About once a year I go through a fruit smoothie phase. It’s often in the springtime (see here and here) and it lasts for a month or two before I abandon the frozen stuff and head to the market for something fresh. I’m not sure why I don’t remember to enjoy smoothies for more of the year, but there’s something about the rediscovery each spring that makes them all the more refreshing.
I’ve never written a full smoothie post because I guess I’ve felt like putting a bunch of fruit and juice in a blender doesn’t really merit a how-to. Also, the word smoothie kind of grosses me out. But! I thought I would write to encourage you to do a little kitchen appliance sleuthing, just in case you haven’t already. The base of our blender threads directly onto a glass mason jar and I have a hunch that yours might too. If you have a blender, test out a standard-sized jar (wide mouth jars will likely be too big) and see for yourself. Blending your smoothie directly into a jar makes for incredibly easy cleanup (and is equally awesome for mixing up quick pestos and garlicky salad dressings). I’m fairly sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I think it bears repeating… 
This morning I used half an avocado, a small handful of frozen raspberries and frozen blueberries, a few tablespoons of yogurt and orange juice to fill my jar. The result was filling, but just a tad heavy on the avocado for my taste. So. Are you smoothie drinkers out there? What have you been blending lately? Tips, tricks, & brilliant ideas welcomed.
PS. We got our glass straws here. We love them, but I’d definitely recommend buying a nylon brush to help clean. …And if you can’t scrub your smoothie straw straight away, at least give it a little rinse. Dried up yogurt in a straw is not fun.
PPS. Update for inquiring minds: we have the Oster Beehive Blender in chrome!
51 Comments
This is the coolest trick ever! I had no idea that that base might fit a mason jar, I can't wait to try it!
I hope it works for you!
i'll try it!
Beautiful glass straws, I need to get one or two, they seem more appealing than metal straws. I love the idea of blending directly in the jar, how did you figure that out?
My sister had a similar blender with a broken pitcher and she realized she could use a jar instead!
I put spinach in my smoothies. No sweat.
And soaked raw almonds. (The almonds make it a little gritty, be warned. but you get used to that.)
I admit: I've never added greens to a smoothie. So many of you guys do it!
my go-to is banana, blueberries, almond milk, peanut butter, and cinnamon. nom!
Peanut butter sounds awesome! Trying this am.
I never got into the smoothie craze but this Spring I'm really leaning towards them! I imagine them to be refreshing and so filling! Also making them beats going to pick one up at Panera for 5 dollars each! =P
Ergo – Blog
So funny that you posted this today as I just started smoothie making yesterday! Maybe I'm missing it, but how would I blend in a jar…with the jar upside down?
Since you screw the lid onto the jar when it's right-side up, nothing spills when you turn it upside down to blend. Does that make sense?
SO much sense! Thank you, thank you!
This looks so delicious, I've been more into smoothies now that I'm home for the holiday. I'm really big on fruit smoothies though, not so much the veggie smoothies.
xo, Maria
So many veggie smoothie makers! I've never tried it, but I just might have to.
just this morning i had one that was a banana, a kiwi, a bunch of frozen mango, vanilla yogurt, and almond milk (I only had half, saved the other half for tomorrow). highly recommended. feels tropical, which is never a bad thing this time of year!
I never thought to check whether our blender base fit onto a jar — brilliant! Will be trying that for tomorrow's concoction. We (our 19-month-old daughter included) are huge "green juice" people of late, because it can be really tasty and it's the only way certain veggies will work their way into our diets. It also helps us use up any lingering produce before it goes bad. In addition to fruits and berries for sweetness, we add whatever else is in the fridge and starting to lose its crispness — kale, spinach, sprouts, broccoli (which makes it a bit too earthy if you're not careful), carrots, anything. We also add kombucha when we have it (adds a distinct zing!), and chia seeds are great too. If it's so green it's not enjoyable to drink, I add honey. My husband, a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, is actually the driving force behind our little green juice revolution because he feels so good after drinking one for breakfast. So excited for spring and fresh produce…
My breakfast smoothie contains a banana, a handful of spinach, water, cinnamon and a dash of turmeric. Sounds gross, but it's tasty. My dessert smoothie is a banana, peanut butter, rice milk and cinnamon. Always cinnamon.
My go to morning smoothie is fresh strawberries, blueberries, a banana or two, a spoonful of plain greek yogurt, some almond milk, and a couple of ice cubes. It's delicious. Thanks for sharing this, Erin!
The mason jar idea is genius! Can't wait to try it.
I have recently had a similar revival of my passion for smoothies, but my blender has been on the fritz. Such bad timing! I've had to resort to my food processor, which works alright, but sometimes things are just a little chunkier than I'd like š
What kind of blender do you have?
oh, good question! updating post above!
I've been on a major smoothie kick too! Something about fresh Spring air that makes you want to drink a berry infused concoction. I never would have thought to put Avocado in mine though! I usually do Spinach as you can put as much as you want without it affecting the taste!
