothies:

  1. Add the liquids first. This will help blend all the ingredients evenly. Milk, soy milk, almond milk, coconut water, juice, tea and even kombucha or kefir are great base liquids.
  1. Fat is your friend. As much as we want to save calories, using nonfat yogurt is NOT the way to go. It leaves the smoothie tasting like you’ve tried to pulverize sand and it’ll be grainy. Use low-fat yogurt instead.
  1. Use frozen fruit. Frozen fruit thickens and adds flavor without diluting your smoothie. In the off-season, frozen fruit usually has more flavor than what you’ll find in the market. In season, put your fruit in the freezer for a few hours before popping it into the blender. Always pulse the blender a few times because the fruit can refreeze!
  1. For a creamier (and healthier) smoothie, add ripe avocados or bananas. Those darker bananas will be sweeter so don’t worry about a few freckles! Honey, chia and flax seeds are also great thickeners.
  1. Add the ice last. If you still want some icy-coldness, make this the last thing you put in the blender. Ice will thicken the smoothie without adding any additional calories.Hamilton Beach Wave Action Blender

Oh… and here’s one more important tip: always use the Hamilton Beach® Wave~Action Blender® for the creamiest smoothie!

My good friends at Hamilton Beach® sent me one of these good-looking babies to try out and, I’ve got to tell you, this blender is my go-to for smoothies. The Wave~Action blades continuously force the ingredients from the bottom to the top in a wave, so everything blends perfectly.

If you’ve got a big family, you’ll love the big 48-ounce glass jar (which is dishwasher-safe, by the way). The spout on the dispensing lid makes pouring super easy, with minimal drips. It also comes with a stir-spoon for thicker foods and mixtures.

Here’s the delicious Raspberries and Cream Smoothie I whipped up in the Wave~Action Blender!5 Tips for Perfect Smoothies - Mama's High Strung

 



Creative K Kids

5 Delicious Dips

May20

Without any research or fact-finding, I can state categorically: Everyone loves dips.

5 Delicious Dips... perfect for whatever you have on the table: chips, chicken strips, veggies, fruit...

And what does everyone like to dip? Everything.

I’ve come up with 5 Delicious Dips that take minutes to prepare and are perfect for anything you want to submerge in deliciousness. Most are healthy. One is particularly decadent, but c’mon… it’s a dip… not a meal.

Ready to take the plunge? Let’s go…

5 Delicious Dips

 

5 Delicious Dips... perfect for whatever you have on the table: chips, chicken strips, veggies, fruit...

 


Butternut Squash & Caramelized Onion Tart

January7


Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion - MHS

How’re you doing with that New Year’s resolution to eat healthier?

Well, I’ve got one last rich dish to offer up before you pitch everything creamy and indulgent that’s still in the fridge:

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tarts.

My pals at Welcome Home Brands sent me these disposable oven-safe 4-inch ruffled baking cups… just perfect for making individual tarts. They’re great for any fun event (they come in a lot of other colors and shapes). Adds a pop of fun, don’t you think? You can also make this dish in a pie or larger tart pan, as in the recipe below.

So here’s the last blast… full of fat and flavor and, oh, so delicious: Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Tarts.

You’ll need a 2-lb butternut squash for this recipe. If your squash is bigger and you have extra, roast all of it and save it for later in the week… you are going to start eating healthier, right?



 

Warm Brie with Mushrooms and Almonds

December29

Here’s a deliciously easy appetizer for your New Year’s Eve soiree: Warm Brie with Sautéed Mushrooms and Almonds.

Warm Brie with Mushrooms and Almonds MHS

 

And really… who among us doesn’t like creamy, melted cheese? I thought so.

What’s great about this recipe is that you can sauté the mushrooms earlier in the day, and just heat it up right before serving. I made toast points from sandwich bread to go with it, but crackers are perfect, too.

So welcome the New Year with this decadently rich and indulgently flavorful appetizer… then start your New Year’s Resolution to eat healthier! 

Here’s another great New Year’s Eve appetizer recipe: Chicken Marsala Meatballs


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Hi…
I’m Christina Chavez

I was a TV journalist for many years, but with a house full of kids I decided to come off the road, go to culinary school and follow my passion for cooking. Mama’s High Strung is all about food… everything from creative recipe ideas to some really cool kitchen gadgets and cooking tips. I live in Chicago, but I love to travel and write about my food discoveries! You can reach me by email: mamashighstrung@gmail.com