Customer Reviews

Smoothies: 50 Recipes for High-Energy Refreshment

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've bought several books on smoothies over the years, but this was the least useful to me. Far too many of the recipes are made from ingredients either too exotic for me to find, or so expensive that the drink is more than a meal! Of course, I should've know better; smoothies are best when they are simplest. One good, basic book of recipes will put someone on the right path, then they explore. I'd consider that, as a whole, these are for the outer limits of exploration!

On the other hand, never have I seen drinks photographed so well! As an avid amateur photographer for many years, I found myself more interested in the setups for the photos than the recipes. Make this book a larger format and it'd be perfect for guests to look at while waiting for dinner! Kudos to the food stylist.

As with a prior reviewer (eric), this is not a book I would have bought had I come across it in a regular bookstore. I could have seen the recipes and known it wasn't for me.

If someone is looking for smoothies 'on the edge', this may be the book for you. If someone is looking for a basic book on making smoothies, look elsewhere.

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Thumbs down for the overly prolific use of expensive nectars, all sorts of sorbets, things like blueberry yogurt, Peppermint Tea, soy milk, unsweetened cherry juice, silken tofu, carob powder, rice milk, strong-brewed chai, hazelnut-flavored syrup, and other trip-to-the-store stuff.

Thumbs down for being carelessly and wrongly sent to the "California Ambrosia" when looking up "Coconut" in the index--there's not a shred of coconut in that drink. Right page, wrong recipe. Carelessness in indexing is a revealing indication to me that the picture people had more on the ball than the author(s) and/or editor.

Thumbs down for the recipes being too large and awkward for a single serving.

Thumbs up for the inclusion of some alcoholic smoothies.

Thumbs up for taste (of those I've had on-hand ingredients to try).

Thumbs up for the photos, and the collection of "one-of" glassware props. The photos are first rate although more "coffee table" than kitchen counter; they are sure to make you want to climb aboard the smoothie wagon. The glassware could feasibly send you on a Thrift Store safari.

Thumbs up for the included nutrition info, I guess.

Summary:

I have the distinct feeling this book was "forced." The authors would have been better off proposing a PBS Smoothie show. As a team, they certainly have the visual appeal.

For its price, this book seems more fizz than coke to me. I'd re-title it "Great Photos of Smoothies with Fetching Names: Recipies for the Silver-Spoon set."

Most people won't use this book to make smoothies with what's already in the pantry and in-season in the produce section, but need to head to the store's frozen food section to get fruit flavored sorbets (made with someone else's blender) and other things.

Say what you will of me, this was not only a poor choice, it's the closest I've yet come to returning a book to Amazon for a refund.

This wonderful book is packed with delicious recipes for blended fruit drinks that are good for you too. It is in full-color with photos of many of the smoothies. Conveniently, complete nutritional information is given, including fat, protein, fiber, sodium, calcium and much more.

The book starts out with a fruit glossary describing each fruit, its nutritional value and its health benefits. Other ingredients such as tofu, peanut butter and milk products as well as additives like bee pollen are also discussed in detail. Basic information on preparing, selecting and storing fruit, as well as an overview of essential nutrients are nice bonuses.

Recipes are divided in to four sections including wholesome blends, smoothies without dairy, decadent desserts and those for relaxing or romantic evenings. Some of my favorites include bad boys with boysenberries and blueberries, the non-dairy big bold banana, and bloody orange. You must try the cookies and cream, cherry pop cheesecake, and raspberry cappuccino dessert smoothies as well. They are simply scrumptious.

With so many wonderful recipes I promise you will never get bored. Check the companion book, Super Smoothies. It also has delicious recipes and they are all good for you too.

This book is great. I tried at least 10 of the recipes in the first 2 weeks. They are great morning starters. All of the recipes I tried are truly yummy - I especially love the "red" ones. The best things are that you can buy a lot of the fruit already frozen (saves time) and the ingredient ratios are just right.

This is a good smoothie book. I have purchased many Smoothie recipe books in the past and this one by far has the best format with great pictures. I found four recipes that are my favorite smoothies of all time. Black Beauty, Polynesian Power Punch, Kiwi Kiss, and Uncanny Cantaloupe are must try smoothies. I have tried all 43 of the non-alcoholic smoothies in this book. Although the titles of these smoothies are creative and enticing some of the recipes could use a make-over. But you will not be disappointed if you buy this book.

