Rating: 
Summary: Picture Worth 1,000 Words?
Review: -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.
Rating:
Summary: Picture Worth 1,000 Words?
Review: - 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Summer Refreshment and Fun!
Review: Full of delicious recipes that are easy to make, this book is lots of fun! Various fruits are also described as well as the nutritional value of each. Some very unusual smoothies are included, but that just makes it all the more interesting. I know that I will certainly keep reusing this book time and time again!
Rating:
Summary: If I can do it, you can...
Review: I bought this book a year ago and I love it. It help me a lot during my pregnancy because the many recipes helped me take all the vitamins I needed to have an healthy baby. Many recipes are great for breakfast or a quick lunch on the go. Every step is well explaned and the preparation is very easy. All the smoothies are very refreshing and good. I've tried them all and love most of them.
Rating:
Summary: If I can do it, you can...
Review: I bought this book a year ago and I love it. It help me a lot during my pregnancy because the many recipes helped me take all the vitamins I needed to have an healthy baby. Many recipes are great for breakfast or a quick lunch on the go. Every step is well explaned and the preparation is very easy. All the smoothies are very refreshing and good. I've tried them all and love most of them.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Great Book!
Review: I bought this book because I loved thier book "Wraps!" The recepies are easy and delicious and there is a preface about buying and storing fruit. I love the cookbooks by these authors because they are so stylish and fun. Buy this cookbook!
Rating:
Summary: Great ideas.
Review: I bought this book two weeks ago and haven't stopped using it yet! Unlike previous reviews, I find that the ingredients are easy to find, especially if you have a local farmer's market to hand which can make fruit shopping quite inexpensive. Also, take the advice of the authors and freeze the fruit as it is in the height of season. That way, you save on expense and can enjoy the flavorful tastes of summer any time you want! My favorite recipes from the book are the Nectarine Nelly (orange juice, nectarines and mango) and the Cherry Pop (soda, cherries and ice cream, etc.). In addition, many of these recipes can be adapted to your own tastes and the book includes many options--even for those who prefer soy products over milk products. All in all, there's something for everyone here!
Rating:
Summary: Great ideas.
Review: I bought this book two weeks ago and haven't stopped using it yet! Unlike previous reviews, I find that the ingredients are easy to find, especially if you have a local farmer's market to hand which can make fruit shopping quite inexpensive. Also, take the advice of the authors and freeze the fruit as it is in the height of season. That way, you save on expense and can enjoy the flavorful tastes of summer any time you want! My favorite recipes from the book are the Nectarine Nelly (orange juice, nectarines and mango) and the Cherry Pop (soda, cherries and ice cream, etc.). In addition, many of these recipes can be adapted to your own tastes and the book includes many options--even for those who prefer soy products over milk products. All in all, there's something for everyone here!
Rating: 
Summary: Smooth Move!
Review: I first purchased this book hoping it would help me get more produce into a picky eater. Not only did it work beautifully to that end, but I have given it four times as a gift. The recipes are divided into 'wholesome mergers', which include some dairy products, 'no-moo blends', which don't, 'decadent medleys', which are more desert-like and calorie laden, and a few 'drunken concoctions', which, of course, include alcohol. The book has great visual appeal, lip-smacking pictures, and a vintage flavor. There are a couple of invaluable smoothie lessons that I picked up from this book. One is to freeze the fruit beforehand, in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then store it in a container. Once you have an idea of what your favorite smoothies call for, you can always have the ingredients on hand. I now always break older bananas into pieces and toss them into baggies in the freezer. Although some smoothies ingredients call for advance planning, there are plenty that I can make from basic on-hand ingredients: for instance the Smoothie a la King (named for Elvis) made with bananas, vanilla frozen yogurt, peanut butter, and milk; and the Smoothie Classico, made with frozen strawberries, bananas, and orange juice. This week, with what I had on hand, I also made the Pea-Pine-Fu, featuring peaches, pineapple, and tofu; the Sweet Cherry-ot made with peaches, cherries, cherry juice, and raspberry sorbet; and the Jitterbug, made with coffee, bananas, vanilla frozen yogurt, and the hazelnut syrup I had leftover from the last time I made this one! One drawback, as mentioned by other people, is the number of differing ingredients needed for different smoothies. If you want to make three different smoothies in one week, you may need three different juice flavors. If you don't have unlimited space in your fridge (as I don't) you may need to do a little creative substituting such as juice flavors, sorbet flavors, and soymilk for cow milk, etc. But hey! Smoothies are an art, not a science! It's easy once you get the basic smoothie idea. Basically, however, I've learned scads about smoothies from this book, and every smoothie I've made has been absolutely delicious. I don't think I have any other recipe book from which I have made over 1/2 the recipes!
Rating:
Summary: Smooth Move!
Review: I first purchased this book hoping it would help me get more produce into a picky eater. Not only did it work beautifully to that end, but I have given it four times as a gift. The recipes are divided into 'wholesome mergers', which include some dairy products, 'no-moo blends', which don't, 'decadent medleys', which are more desert-like and calorie laden, and a few 'drunken concoctions', which, of course, include alcohol. The book has great visual appeal, lip-smacking pictures, and a vintage flavor. There are a couple of invaluable smoothie lessons that I picked up from this book. One is to freeze the fruit beforehand, in a single layer on a cookie sheet, then store it in a container. Once you have an idea of what your favorite smoothies call for, you can always have the ingredients on hand. I now always break older bananas into pieces and toss them into baggies in the freezer. Although some smoothies ingredients call for advance planning, there are plenty that I can make from basic on-hand ingredients: for instance the Smoothie a la King (named for Elvis) made with bananas, vanilla frozen yogurt, peanut butter, and milk; and the Smoothie Classico, made with frozen strawberries, bananas, and orange juice. This week, with what I had on hand, I also made the Pea-Pine-Fu, featuring peaches, pineapple, and tofu; the Sweet Cherry-ot made with peaches, cherries, cherry juice, and raspberry sorbet; and the Jitterbug, made with coffee, bananas, vanilla frozen yogurt, and the hazelnut syrup I had leftover from the last time I made this one! One drawback, as mentioned by other people, is the number of differing ingredients needed for different smoothies. If you want to make three different smoothies in one week, you may need three different juice flavors. If you don't have unlimited space in your fridge (as I don't) you may need to do a little creative substituting such as juice flavors, sorbet flavors, and soymilk for cow milk, etc. But hey! Smoothies are an art, not a science! It's easy once you get the basic smoothie idea. Basically, however, I've learned scads about smoothies from this book, and every smoothie I've made has been absolutely delicious. I don't think I have any other recipe book from which I have made over 1/2 the recipes!
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