This Christmas will forever be known as the one when I cried about a blender. A happy-cry that is.
This is what my life has come to, you guys. I’m thirty with three kids and I didn’t ask for some sexy stilettos or diamonds… I asked for a kitchen appliance. Collin looked at me from behind the video camera, as I opened my present, with a puzzled look on his face, “You’re crying?!”
There was never an official letter to Santa wishing for one but I did want to start drinking those green smoothies every morning… oh my goodness. I just realized it only gets worse. Not only did I want a blender but I want to mix up kale and spinach and actually drink it. Willingly! This is coming from a girl who eats brownies for breakfast. Well, I guess I am officially growing up… and the happiest green smoothie drinking, blender hugging momma around!!!
This time of year I get anxious and thrilled for the new year. A fresh start. A new list of resolutions… since I sucked at last years! haha But the anticipation for what the new year has in store is always exciting!
PS If you have any good green smoothie drink recipes please, please share!!
Excited to announce that I am joining in at Studio Calico and their awesome new Photo-A-Day workshop. My photos were all self-timer shots like the one above. Can’t wait to see what the other teachers came up with and to attempt a photo-a-day for 2012. I am not usually successful at the photo-a-day challenge but the ones I do capture make it all worth it.
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Aaaw! Heehee. This is my favorite recipe by far, I honestly LOVE the taste of it (even my veggie-phobic parents asked me to make more of it so they could have some): http://www.kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2009/07/11/green-smoothie-recipe/
You are stunningly gorgeous!! I asked for kitchen appliances for Christmas too
I love it! I’ve been thinking of trying the green smoothie too. If you find some good recipes I’d love you to share. I haven’t taken the plunge yet so I totally need a gateway one to start that won’t scare me off haha.
I totally feel you on the asking for a kitchen appliance thing. There were only three things that I asked for this Christmas: 1) a new George Foreman grill – got it!, 2) a new mini food chopper – didn’t get it
, and 3) money and babysitting for a pedicure – got it! And then with my Christmas $$ from the hubs, I bought a 15-piece set of hard anodized cookware! My life is fuller than I ever imagined. Now if we could just move into a place that has more than 2 counters and at least one drawer my life would be overwhelmingly perfect! Enjoy that blender.
my go-to smoothie recipe is kind of a mixture of lots of different ones I’ve seen around the internets….
-handful of spinach
-ground flax seed
-banana
-strawberries {or fruit of choice:raspberries, peach, blueberries, pineapple}
-yogurt {I use a cup of stoneyfield organic either vanilla or peach flavored}
-juice {I usually use orange}
blend then blend again with ice! I am obsessed.
This is almost exactly what I drink for breakfast, except I use plain yogurt instead of flavored.
I’m a green smoothie diehard
– my fave is spinach, mango, peach & banana. A few tips: blend your greens with water first. Kale needs A LOT of blending. Make sure at least one of the fruits is frozen. I buy REALLY ripe bananas, and slice them onto wax paper lined cookie sheets, then pop them in the freezer for 1/2 hour – then into freezer bags. Pick up a copy of The Green Smoothie Revolution for lots of great combos!
My girls love smoothies, but we make ours in the Magic Bullet (spinach, banana, strawberries *(frozen) flax seed, water and yogurt. They LOVE THEM!
tara
I got a Kitchen-Aid mixer so I totally feel your joy!
Enjoy your smoothies.
Here’s a whole month of detox smoothies and soups. Lots ‘o green there!
Oops…here’s the link! http://gfreemom.com/detox-january/
The easiest smoothie recipe I know is equal parts fruit, yogurt and juice. As long as I keep those equal, my smoothies are always awesome. I use frozen fruit and spinach plus fresh banana for the fruit and for the juice I typically use orange. Yum.
I look forward to seeing your photos! I just purchased the class today!
I stink at taking a photo a day, so hopefully this will inspire me to try!
If you’re talking about a vitamix blender, then you’re not alone! I want one too!!!
Yay for a new blender. I have totally been dreaming about the Vitamix, but I got the Nook Tablet so I will be grateful. I have tried a few green Smoothies but so far my favorite has been using Greenberry Shakeology mixed with mango orange juice, almond milk 1/2 banana, tbsp peanut butter (to hide vitamin edge), ice and blend. So Yummy!
I’m savin’ for a vitamix myself and if Santa had given me one this Christmas I would have cried also.
My fav green smoothie is water, spinach, banana, mango and ground flaxseed. Look up the Green Smoothie Girl.
Enjoy and Happy Blessed Joyful Christmas to you.
