Creamy Cool drinks for Summer

The secret to incredibly creamy smoothies is frozen bananas. Buy them in bulk when they're on sale, peel and cover individually in plastic wrap, and freeze for future use. (They keep up to three months in the freezer.) 

CARMEN MIRANDA

Half the fun of making this concoction is deciding which fruits to drop in. It's also the perfect choice if you happen to have leftover fruit salad. 

1 frozen banana
2 cups fresh fruit (such as grapes, strawberries, blueberries
raspberries, pear and apple slices, kiwi)
3/4 cup orange, pineapple or white grape juice

Combine the fruit and juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Serves 1. 

Kiwi, Mango, Banana Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Smoothie

BEE STING

If your kids like their lemonade pink, just add a few drops of red food coloring to this recipe.


1 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
1 quart water
Frozen lemon slices


Stir together the lemon juice, honey and water. Pour into tall, ice-filled glasses and garnish with frozen lemon slices. Serves 5.

BLUE LAGOON

With milk as a base, this berry blend is as much a meal as a beverage—just right for serving as a breakfast shake.


1 cup fresh blueberries
4 scoops vanilla frozen yogurt
1/2 to 1 cup milk


Combine the blueberries, frozen yogurt and milk in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding more milk if necessary.