If you're looking for the perfect book on how to make a perfect smoothie, you have found it! SMOOTHIES has 50 smoothies for any type of smoothie. I enjoy smoothies when I'm not hungry and just want a quick snack. This book is perfect. My mom enjoys smoothies as an alternitive for coffee. This book is PERFECT!! It has recipies like "just dew it" which includes honeydew, melon, lime juice and ginger ale! It's sooooo delicious! This book has recipies if you can't drink milk or want something simple. It has smoothies with ingredients from bananas to dates to passion fruit to root beer! This book is also perfect for someone who can't cook! The recipies are SO simple! There's also mouthwatering pictures and little facts here and there like why grapefruits got it's name and why peaches are love tokens in china. PLUS, the first 22 pages is facts on fruit, extracts and great ways to prepare your fruit! To sum it all up, you CANNOT buy a better book on smoothies!!!

This is a wonderful book for those who love to those wonderful little smoothies you pay a fortune for everwhere else. Included are recipes that will delight kids, adults (alcohol included), those with milk intolerances, etc... Nothing difficult, no hard to find ingredients. Just don't hoard it all for yourself!

I'm just getting into cuisine,(I'm 14)and I wanted a cook book that was simple, healthy and yummy! I saw "Smoothies" featured in JUMP magazine, and I tried one of the recipes and it was great! I bought the book and I love it! All the recipes are easy and fun, and they taste great!My favorite is called "Black Beauty" because it has blueberries, blackberries, grape juice and low fat yogurt! Ummm, they're all so tasty! The book is really snazzy and well organized. It even has a section at the begining on fruit and how to prepare and freeze it(for people who have no idea of what they're doing, like me!). It has great photos and it even gives how many calories each smoothie has, (for those who are watching thier diet). If you are thinking about buying a book on smoothies, don't waste your time on other ones, just buy this one!!!

I saw these 2 sisters on the Home & Gardening Network and I fell in love with the recipes. Everything is included here: What kind of fruit to buy, how to chop fruit, explanation of more rare ingredients, and nutritional content. The recipes are so easy to follow and the book is organized in a very hip and stylish manner. You will not be dissapointed!

The food court near my seminary has recently opened a 'smoothie bar', and the bookstore manager has taken a fancy to it; hence, for my birthday, part of my gifts included this book on 'Smoothies'. In it are 50 fancy recipes for smoothies -- blender-produced fruit drinks that can be decadent, nutritious, or both! Gone are the days when one simply pushed a banana and milk in a blender. In this book are complex and intricate ideas for wonderful treats.

The book begins with a basic introduction to smoothies. Smoothies are for everyone, and there are appropriate smoothies for almost any time of day and any kind of taste. The nutrition and food/fruit guide at the beginning gives an overall view of things you need to know; particularly with regard to the fruit, preparation is important. Smoothies generally assume frozen fruit -- freezing in a certain way can lead to much greater convenience at the 'smooth' end. Similarly, the guide to different kinds of milk, juice, etc., and equipment for use is very handy.

Beyond this, the primary part of the book is organised into four sections, according to different kinds of smoothies.

**Wholesome Mergers**
These are for the health-food fans. Peaches, plums, nectarines, mangos, even rhubarb make an appearance in this section. There are sixteen recipes in all. Even the so-called 'Bad Boy' here is a healthy feast of boysenberries and blueberries.

**No-Moo Blends**
As the name would indicate, these smoothies are made from anything but standard dairy milk -- soy, rice, yogurt, tofu, anything but milk. Smoothies made with tea, with juices, with non-dairy products will be appreciated by vegetarian/vegan types, but also by others who won't know they're not supposed to like them!

**Decadent Medleys**
Here is where you can go wild with frozen yogurt, ice cream, chocolate additives, and the like. These are not just smoothies -- these are high-end, satisfying desserts. As the authors state, it takes tremendous willpower, upon making two servings, not to eat both servings yourself! Cheesecake, mocha, cappuccino -- anything sweet and decadent will do. Here is even a root-beer float like none other!

**Drunken Concoctions**
From the Tropical Teaser to the Sunset Sipper, these smoothies are just the thing for parties and small gatherings of good friends. Wine, rum, brandy, Grand Marnier, and more are used here, to no small effect.

The average smoothie takes only about ten minutes to make, given proper pre-planning and storage of the ingredients. The authors recommend storing and labelling in one-serving amounts, for ease of use later.

These are 'designer' smoothies -- they are not for the timid; the ingredients can be hard to come by (one needs a good quality grocer nearby). Yet these are delightful, unique treats, unlikely to be found even in the fanciest of restaurants and smoothie bars.

The book itself is a work of art, with stunning photography, innovative and modern graphic layout designs, full-colour format and sturdy, moisture-resistant pages (the better for the guide to be used in the kitchen). This makes a good recipe book and an interesting coffee-table book.