An Adventure into the World of Smoothies

     Summer is the perfect time to break out the blender and try out some refreshing, vibrant, and delicious new smoothies. Whether transforming a bundle of fruit into decadent smoothie bowls or drinking them directly from one of those decorative mason jars, there’s nothing quite like a smoothie to provide that refreshing energy boost for you and your neopets to tackle the day! The last time I visited our local Smoothie Store in Neopia Central, I gathered a list of six enticing drinks on their menu that I wanted to try making at home with my own neopets—all it took was our trusty Green Kacheek Blender, and one trip to the Marketplace. Now, I’d like to share these easy, affordable, and fruity recipes with you!

          Creamy Gold Dust Smoothie

     So first things first, I don’t advise tossing actual gold into your blender. My pets and I tried this little experiment, and we quickly discovered that blending metal tends to destroy the appliance. Needless to say, we went back to the drawing board. After purchasing a new blender (and luckily, they’re not too expensive), I threw together the most delicious gold-colored ingredients I could find, and the result was a light and refreshing, but decidedly energizing smoothie, perfect to fuel your entire day in the warm weather. You will need:

     - 1 cup frozen mango chunks

     - ½ frozen banana

     - ½ cup Organic Plain Yogurt

     - ½ teaspoon cinnamon

     - ½ teaspoon ground turmeric

     - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

     - 1 cup Cashew Milk (or another dairy-free substitute)

     - a pinch of black pepper (this will help you absorb all the benefits of the turmeric!)

     Blend all of these ingredients together to yield one full glass. The result will be a decadent, creamy, golden concoction full of healthy and beneficial nutrients. Add some pineapple for an added boost of energy and antioxidants, and feel free to throw in a handful of edible sparkles for good measure.

          Kiwi-Mango Smoothie

     Whenever I’m craving a smoothie from the Smoothie Store, my first choice is always this tangy, colorful drink. Its mild sweetness provides the perfect offset to a hot summer day, and its tropical colors transport you to Mystery Island, all from the comfort of your pool-side chair. You will need:

     - ½ cup Cashew Milk

     - 1 kiwi, peeled

     - 1 cup frozen mango chunks

     - 1 teaspoon lime juice

     - ¼ cup Organic Plain Yogurt

     - a handful of ice cubes

     Add all the ingredients together and process until combined to make 1 serving. If you would like to serve this smoothie divided, like its original version, halve every ingredient except for the mango and kiwi, and blend each half with one corresponding fruit. Pour the mango smoothie into the glass first, followed by the kiwi smoothie. Enjoy!

          Banana Split Smoothie

     I’ve already touched on this smoothie in a previous article, but I’ve since adjusted the recipe a touch. This smoothie is absolutely absurd and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Sometimes, smoothies don’t just have to be healthy meals. Sometimes, they can be delicious, sweet treats too! I remember splitting one of these smoothies with my pets on a really hot day at the beach, and it completely satisfied our sugary cravings. True, this recipe contains no ice cream and lots of bananas, but let’s not fool ourselves by claiming it is anything but a decadent dessert. When recreating this marvel, you will need:

     - 2 frozen Organic Bananas

     - 2 tablespoons cacao powder

     - 1 tablespoon salted almond butter

     - ¼ cup Cashew Milk

     - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

     - 2 dates

     And for the toppings (because we absolutely recommend toppings), you will need:

     - 1 banana (peeled and sliced lengthwise twice, for 4 pieces total)

     - whipped cream

     - cherries

     - 1 tablespoon Chocolate Flakes

     Begin by blending together the frozen Organic Bananas, cacao powder, almond butter, and Cashew Milk until thick and creamy. Add the vanilla extract, dates, and some more milk, and blend. Feel free to adjust the quantities if you would like a more dominant almond, chocolate, or vanilla flavor. Add salt if you need to balance the flavor. Pour into two glasses and add your desired toppings—go crazy, it’s a banana split!

          Honey Smoothie

     Though its original incarnation at the Smoothie Store is advertised as being exceedingly sweet, I like preparing this smoothie at home for its lightness, simplicity, and milkshake-like creaminess. Honey, to me, is a wonderful staple to drizzle onto many breakfast foods, be they toast or oatmeal—so why not include a little into a smoothie as well? Here is what you will need:

     2 Organic Bananas, frozen

     2 cups of Cashew Milk

     1-2 tablespoons honey

     lots of ice cubes

     For two glasses, blend all the ingredients together until smooth. The beauty of this recipe is how simple it is to create. As a basic smoothie, you can adjust it however you like, by adding more honey, or tossing in some other fruits, chocolate, or caramel.

          Mega Asparagus Protein Smoothie

     Now that we’ve enjoyed our sojourn into the world of decadent, sweet, delicious smoothies, it’s time to reassess what a smoothie is really all about: throwing vegetables into a blender and seeing what sticks. For me, vegetables in smoothies has always been a daunting undertaking. You must walk the fine line between very nutritious and healthy, without the end result tasting like you threw a bunch of raw vegetables into a blender. This crazy green smoothie proved a challenge, but I found that adding some fresh fruit to the equation makes for a palatable, refreshing meal substitute that doesn’t taste like cold soup. To make two large glasses of this stuff, you will need:

     - 1 cup baby spinach

     - 4 asparagus spears

     - 1 cup cantaloupe

     - 1 Organic Green Apple, peeled

     - ½ cup Cashew Milk

     - 1 tablespoon honey

     - a bunch of ice cubes

     This smoothie is chock full of vitamins, making it the perfect meal to give to your pets if they are extremely active. Simply blend all these ingredients together and serve!

          Sweet and Sour Smoothie

     Now here’s a smoothie that never in a thousand years I thought I’d try, let alone recreate. But my neopets insisted I at least taste the thing, and I was pleasantly surprised by the tanginess of this drink. I’m not sure how the experts at the Smoothie Store managed to make this smoothie neon green and fire red all at the same time (and perhaps that is a question better left unanswered), but I was able to replicate the sweet and sour flavor profile with just a few fruits. You will need:

     - 1 whole grapefruit

     - 1 large orange

     - 2 cups frozen strawberries

     - 3 Organic Bananas

     - 1 cup orange juice

     Blend the ingredients together until smooth to make 2 servings. Enjoy!

     And there you have it—six smoothie recipes to try at home. I hope that you’ve learned something new in this article. When I tried these recipes at home, I discovered that many of these complicated-, or intimidating-looking smoothies aren’t really complicated at all! They provided me with a great opportunity to prepare some delicious treats with wholesome, fresh ingredients for my neopets. Whether your pets enjoys protein-loaded green drinks or ice cream imitations, there is something for everyone to enjoy when it comes to smoothies. My pets and I had a blast creating each of these concoctions, and encourage you to go forth and experiment with your blender as well! Who knows what satisfying discoveries you might make! Just be careful not to toss any precious metals into the blender.