Normally, I don’t care for canned fruit. To me, most of it just doesn’t taste the way I think fruit is suppose to taste. In this smoothie, however, canned pears work better than fresh pears. Pears are not in season and can take days to ripen, and who wants to wait for a smoothie? Canned pears are softer and gentler on my much abused blender. Also, the syrup helps intensify the pear flavor. If you want to use fresh pears, go for it, but you will want to add pear nectar or apple juice to get your smoothie going.
If you would like to turn this into a breakfast smoothie, substitute yogurt for half of the blueberries (or use blueberry yogurt instead) and add 2 tablespoons of wheat germ. You could also drain the pears and add 1 cup of soy milk.
1 can (15 oz) pear halves or slices in light syrup
1 cup frozen blueberries
2-3 ice cubes
sprig of mint (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a blender, including pear syrup. Puree until smooth, adjusting ice to achieve desired consistency. Garnish with mint (if desired).
Makes a tasty snack for one or a healthy dessert for two!
