Smoothies are delicious. While juice–the slightly more complicated and less-closely-related-to-ice-cream cousin of the smoothie–may be a bit more en vogue at the moment, smoothies have always maintained a little je ne sais quoi* that keeps people coming back for more. Healthy, tasty, pretty. What’s not to love? Maybe the cost, you say. In my quest to find ways to make eating more effortless and affordable, I started implementing a smoothie shortcut.**
Blend with frozen bananas. Not ice cubes.
A few weeks back during my daily phone chat with my mom, I was lamenting Mr. P’s inability to eat the three pounds of organic bananas I purchased, and she suggested freezing some for banana bread when the temperature wasn’t so wonderfully warm hot enough to melt my face. Dutifully, I peeled the bananas, broke them in half, and stashed them in an airtight, freezer-safe glass container. As I ferried the soon-to-be-banana-cubes to their destination, it occurred to me that I could use them for other things.
Not only is freezing a great way to keep bananas from going to waste, it also makes for some pretty delicious blended treats. Toss a few in the blender with just a dash of almond milk, and you’ll swear you’ve stumbled upon a creamy banana ice cream. If you’re thinking diet be damned, add some peanut butter or cocoa powder. If you’re looking for something on the healthy side, look no further than a smoothie. Add them to your regular smoothie recipe instead of ice cubes and fresh bananas, and you’ll get a fruitier, less watered-down drink.
My Current Favorite Smoothie Non-Recipe
- A few frozen bananas halves
- A peeled, cored, and diced apple that’s a bit too soft (or applesauce that’s dangerously close to molding)
- A few splashes of almond milk
- A pinch of cinnamon
- A spoonful of flaxseed
Note: To thin it out, add a few ice cubes, more milk, or water.
Trust me. You want to try this. It’s like apple pie in a glass and one of the best uses of nearly overripe bananas. You can thank me later.
* Aside from thank you, shit, and Do you speak English?, this is literally all the French I know. Which is probably why I navigate customs with such poise and ease whenever I travel to Quebec.
**No, not driving to Jamba Juice.
So Tell Me…Do you like smoothies? Do you freeze bananas? Have you tried the two-ingredient pancake to use up bananas before they go bad?
My fiancee and I start almost every day with a kale smoothie. It’s had a huge effect on our health. Being able to start the day off with a positive first step helps setup the rest of the day for success. We’re going to have to put some Banana’s in the freezer and try this out! cheers
Mike, That’s awesome. Kale is at the top of my list for next year’s garden. We did a bunch of different lettuces and spinach this year, so spinach smoothies were a must. If you’ve got extra bananas or they’re about to go bad, this trick really is super easy!
Yes! Bananas are perfect in green smoothies because they remove the bitter taste. #TeamBanana
Bananas are my favorite fruit. I eat one every day for breakfast. When I run out, it’s devastating until I can pick up more from the market.
I love the idea of freezing bananas. I really need to do it more often. I made vegan banana ice cream not too long ago and it was amazing. I’m totally on board with adding peanut butter and cocoa powder 🙂
They are wonderful, aren’t they? It’s like the easiest mini-meal in the world. Mr. P made fun of me because for our last vacation, I brought two to the airport for our red-eye flight. They made it through security just fine and were a tasty (and cheap!) breakfast!
I should use your recipe and just go for the tasty smoothie. I usually try to stuff in a ton of spinach, but then it doesn’t taste as good and I don’t want to make them as often. Apple pie smoothie, her I come!
Saving that recipe, that sounds amazing! I love smoothies. 🙂
‘Tis the season now that it’s finally nice out!