Lingonberry Lemonade Smoothie

I, Pickles, am always on the lookout for new flavors. While browsing through our local supermarket, I discovered that they had lingonberries available in their freezer section, so I picked up a bag. These berries are tart, but have a nice flavor when sweetened a bit in a smoothie

Tools

• Fine-weave strainer (fine enough to catch small seeds)
• Professional blender with jar
• Second blender jar or a bowl
• Rubber scraper

Ingredients

• Lemon juice from 1-2 medium lemons (depending on desired tartness level)
• 2-3 tablespoons lingonberries
• 1/2 to 1 fully ripe avocado
• Approximately 3 to 5 heaping tablespoons cane sugar (or more or less to taste)
• Ice
• Water
• Optional: desired amount of unflavored protein/collagen powder

Directions

1. Add 1-2 inches of water to the blender jar
2. Add the lingonberries in the blender jar
1. There will probably be enough to create a single layer of berries on top of the water
3. Blend for a few seconds; long enough to break up the berries.
4. Set the blended berries aside
1. If you are using a second jar, just set it aside for later
2. If not, pour the blended berries into the bowl then rinse out the blender jar (to remove any remaining seeds)
5. Add the cane sugar to the blender jar. Historically, I would pour until the pile of sugar covers the top of the central post that holds the blade in the Blendtec. Lately I have been using less sugar. Lingonberries are tart, though, so a little extra sugar can help compensate. Adjust this to your own preferred sweetness level.
6. 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 4 scoops from this brand.)
2. If using a brand of protein/collagen powder that clumps 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 3 scoops from this powder.)
7. Add the avocado.
8. Optional: if you find this smoothie to be too tart, add the honey.
9. Add the lemon juice
10. Strain the blended lingonberries into the blender
1. Place the strainer over the mouth of the blender jar
2. Pour the blended lingonberries into the strainer
3. Using the rubber scraper, push down on the berries to help move the juices through the strainer
1. You don't need to exert much force
2. I find scraping across the bottom of the strainer (i.e. through the pureed berries) is pretty effective
3. You will end up with a thick paste of mostly seeds when you are done
4. Rinse the rubber scraper
5. Scrape the exterior bottom of the strainer with the scraper to get the last of the juices into the blender
11. Add about 250-500 milliliters of ice. Add less ice if you want more potent flavor.
12. Add water (or the mixture from step 6.2) until the fluid level is about an inch below the top of the ice.
13. Set aside an additional glass/cup with cold water.
14. 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 12 until the smoothie mixture starts to flow again.
15. Pour, serve, and enjoy!

Additional Notes

Blender

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

Lemon Juice

When preparing the lemon juice, I try to use the lemon pulp as well. I slice the lemons off-center 3 times so that I get 4 lemon chunks which I squeeze by hand through a strainer into the blender. I will also use my fingernails to scrape the insides of the lemons to dislodge more pulp. I then pick out some of the pulp from the strainer (avoiding the seeds) and toss it 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 14.1.

Avocado

1/2 of an avocado will get you a smooth texture, but you may find the smoothie is not very satisfying. Using an entire avocado will make the smoothie far more satisfying.

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.