Smashn' Smoothies

Yummmmm the delicious taste of a perfect smoothie. I don't know about you but I have to say that smoothies are one of my favorite foods. Everything is so perfect about a smoothie. The cool, crisp, refreshing fruity taste that quenches your thirst and hunger is a superb snack!

One of the best things about smoothies is that no two ever seem the same (unless you buy one at a restaurant which I will address later). At least for me I always blend my own and come up with my own concoction based on whatever my heart desires. I tend to prefer the tart variety rather than the sweet/tasteless ones. Most of the time my smoothies consist of juice, fruit, yogurt and lemonade concentrate. Sometimes I will add lemonade or milk depending on how I want the final product to taste. Every ingredient has a very important role in order to perfect each smoothie....

--Juice/liquid: The liquid is the base of each smoothie. Probably 90% of the time I use apple-raspberry or apple cranberry juice. Pineapple juice is another fantastic addition, a little goes a long way! The juices give off a solid fruity taste. If I'm going for an afternoon thirst quencher, I tend to add some lemonade as well. To make the smoothie healthier, like for breakfast, milk might be added but I don't prefer that as much.
--Fruit: My favorite part! The fruit in each smoothie is what makes each recipe different. I either go the tropical route or the wild berry path. Tropical includes strawberries, pineapples and peaches. Wild berry consists of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. For the best smoothie ever-add freshly picked raspberries!
--Yogurt: The yogurt is what thickens this ever so delicious snack. I always put in a cup or so of plain Greek yogurt. This has lots of protein which provides a nutritious aspect  to the drink! Then I follow up with raspberry yogurt to balance out all of the other flavors.
--Lemonade concentrate: This is my specialty! Every smoothie receives a spoonfull of pink lemonade concentrate. This adds to the tartness that I love while providing a lemony flavor!
--------With each of these ingredients, I have got a perfect snack!

Now, to talk about restaurant smoothies. For the most part, there is something about them that isn't just right. I have triend a lot of smoothies from a lot of different places just because I am always craving one. There either to sweet or sugary. You don't get that natural, healthy and tart flavor! Over my years of smoothie tasting I have found a few places that hit the spot just right....
--Coldstone: Yeah, I just broke my rule of healthy and natural but I do love a Berry Lemony smoothie from here. Its tart, fruity and fun!
--Maui Wowi: These smoothies are some of the most delicious ones I have ever had. I first became aquainted with them up at a swim meet in Minneapolis. That was the only place I could ever get one and each year I would look forward to that just as much as my swim meet. Then they stopped catering there and I found them at Valley Fair! Strawberry Banana is the way to go here.
--Caribou Coffee: These are very good, not too sweet/sugary smoothies that quench your thirst and hunger! Wild Berry is my suggestion and the purple color is fun too!

Now after writing this ridiculous post I have made myself crave a smoothie....good thing I have left overs from this morning!