I recently acquired a Vitamix Blender
instead of a juicer after watching the Vitamix dude make a mighty wow-inspiring presentation at my local Coscto. I had my heart set on using my birthday money to buy a nice juicer, but when I saw his presentation I just couldn’t deny that for now, a blender was the way to go. If you want a breakdown of how I came to this life-altering decision, you can read my post here on Babble. Anyhoo, I’ve used my Vitamix Blendereveryday since I brought it home, and wanted to share a few of my favorite drinks I’ve concocted up so far. These are all iPhone pictures so apologies for that, but I find that somehow the drinks are getting drunk faster than I can pause to run and get the good camera. You all get the drift though, I hope!
Strawberry Basil Slushie
I call this one a slushie rather than a juice or smoothie because it has a bit of a smooth icy texture, which I found mighty refreshing! It’s really quick to whip up, and the basil keeps it from becoming too sweet.
1 cup frozen strawberries + 1 cup fresh strawberries – the combination of the two helps to make the drink cold and fresh tasting
⅓ cup of fresh basil leaves (more or less depending on how strong of a basil flavor you want. ⅓ cup will give it a distinct basil flavor without being overpowering)
4-5 mint leaves
½ navel orange peel removed (this will cut down on the bitterness that sometimes arises with frozen strawberries)
1 tbsp of raw or 1 tsp standard honey
1 tsp of chia seeds (just to add some extra goodness in there)
¼ cup water + ½ cup ice (mix both in a measuring cup and just pour right in)
Combine in blender and puree till nice and smooth.
Cucumber Basil Fauxjito
I know mojitos don’t actually have cucumbers or basil in them, but this drink still reminds me of one for some reason.
2 small seedless cucumbers or 1 English cucumber (important that they are not regular cucumbers as those have a stronger flavor)
1-1.5 lime(s) peels removed (depending on how tart you like your drinks)
⅓ cup fresh basil leaves
4-5 mint leaves
1 tbsp of raw honey or a splash of raw honey simple syrup
¼ cup water + ½ cup ice (mix both in a measuring cup and just pour right in)
2 slices of cucumber dipped in coarse sea salt, or Maldon’s if you have it on hand – the garnish is the cat’s meow in this drink
Combine in blender and puree till nice and smooth. *Adapted from It’s All Good
Super Light Green Smoothie For Two
I made this drink the other morning for my husband and I and he said it was his favorite by far. This combo is really nice and light, and definitely sweet but not overpowering. This is a great starter juice for someone who is not sure of the whole green juice thing, and is super great for kids and babies. You can’t go wrong with this one.
1 banana (I prefer mine really ripe so they’re sweet)
½ orange + ½ lemon peels removed
1 inch slice of ginger
1 apple cut up
1 inch slice of pineapple skin removed
2 heaping handfuls of spinach
½ cup water + 1 cup of ice (mix both in a measuring cup and just pour right in)
Combine in blender and puree till nice and smooth.
Whole Fruit Margarita
I got this recipe from the Vitamix book, and my friend Miranda and I both agreed that it was a little weak sauce, so we tweaked it a bit and came up with this version, which is definitely better.
¼ cup water
12 ounces of tequila
4 ounces of triple sec
1 navel orange peeled
2 limes peeled
1 lemon peeled
3 tbsp raw honey simple syrup
6 cups of ice
Combine in blender and puree till nice and smooth. Salt your rim, pour, and enjoy the healthiest margarita you’ve ever had!
A few friends and readers have asked how I come up with these concoctions, and it’s just a matter of experimenting, and thinking of the foods and flavors you know to complement each other when eaten whole. Basil + strawberry is a match made in heaven, but if you just tried to blend these two up, chances are the smoothie would taste a little strange.
Just keep in mind a few things when coming up with your recipes:
– Apples will add subtle sweetness
– Oranges will add tangy sweetness
– Lemons are stronger in flavor than limes, so if you just want a bit of sourness, add a lime over a lemon
– Water will dilute the juices a bit so they go down smoother
– Ice will make them more smoothie and slushy in consistency
– Use raw honey or even a natural sweetener like zylitol if a recipe calls for sugar or agave (read this article about agave, and how it’s not really that much better for you than refined table sugar. If you have a Vitamix Blender, the cookbook that comes with your machine calls for agave all over the place)
I hope you like these recipes, and let me know if you have any questions!
Melody says
So I notice you peel all of your fruit yet the sales person for vitamix was adamant about not doing that. Any reason why you don’t use the skin for the added nutrients?
Lisa Howard says
These recipes look/sound great! I’ve been a juicing AND blending fan for a while now. I discovered both during my battle with cancer. Like you, I went with the Vitamix first. Nothing like a “chunky” smoothie to trigger my gag reflex. lol! The hefty price tag on the Vitamix left me with only enough funds to buy an inexpensive juicer. Worked well for a while. However, I bit the bullet in January and bought a Breville Juice fountain. I can honestly say it was worth every penny! Can’t wait to try your recipes! Thanks for sharing!
the Blah Blah Blahger says
Okay, I talked to my nutritionist this morning about juicing and she made a funny face. She said IF I wanted to do it, I should drink them within five minutes, use ALL organic produce (otherwise you just get a higher concentration of chemicals), and that it needed to include the pulp (because a lot of the healthy stuff lives in it). Made me reconsider slightly…then again, those drinks sure do look tasty!!!