Blueberry oat smoothie

Set out a tall blender jug for this easy blueberry smoothie. Peel the banana and break it into smaller rounds so it blends faster with the other ingredients. If you use frozen fruit, let it soften for a few minutes at room temperature. Rinse fresh berries under cold water in a sieve and let them drain, picking out any stems or soft pieces as you go so only firm, ripe fruit goes into the jug.

Put the prepared fruit and the sliced banana into the jug. Spoon in the rolled flakes and pour over the white yogurt. As they sit in the cold yogurt, they soften and lend the drink a pleasant thickness and a fuller, more filling body. If you like a looser texture, hold back a spoonful of the flakes and stir them in at the very end instead.

Blend for about a minute, until you have a smooth, creamy mixture with no gritty bits or skins. If the mixture is too thick, thin it with a little water or plant milk and blend again briefly. Add the liquid gradually so you don't dilute the flavor. Stop the blender once or twice and scrape down the sides, then run it again until the texture is even and pourable from top to bottom.

Sweeten with honey and blend in a pinch of ground cinnamon. Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness or thickness if needed, adding a touch more yogurt for a richer result.

Pour the finished drink into two tall glasses and serve right away, while it is cold, fresh, and a nice shade of purple. You can top each glass with a few whole berries or a sprinkle of flakes for a prettier look and a crunchy contrast.