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.

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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.

5. 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.

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!

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Poblano peppers are magical.

I’m sure you’ve dived into a plate of them, roasted and stuffed with deliciously gooey cheese. You’ve probably also chipped-dipped the heck out of them in a mild salsa.

Oh… but they’re so much more. They can help you eat healthier and lead a better life (well, eat healthier anyway). Like in this recipe for Fettuccine with Poblano Alfredo.

The poblano peppers add an interesting depth of flavor to this Alfredo sauce and help thicken it. The cream and butter are gone, but you’ll never miss them. I substituted milk for the cream and olive oil for the butter… and let the poblano peppers do all the rest. You’re welcome.

Here’s the recipe… you’re going to love it!

Don’t worry; I’ve still dosed this Fettuccine Alfredo recipe with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I mean, it’s an Alfredo after all.

I’m not a heretic. (OK…maybe a little bit.)

This Valentine’s Day, fall in love… with this creamy 6-Ingredient Strawberry Flan.

Caramel… fresh strawberries… chocolate curls. Are you with me?

But as fabulous as that sounds, the best part about this seemingly decadent dessert is that it’s low in fat. Seriously.

I wrote this recipe for my pals at Right@Home, the bilingual website that has some amazing (and Pinnable!) Valentines recipes and crafting ideas.

They’ve also got great tips for cleaning and organizing your home (who couldn’t use that kind of help, especially at this time of year?). Sign up for email alerts with this registration link so you don’t miss a special offer or coupon. Click here to sign up.

Are you ready to fall in love? Here’s the easy step-by-step way to make this luscious Strawberry Flan.

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You’ve made your resolutions and promises to take better care of yourself, right?

Here’s an easy four-ingredient flavor-packed snack that will indulge your sweet tooth, but has only 40-calories a serving (and it’s all about portion control!)

I came up with this Light and Easy Guava & Cheese Empanada recipe for my pals at Right@Home, the bilingual website that has everything you need to start your New Year right.

In addition to healthy recipes and exercise tips, the Right@Home website has great ideas to help you clean, organize and reduce all that post-holiday clutter. Want to reinvent your living space on a budget? Check out their smart decorating ideas.

Sign up for email alerts with this registration link so you’re the first to know about the website’s special offers and coupons. Click here to sign up!

A New Year and a healthier, more organized you… with Right@Home, SC Johnson’s online resource for information, tips and offers on their products including Glade®, Windex®, Ziploc®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Pledge®, OFF!®, Raid® and more.

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