Find Relief from the Heat with Fruity Smoothies and Mint Mojitos

Summertime has not arrived yet and we are currently in the midst of our second heat wave. Temperatures are expected to reach close 99 degrees today and the air is thick with humidity. I am daydreaming of frozen fruit cocktails and a swim in the sea. Because it is merely 2:00 and I am not on an island holiday, I’ll stick to a refreshing icy fruit smoothie and will save the cocktail for this evening when my girlfriends visit for happy hour by the pool.

I purchased a KitchenAid 5 Speed blender this winter and discovered that it makes fabulous smoothies and frozen drinks. Popular Mechanics convinced me to buy this blender after they tested high-end blenders and discovered that the KitchenAid KSB560 outperformed the others. I am pleased with it and am delighted with all aspects of its functionality. It works miracles on ice cubes as well as frozen fruit. I even found a way to create mint mojitos with it.

I experiment with my smoothies and try to vary ingredients as often as possible in order to keep the flavors new and interesting. I make use of fresh and frozen produce equally, but noticed flavors tend to be more intense with frozen produce. This is just due to ice diluting the intensity of ingredients. The more you use frozen fruit, the fewer ice cubes you need to use.

Following are two quick and delicious blender drink recipes. Both are ice-cold and are welcome refreshments for a hot summer day.

Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie

• 2 cups frozen blueberries


• 1 cup chilled pomegranate cranberry juice (100% juice blend)


• 1/2 cup chilled coconut milk

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and combine until smooth. Immediately pour into a tall glass and enjoy! This smoothie is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants.

Fresh Mint Mojitos for Two

• 5 cups ice cubes


• 2 cups limeade (frozen concentrate blend, prepared as directed on can)


• 4 oz. rum (use your favorite type: clear, lemon-flavored, spiced, or golden)


• club soda


• fresh mint leaves from 3 or 4 large sprigs

Pour 2 oz. of rum into each of two tall glasses. Place the ice, limeade, and mint leaves in a blender. Using the pulse mode, lightly crush the ice for a few seconds. Immediately pour into the two glasses and shake or stir. The mojitos taste delicious as they are or topped with a splash of club soda and garnished with a stick of sugar cane. Cheers!

Note: I think this mojito is as pleasant as a conventional Cuban mojito made with simple syrup and freshly squeezed lime juice. What I enjoy about this version is the simplicity of it. Balancing simple syrup and lime juice is so important for a great mojito. With limeade, you guarantee the ideal balance and you do not have to squeeze limes.

To learn more about the KitchenAid 5 Speed Blender and to see our review, please visit us at Tools for Kitchens. We can help you find the best online prices for the KitchenAid KSB560.