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| BOOK REVIEW |
Reviewed by TeAntae Turner Smoothies are those blender made drinks that are perfect for any occasion. By the pool. At a barbecue. At a party. Just because. The fact that they can be more than those ice and fruit drinks in the mall in itself is a surprise. Mary Corpening Barber, Sara Corpening, and Lori Lyn Narlock have come up with a cookbook of blender drinks that are not only tasty and original but in most cases, actually healthy too. Starting with an informative introduction, they provide all the nutritional reasons why smoothies are worth making. They include tips on how to purchase the best fruit and how to properly prepare them for their recipes. A primer on the non-fruit ingredients, equipment and techniques used rounds up the chapter and gets you ready to blend! To further prove how good smoothies are for you, a nutritional analysis of each recipe is provided in the back of the book. Their categories are: Wholesome Mergers, No-Moo Blends, Decadent Medleys, and Drunken Concoctions. This is a colorful book! Except for a few, each recipe has a photo of the finished smoothie. Every page is a groovy color too. Pinks, pale blues, lime greens, melons with swirls and starbursts and other interesting decorations. If nothing more, this is a feast for the eyes. But there is more. These recipes taste as good as the look. Some taste better than they sound. There's something for just about everyone. Recipes featuring fruits, for those who like coffee, for the lactose intolerant or those who just don't like dairy milk. For grown up occasions, they have smoothies with alcohol. The fact that all recipes serve two is a bit strange to me. This cookbook was not designed for parties. You can double or triple recipes if you're having company though you'll need to taste to make sure they taste the same. Maybe their idea was for you to make a blender of smoothies all for yourself, which doesn't bother me in the least. What is does do though is have you using only small amounts of some ingredients. Consider this before shopping so that you don't end up with stuff you'll not use unless you make that recipe again. Note to European cooks: Though measurements are in US standards, a handy conversion chart is provided at the end of this book. Pros: Delicious and refreshing. Lots of photos. Cons: Makes only 2 servings per recipe. From the chapter: "Wholesome Mergers" Starburst Serves 2 Some say kiwi has a hint of strawberry flavor. This smoothie captures that elusive essence and explodes with taste. For the best results, make it in a food processor to avoid crushing the kiwi seeds, which causes them to be bitter. 3/4 cup apple juice 1 cup diced fresh kiwi (see page 18) 1 cup hulled and quartered fresh strawberries, frozen (see page22) 2 fresh bananas, frozen and sliced Place all the ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth. Page 18: Kiwis - The fuzzy brown egg-shaped kiwi exterior hides a sweet-tart fruit that is speckled with little black seeds. Kiwis are available year-round. Select kiwis that are tender when squeezed in your palm. Preparation: Using a sharp paring knife, slice off both ends and cut away the peel by cutting in strips from one end to the other. Cut into a fine dice. Store in a sealed plastic container or bag in the refrigerator until ready to use. Prep time for 1 pound of kiwi: 8 to 12 minutes. Yields approximately 1 cup diced fruit. Page 22: Strawberries - A sweet aroma is the best indication of a ripe strawberry. Avoid berries that are bruised, moldy, or have white shoulders. Strawberries are often available year-round, with a peak season from April to June. Preparation: Remove the hull using the tip of a vegetable peeler or a sharp paring knife. Cut into quarters, place in a plastic bag and freeze until firm. Prep time for 1 pint: 6 to 8 minutes. Yield: approximately 2 cups quartered fruit. For a cool, refreshing alternative, visit our sister site, FamilyCorner.com Slushies! |
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About the Author: TeAntae Turner is author of Cookbooks Reviewed, a biweekly newsletter. Each review covers not only recipes but layout, accuracy and other pertinent information that makes a cookbook worth keeping or throwing away. |
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Let's Get Cooking!