Hi Erin–It's so nice to see this post, because I have just started doing the smoothie thing myslelf. Mine are of the green variety, usually consisting of non-dairy milk, nut butter, frozen bananas, kale and/or spinach. This has been a most excellent (and yummy) way for me to consume more greens. I recently discovered these "Green Monster" recipes from ohsheglows.com. I'm also super excited to try out the mason jar trick–it appears we have the same blender!
š
As someone who just finished a juice cleanse, I've been on a major juice/smoothie kick lately. I've never thought about using mason jars on my blender. What a neat idea!
oof, deleted my comment to edit it:
currently, my favorite recipe is 1/2 cup of pineapple, 1/2 cup of mango, 1/2 cup of strawberries, 1+ cup of spinach (i put in as much as i can fit, haha), 1/2 cup of crushed ice and about 1/2 cup of water but add more as needed–i tend to add a little agave if it's not that sweet! this is more a juice (that you can make without a juicer!) than a smoothie.
for more of a smoothie, i'd add a cup of yogurt, 1 tbsp of almond butter, and a banana, and replace the water with almond milk!
also:
I love all these nut butter ideas! Yum.
I use the Vitamix to make mine every morning and it never hurts to add kale and spinach because you can't even taste it and it is so good for you…
Almond milk or Coconut Water
Mango
Banana
celery
Spinach handful or kale handful
couple strawberries
bee pollen, maca powder, chia seeds
yum!
Oh I love straws, I should get some of these glass ones.
xoxo
Mags
http://magsmind22.blogspot.com/
I have jumped on the kale bandwagon with my love of green leaves in my diet. Whatever things I have around – vanilla essence, maple syrup, chia seeds, linseed, macadamia blend etc. I have smoothies once or twice a week for most of the year but never use a set recipe and each one is an experiment! My auntie just introduced me to kefir milk powder over the weekend which i'm going to look into.
That looks delicious! I normally mix fruits with veggies, so maybe apple, berries, celery, spinach, pears, carrots. Or fruits with yoghurt and oats. Yum!! Need one of those glass straws, looking good!
Kristina x
Wait whhhaaaatttttttt, I would never have even thought of trying my blender base on a Mason jar. That's brilliant.
Mmmmm, smoothies all the time over at my home! It's the only way my husband will eat his greens! The other option is to hold a 'chubby-bunny' contest with spinach. We're working on it. He's getting there.
Take care,
Katie
Frozen strawberries and peaches (blending fresh ones feels too luxurious…Everything fresh in my kitchen must be chewed) with pineapple juice. Changed my life.
Ha, I know what you mean! Pineapple juice sounds awesome.
recent faves:
orange juice, mango, banana (greens optional)
banana, 1/4 oats, milk, yogurt, honey
I love using 100% pom or mango juice instead of orange juice! My go to mixes include juice, banana, spinach, yogurt and frozen fruit (berries, peaches). I try to add avocado if I can. š
I haven't had a smoothie for months, I much prefer making them myself makes me feel like there's not nasties in the mix!
Harri
at-rubik.blogspot.com
Agreed.
I never eat fruit so my husband makes me smoothies.
Fresh blueberries, Greek yogurt, Splenda and ice –> tasty
Yum. I just started up making smoothies again this spring too! I had one for breakfast with yogurt, frozen mango, frozen berries, OJ, and some ground flaxseeds and wheatgerm. Delicious.
Oh, and I use my immersion blender in a tall wide mouth mason jar. It works great even with the frozen fruit.
Smart woman!
I love smoothies SO much, never get tired of them. š
Oh man, I so need one of those straw cleaners! I always want to kick myself for accidentally forgetting to rinse it out right away, the worst!
morning smoothie is spinach or kale, carrots, banana and berries with coconut milk. and if i can fit it avocado or apple is really great in there too.
dessert smoothie lately has been frozen mango and pineapple with coconut milk – feels like you're on vacation š
love the mason jar idea! great to know. my Ninja blender also has a single serving option but that will be great to know when having friends over.
Made my first smoothie of the year this week!
I drink my smoothies is Bonne Maman jars š
Love the glass straws..
glass straws! why didn't I think of that? super cool that they even have bubble tea ones!
i love adding basil to any smoothie. it's an unexpected ingredient, but always makes it taste so much more fresh!
theboreofcomfort
I'm so glad you posted the glass straw whereabouts. I just tossed out our stainless steel straws that I couldn't stand to use. They turn so freezing cold you can't even put your mouth to it. hilarious and frustrating at the same time.
It never occurred to me to see if our blender bits will fit over Mason jars. My husband makes protein shakes when he works out and if the mix dries in the blender (as it does from time to time – we sometimes forget to rinse it right away!), then it becomes crazy, stinky protein-powder cement. This would be perfect – we'd only need to rinse the spinny bit, and the empty jar/glass could go right into the dishwasher.
Seriously, my is blown. I'm taking the blender bits to the grocery store tonight after work.
Spinach, green apple, coconut milk, and lime… it does not disappoint š
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