Smoothies first emerged in the 1960s when hippies started pushing the healthy food concept. Before that, when you threw a bunch of fruits or vegetables and ice into a blender and pulverized it, it was called a slushy. The original term “smoothy” dates back to the early 1900s when a smoothy was a person who was particularly – but not necessarily sincerely – charming and charismatic, especially a man who used his masculine wiles and sweet words to gain favor with women.

Over the past 50 years, smoothies have evolved as refreshing, icy, blended drinks, usually made creamy with yogurt, ice cream or milk, although many concoctions rely on dense fruits or honey to give them a silky texture. While many smoothie fans prefer classic blends such as strawberry and banana, there are hundreds of combinations to please every palate.

Smoothies for Dessert

Not all smoothies are healthy but somehow sipping dessert through a straw makes it seem less indulgent. Peppermint smoothies made with a few pieces of crushed peppermint candy or peppermint bark for chocolate lovers combine equal amounts of chocolate frozen yogurt or ice cream and milk with the candy and crushed ice. Blend longer than usual to pulverize the candy and use a large straw so you can suck up all the candy bits that fall to the bottom. Make a “berry” good and lovely-to-look-at dessert smoothie with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, a cup of milk, 1 1/2 cups blackberries and 1/2 cup of strawberries and crushed ice. If the berries are very sweet, add a dash of lime juice to tone them down. Leftover eggnog is a great smoothie base. Add one banana to 2 cups eggnog and blend until thick. Blend in a cup of vanilla yogurt, 1/3 cup milk and 2 cups crushed ice. Sprinkle a pinch each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg on top right before serving. 

Green Smoothies

When it’s time to get back to healthy smoothies, green smoothies pack vitamins and other nutrients into a tasty breakfast or lunch beverage. Blend a cup of any kind of frozen berries with 2 cups fresh or frozen spinach, 2 cups water and a teaspoon or so of freshly grated ginger for a nutritious smoothie. Another good green smoothie recipe combines 1 1/2  cups orange juice, 2 cups fresh parsley or spinach, 2 cups ice and 2 large ripe mangoes in a blender. The fruit in both recipes nicely masks the taste of the greens. 

Smoothies with a Kick

There’s no reason a smoothie can’t be buzzed up with a shot or two of alcohol. Create a creamy liqueur smoothie with a banana, a cup of milk, a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream and a shot each of Amaretto and Kahlua. Add crushed amaretto cookies and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a fancy garnish. Turn a conventional Mojito into a smoothie by blending a shot or two of rum with a shot of lime juice, ½ cup lemon-lime flavored soda, 2 fresh mint sprigs, 2 tablespoons sugar and a cup of crushed ice. 

Wild Smoothies

Throw caution to the wind and whip up some smoothies with crazy ingredients. For a refreshingly different taste treat, blend together 2 cups lemon sorbet, 6 ounces vanilla yogurt, a cup of milk, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves and a cup of ice. Use up leftover canned pumpkin to make a unique, slightly sweet smoothie. In a blender container, mix a cup each of pureed canned pumpkin, fresh or frozen peeled apricots, ice and milk with a tablespoon of sugar and a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg.