Instructions: Hot and bothered? Reach for something cool and smooth.

In particular, Smoothies and Shakes (Ryland Peters & Small, $12.95)

by Elsa Petersen-Schepelern, a Danish-Australian writer based in London.

With some good, fresh, dried or frozen fruit, a scoop of ice cream or non-fat yogurt, a squirt of juice, condensed milk or soy milk, and a handful of ice cubes, youre set to beat any heat.

All you need is a blender - and with some recipes, you dont even need that.

If your blender isnt designed to crush ice, put whole cubes in a serving glass, blend remaining ingredients and pour them over ice.

The book contains more than 30 recipes, ranging from banana and peanut butter smoothies to frozen grapes in pineapple juice and iced orange flower tea.

Pineapple ginger smoothie
Serves 4

1- inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated 1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped Sugar syrup or sugar, to taste
Ice cubes, to taste

Working in batches if necessary, put ginger in blender. Add pineapple and blend to a smooth puree, adding enough ice water to make blades run. Add sugar or sugar syrup to taste. Half-fill a pitcher with ice cubes, pour pineapple mixture over cubes, stir and serve. Or alternatively, add about 10 ice cubes when blending.

Thai papaya smoothie
Serves 2

10 ice cubes
1 papaya, peeled, halved and seeded
Juice of 1 lime
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
6 mint leaves

Put ice cubes in blender and work to a snow-like texture. Chop papaya flesh and add to blender. Add lime juice, condensed milk and mint leaves. Blend again and serve.

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