Anna from Australia.
too funny! cute pic…
i really wanted a vacuum, but i happily got my lens instead! still need a NEW vacuum!
My husband got me a ninja blender for finishing my credential, because I wanted one SO BADLY for green smoothie making too! We swear by the tropical blend of frozen fruit at Costco- they do a good job of masking any kind of green flavor you put in. And for masking the green color, the frozen blueberries turn the smoothie purple.
We kind of just mix different things in here and there, whatever we have on hand or might go bad soon. 
And bananas are the best for getting the right texture!
My favorite green smoothie recipe:
large handful of spinach
frozen banana
big dollop of vanilla yogurt (or whatever flavor you like)
1/4 – 1/3 avocado
pomegranate juice
Blend it all up and enjoy!
You are so cute!
1 cup almond or hemp milk
3-4 kale leaves(stem removed)
Banana
Handful frozen blueberries
Handful frozen cherries
1-2 Tbs. Hemp OR flax seeds
I had to giggle when I read this post. My friend and I were screaming with excitement this year over food processors and juicers! They really are the best with the bonus of being practical gifts!
There are only a couple of fruit juices that will actually aid in the digestion of the veggies you put in. I’ve done spinach with pineapple juice for as long as I can remember. The other juice is mango, but I think it’s too much like baby vomit!!! Tell Colin that one, I’m sure he’ll laugh!!
but it’s totally true. At least, for me.
uhm, i got a vitamix and cried. i was so freaking happy….and thinking of all the green smoothies.
my fav:
-spinach
-kiwi
-one banana
-one granny smith apple
-pom juice
-chia seeds
-raw honey
i serve 6 with this huge batch, but dang its soooo good!!
Ha ha ha Okay so I loved this post! I just got a rockin blender to and I totally started the green drinks to! My mom made spinach and pineapple my whole life so I’m pretty much going to be making lots of those to! Good luck!
Natalie
http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com
can you share the smoothie recipe you like? sounds interesting…
I have always loved smoothies, too! Mine is mango, vanilla yogurt, peaches and frozen orange juice with a bit of water added. That is a family favourite all around!
My Kitchen Aid one broke and I cried. Now I need a new one but debating whether to to get the same type or a different one. What type of blender do you have?
Ha! I think that is a GREAT gift! I’m so with you! I was just telling my husband that since my birthday is coming up in about a month – I was just going to tell family members to get me gift cards to Target so that I could redo a couple of bathrooms in our house! LOL! Oh and we drink smoothies for breakfast every day and this is what I put in them:
about a cup of berries (strawberries and blueberries)
half of a banana
some spinach
some kale
flax seed
a bit of stevia
coconut milk (about a 1/2 cup)
orange juice (about a 1/2 cup)
a bit of cinnamon
You may have to add a bit more liquid, but other than that – it’s just a “throw it all in there and mix” sort of recipe.
I’ve put blackberries and raspberries in there as well from time to time!
Hugs to you, Liz!
Oh and forgot – a bit of protein powder, too!
you’re not alone!! I cried for mothers day when I got a food processor!!! (to make baby food) I am obsessed too!!!! choose any fruit, (I use frozen because then I skip adding ice.) I add a whole orange handful of spinach, hand full of kale, and blend. The juice from the orange will act as the liquid and blend very smoothly. Then, add your froz. fruit, 1/3 cup nonfat organic plain yogurt., a Tbsp. of Flax seed, tbsp. of Raw honey, and blend…if you need more liquid just add a bit of water…if you use juice it just adds extra sugar. But then again, you ate brownies for breakfast….so I’m leaving that up to you! I drink this alot…if you have this post work out then add the protein powder…helps with the muscles lol…. otherwise the yogurt has a good amount of protein to start your day! ENJOY!!!!
okay so I meant to mention 1/2 banana if you want it nice an’ thick
heyyy! im freaked out cause i got a juicer for christmas!! haha. but here is my favorite “green” smoothie so far….it’s called the green monster: http://www.fullmeasureofhappiness.com/2011/06/06/cookie-dough-green-monster/
btw, the fact that you can eat brownies for breakfast & still look fabulous….is amazing! haha. wish i could pull that off
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/prehistoric-diet-recipes
basically, you can throw a ton of spinach in just about any smoothie recipe and ramp up the nutrition without changing the taste.
Enjoy!
Love me some green smoothies! Here is a site that has a whole lot to choose from, including lots of chocolate ones (my personal favorite!)
http://thediva-dish.com/recipes-2/green-drinks/
I have a green smoothie recipe that I love! It’s from Jackie Warner and one of the nutrients added is for weight loss (noted below). If you are not looking to slim down, you can certainly eliminate and add substitutions to your blend. If my berries are a little tart, I add about a tablespoon of blue agave. I also add some liquid in the form of almond milk or apple juice. The apple juice also acts as a sweetener, so no need for agave if I use AJ. Bon appetite!
