Blender

Nahm Takrai This lightly sweetened drink, served with both lunch and dinner in Thailand, is very cooling with spicy foods.

Freezing the watermelon and strawberries before mixing the drink eliminates the need for ice  — and allows the fruit flavors to retain their full intensity.

Peel, slice, and freeze bananas in resealable plastic bags to use as a nutritious thickener for a variety of smoothies.

The classic drink from old Cuba is said to have been concocted by expatriate American miners with time on their hands. These tart, lime-loaded daiquiris were created by recipe developer Jeanne Thiel Kelley's father, when he had time on his hands.

This tastes like a thick, rich ice cream shake, but it's virtually fat-free.

(Coriander, Ginger, and Chili Lassi)Lassi is a refreshing yogurt drink that is very popular in its native India and Pakistan.

For this recipe, you will need a 13- by 4-inch rectangular tart pan with a removable fluted rim, available at specialty cookware shops.

Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 2 1/2 hr