Berries are the best.

I know I’ve probably claimed that a lot of things are the best… like peanut butter, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese in general, and bubbly Prosecco.

But more than one thing can be labeled “the best” right?

Right.

I really can’t choose a favorite between plump blueberries, juicy strawberries and sweet raspberries, although raspberries feel the most special, for some reason.

I think it’s because they’re so delicate.

It’s hard to avoid getting a few smooshed raspberries in your precious container.

And they seem to last only a couple hours before they start to take a turn for the worse, so you better use them up quick!

The good ones, that is.

Most grocery store raspberries are picked a bit too early, before they get all nice and ripe and fragile.

And before they actually start to taste like something other than air with seeds.

Moral of the story is drag your lazy rear to your local farmer’s market and pick up some real deal raspberries.

Or attempt to grow your own.

(Side note: you’re less likely to inadvertently kill a plant if you name it. Don’t forget to water Sally!)

Or just select the local organic berries from the uber pricey grocery store where snobs like myself shop.

(That’s where the berries came from that made their way into this here smoothie.)

I wanted to keep this smoothie simple, to allow the pure raspberry flavor to shine without getting all muddled up.

Creamy over frosty was sounding appealing at the time, so the base of the smoothie is tangy low fat plain kefir.

Pronounced “kuh-fear”, or something like that.

Frozen banana slices help thicken the smoothie up.

Pure vanilla extract adds a subtle floral accent.

Fresh raspberries steal the show, in the best way possible.

And sweet honey balances everything out.

Blend blend blend.

P.S. The first time I made this smoothie, I used a room temp banana, but it’s definitely more refreshing if your banana is icy cold.

P.P.S. I haven’t tried a vegan option, but I’m sure you could sub in unsweetened original almond milk for the kefir and maple syrup or agave for the honey. Coconut milk would be yum but your raspberries might have to share the spotlight.

P.P.P.S. Aren’t beverages that resemble Pepto-Bismol awesome?! Ha.

P.P.P.S. Does vanilla actually impart floral notes to this smoothie? Idk. Just go with it.