Berry Berry Mania Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice or chopped pineapple (optional)
• 1/4 cup filtered water (about two inches above berries)
• a taste of sugar (optional; skip if using pineapple)

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine all ingredients and blend on smoothie setting.

2. 2

   This is one recipe where adding the berries first and then adding liquid works fine. The liquid, of course, fills in the gaps around the other ingredients, helping mix everything together. Beware not to pack the berries in too tightly, however. You need liquid around the blades.

3. 3

   Tips

4. 4

   No need for all four berries on hand at once. Any single berry, or any combination you have in the freezer, works fine at the same total quantity of one cup. If you skip the pineapple juice, use plain water and add a little sugar or honey to balance the tartness.

5. 5

   This recipe freezes into popsicle molds beautifully, since it is already made mostly from frozen fruit. Poured into a covered container, it also keeps in the fridge for about a day, though it will thicken as it sits; stir in a splash of water or juice to loosen it back up.