1 scoop protein powder
1 tsp glutamine powder
1 tsp BCAA powder (branch chain amino acids)
1 tbsp L Carnitine liquid – (fat burner)
1/2 tbsp flax seed oil
1 C frozen spinach
1 C frozen berries
Ooopsie! I also meant to say…
I use a Vitamix and do a little pouncing to get things blended. If I use more liquid I don’t have to pounce much, but I prefer to use a minimal amount of liquid. I get a wonderful smooth blend. Not sure how this will blend up on the average blender.
Also, feel free to use fruits that appeal to you.
To get an accurate measure of the frozen spinach and berries, I weigh them on my kitchen scale. I set the blender pitcher on the scale add spinach to the 1 cup weight and then reset the scale and add fruit to the 1 cup weight.
Think I’m headed toward the kitchen for a little something green.
wahoooooo!! thanks everyone for all the recipes! Keep em coming too… I can’t wait to try them out…!
Just had a thought that you might also be intereted in…
I just discovered kale chips/crispy kale, It’s super easy and super yummy:
-Preheat oven at 350 degrees
-Lightly spray kale with olive oil and toss.
-Bake for 10 mins or until crispy
-Season with your favorite spices. I used lemon pepper and it was heavenly.
I saw this made on Martha Stewart Show and the work-at-home dad making it said even his kids eat it.
Funny you should mention about green smoothies. The other day I was looking at the Whole Living Challenge from Martha Stewart’s Whole Living site and came across these 7 Detox Smoothies recipes.
This is the recipe they have for a Green Smoothie –
http://www.wholeliving.com/152126/7-detox-smoothies/@center/152870/2012-whole-living-action-plan#/106790
I use http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/ recipes. I bought the Green Smoothie diet book. My favorite is the basic template,
1/4 whole lemon, 2-3 Tbsp flax oil, or flax seeds, 3/4 – 1 lb washed greens, kale and spinach are my favs, frozen banana, 1/2 cup bluberries, so it’s purple and not green and pinapple. or what ever is in season.
My mom makes green smoothies all the time! She’s learned that you have to have pineapple in the mix to make them taste better. Have fun with that! I want to drink those too!
Love the phone sweater! Patiently (well maybe not LOL) waiting to see more of your December Daily!!! I absolutely loved the last post of your adorable daughter in the dance program-such cute dresses too. Your book is my fav of all and I must see the rest as you get finished-Please,Please,Please! Happy New Year!
It’s okay…I’m 23 and this Christmas I cried (happy tears) over getting a food processor! We recently switched to a whole-foods diet full of lots of fruits and vegetables, and a larger-than-2-cup food processor was on my list.Thanks, Santa.
i didn’t read all of the comments, so I don’t know if this is redundant, but i like to stick my spinach and kale in the freezer for a day, it makes it really easy to blend more smoothly, less bits of coarse leaves. Also, i love putting an avocado in–makes it really creamy. and freeze bananas.
here is another recipe
a few handfuls of spinach
4 stalks of celery
1 cucumber
2 granny smith apples
½ lemon
ginger root (thumb sized)
I love the following combo (just add as much or as little as you like):
Pineapple juice (makes it taste sweet)
Strawberries
Blueberries
Plain Yogurt
Bananas
Handful of spinach
We have a NInja and are trying new recipes…these two are on our list for green smoothies (haven’t tried yet so don’t hold me to the taste, lol). These recipes are from Eating Well magazine, feb issue:
Good Green Tea Smoothie-3 cups frozen white grapes, 2 cups packed spinach, 1-1/2 cup strong brewed green tea, cooled, 1 medium ripe avacado, 2 tsp honey.
Clean Breeze Smoothie-1 small cucumber, chopped, 2 ripe kiwis, peeled, 1 cup giner flavored kombucha (probiotic packed fermented tea found in natural food stores), 1/2 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt, 2 T fresh cilantro, 6 ice cubes.
It sounds gross, but adding ginger and lemon to almost any of the green leafy mixtures makes them taste better to me.
Such a great gift! My husband is the healthy eater in our family and he got a Blendtec this past summer and makes us green smoothies every morning. Green Smoothie Girl has a lot of recipes we use. I’m the one who eats Sweet Sixteen Mini-Dounuts each night with a night cap of milk….thank goodness for his insistence on eating healthy!