Fruit Smoothies

Michael whips up these smoothies in a Vitamix machine.  Can your blender handle frozen food?

Fruit Smoothies (makes 24 oz total)

6 oz frozen fruit (raspberries, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, your choice)

2 bananas, ripe, fresh or frozen*

1/2 c lowfat plain yogurt

1/2 t vanilla

4 packets NutraSweet (or other sweetener)

Ice cubes, crushed, about 1 cup?

Cold water, 1/2 cup?

Put first 6 ingredients into the Vitamix. Start with low speed, moving to high speed quickly (Vitamix Variable speed 1 to 10, then high). Use the plunger to jam the frozen bits down into the blades.  Then it is usually too thick, so start adding water through the lid until the whole mixture is smoothly swirling.  Blend another 30 seconds.  Pour into glasses.

*ripe bananas.  These should not be any more ripe than in this picture.  If you can't use them in time, peel the bananas, put them in a plastic bag, and freeze them for smoothies!