Pineapple Limeade Smoothie

Pineapple loves this smoothie recipe. So does her mother and sister. I like it but I don't love it. Whether or not you like it is entirely up to your own tastes.

Ingredients

• Lime juice from 1 to 2 medium-to-small-sized limes (or 1 large lime), depending on desired tartness level
• 2 Pineapple Spears (cutting instructions below)
• Optional: 1/4 pineapple core
• 1/2 fully ripe avocado
• Approximately 3 to 8 heaping tablespoons cane sugar, depending on desired sweetness level
• Ice
• Water
• Optional: desired amount of unflavored protein/collagen powder
• Optional: Spinach

Directions

1. Add the cane sugar to the blender. I typically pour until the pile of sugar covers the top of the central post that holds the blade in the Blendtec. You can adjust this to your own preferred sweetness level.
2. Add the avocado, lime juice, and pineapple.
3. Add/Prepare the protein/collagen powder
1. If using a brand of protein/collagen powder that doesn't clump in cold water, add the protein/collagen powder to the mixture in the blender. (I prefer to use 2 or 3 scoops from this brand.)
2. If using a brand of protein/collagen powder that does clump in water, mix the protein/collagen powder with about 16 oz. of (preferably cool or cold) water following the directions on the container and set the mixture aside. (I use 2 or 3 scoops from this powder.)
4. Add about 500-750 milliliters of ice. (I add until the fluid level reaches the top of the Blendtec logo.) Add less ice if you want more potent flavor.
5. Add a handful or two of spinach, if you want.
6. Add water (or the mixture from step 3.2) until the fluid level is about an inch above the 1-liter mark.
7. Set aside an additional glass/cup with cold water.
8. Blend until smooth. (The Blendtec has a "smoothie" button for this.)
1. Warning: If the blender starts to struggle or spin freely--meaning the blender is running but the smoothie mixture is not moving or is sluggish--immediately start adding water from step 6 until the smoothie mixture starts to flow again.
9. Pour, serve, and enjoy!

Additional Notes

Cutting Pineapple

When getting pineapple, you should consider how big the pineapple is, how green it is, and whether or not it is canned. A canned pineapple will have a "tinny" flavor, and it seems to aggravate my immune system.

The greener the pineapple is the better. If the husk of the pineapple is yellow or orange then it may have started ferment or possibly rot. If the coloring of the pineapple stays in the yellow and orange range you are fine; it will likely add significant sweetness to the smoothie at this point. However, portions of the flesh start turning gray then the pineapple is rotting and should be thrown out; the flavor will not be good. For example, in the photo in step 4 below, notice the coloring of the flesh-side of the skin; this pineapple is bad and I threw it out the next day.

After purchasing a pineapple I try and carve it soon thereafter. I employ the following process so that I can minimize the work needed while still refrigerating the pineapple.

1. I cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple and throw those pieces away.
   
2. Looking at the top downward, I quarter the pineapple.
   
3. I slice out the core from each quarter and put it in a separate container. The core adds some fiber but sometimes it doesn't blend perfectly.
   
4. I take each quarter and slice it lengthwise into 3 spears or wedges
   
5. I carve off the husk/skin and throw the husk/skin away
6. Depending on the size of the pineapple I slice the spears in half so they will fit into a storage container.
   
7. Put the storage containers in the fridge to slow the ripening process.

When I prepare the smoothie I just grab 2 spears (or 4 chunks if I followed step 6) and toss them in the blender.

Blender

I use a Blendtec blender, but a similar professional blender like a Vitamix will work. 

Lime Juice

When preparing the lime juice, I try to use the lime pulp as well. I slice the limes off-center 3 times so that I get 4 chunks of limes that I squeeze by hand directly into the blender.

Washing Hands

Before I work with food I wash my hands with soap and dry them using a paper towel. Any time I do something which might contaminate my hands--such as interacting with non-food-related items--I rewash my hands. I use paper towels because they are inexpensive and more sanitary than hand towels.

Ice and Water

The ideal ice-to-water ratio will result in a smoothie which has the consistency of yogurt or soft-serve ice cream. If you find the smoothie is too watery then either add more ice next time or cut back on the water added. When there is not enough water then the blender will start to spin freely as mentioned in step 7.1.

Avocado

The ripeness of the avocado matters. If the avocado is not ripe, then the smoothie will be clumpy, will start to separate, and the flavor will be unsatisfying. If the avocado is ripe, then the smoothie will be satisfyingly creamy and will stay uniform for a long time--at least a half-hour.

I've attempted to use avocado oil in place of the avocado, but that particular smoothie doesn't have the right texture and starts to separate immediately. I've also tried to substitute coconut oil, but that also separates immediately and tends to be clumpy.

Spinach

The spinach is mostly for color, fiber, and nutrients. If you add a lot of spinach the smoothie will start to taste like grass, but a little spinach will improve the nutrition of the smoothie without altering the flavor much.