I'm sure you know that old trick about freezing bananas that have seen better days. You hold onto them until the banana-bread bug bites you bad, and then you embark on a marathon baking session. Well, I'm a devotee of this method - it's as if the freezer performs some magic to transform fruit that looks too ripe to even touch into an exotic delicacy.

But you know, bread isn't all those bananas are good for - why not try a smoothie? A frozen banana makes an excellent any-smoothie base because it produces a rich, creamy texture that's just like ice cream. LIKE ice cream, but better.

That's because smoothies are a great way to boost your nutritional intake and still feel like you're getting away with something. Liquids make more nutrients available than solid food, and are absorbed faster, too. They're also easier to digest and frequently more appetizing than solid food when you're rushed, sick, pregnant or just plain bored.

So grab your blender and let's get started.

Drop in that banana, then add some frozen fruit - flavor-wise, it's hard to go wrong. Berries, stone fruits, grapes, citrus and tropical fruit all contribute a tart, punchy kick that's as intense and colorful as candy.

Now for the veggies.

Yep, that's right - I said VEGGIES. Smoothies are a great way to use the fresh or frozen vegetables you have on hand. It may sound scary, but don't run screaming from the blender just yet. Greens may have a big impact on the color of your drink, but they usually contribute a fairly delicate flavor, especially alongside all that sweet fruit. So toss in frozen vegetables like peas, broccoli pieces, or spinach by the handful. Their own natural sweetness will make the vitamin boost completely painless.

You can also boost your smoothies by blending in your vitamin supplement, a scoop of wheat germ, a handful of nuts, a smear of nut butter, a chunk of fresh ginger, drizzles of honey or maple syrup, or spoonfuls of milled flaxseed, wheat germ or ground cinnamon.

Now pour in a little juice, water or yogurt to help it all liquefy and let 'er rip. Blend everything until smooth, and then taste a bit to see if you need to tweak the flavors or consistency. There are no hard and fast ratios or recipes. Just experiment with what you have and what you know you like. Then get busy dreaming up your favorite, adventurous combinations.

Still feeling less than confident? Allow me to share a few of my favorite "non-recipes:"

n Good Morning: Frozen banana, frozen peach, fresh ginger, fresh kale and apple juice

n Mid-Afternoon Reward: Frozen banana, peanut butter, frozen peas, honey and plain yogurt

n Up Before the Sun: Frozen strawberries, frozen pineapple concentrate, fresh carrots, orange juice and a squeeze of lemon

n Carrot Cake: Frozen banana, fresh carrots, walnuts, wheat germ, cinnamon, maple syrup and plain yogurt

n Peanut Butter: Frozen banana, peanut butter, frozen corn, vanilla extract and plain yogurt

n Feelin' a Little Tart: Frozen blueberries, frozen broccoli (go easy) and cranberry juice

n Easy Being Green: Frozen banana, frozen peas, frozen broccoli (go easy) and white grape juice

n Cherry Pie: Frozen cherries, frozen carrots, unsalted cashews, wheat germ, honey and almond milk

n Antioxidant Punch: Frozen strawberries, fresh spinach, almonds and pomegranate juice

n Case of the Blues: Frozen blueberries, frozen peas, plain yogurt and maple syrup

n Orange You Pretty: Frozen carrots, fresh ginger (go easy) and orange juice

Copyright 2011, MaryJane Butters. Distributed by United Feature Syndicate Inc.