Soy-Free Pineapple Kale Smoothie

I love healthy smoothies as a meal.  One thing I don't like is tofu because of the soy.  I also a big fan of green smoothies so this recipe I found is fantastic!

Pineapple Kale Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 cup pineapple
1/2 ripe banana
1 cup kale
1 cup almond milk
2/3 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt (preferably non-GMO)

Directions:
In a blender, process 1 cup frozen pineapple, 1/2 ripe banana, 1 cup kale, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk and 2/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt on high until smooth, 1-3 minutes.  Optional: Add ice and blend for another 30 seconds.

Detoxing Smoothie to Fight Inflammation

Not everyone is a fan of green juice or smoothies.  I am!  My husband...not so much.  He prefers his greens in a salad (unless I can disguise them in a berry or banana smoothie)

I am really enjoying trying new recipes lately on my quest to fight inflammation.  If you do a bit of research, inflammation can cause disease and damages your body.  If you're looking for an anti-aging, healthier way to live...Fight inflammation!!!

Detox Energy Elixer

I love celery!!!

adapted from Healing Gourmet

Ingredients

2 medium organic cucumbers, peeled

4 slice(s) organic ginger (about 1/4" thick each)

1 whole organic lemon, juiced

1/2 cup(s) organic parsley

1 whole (2" diam) organic beet

8 stalk(s) organic celery 

Preparation
Add all ingredients to a juicer to express. 
Chill juice if desired, and serve. 

*I modified this recipe to make a smoothie*

I used 1/4 of the ingredients, added everything to the blender with 1-2 cups of cold water.  You can make it creamier with 1/2 cup organic yogurt.

Check out how I'm getting in Bikini Shape!

Protein Shake for Breakfast

Good morning!  Just dropping by to share what I had for breakfast.  You might cringe at the thought of adding lettuce or spinach to your shake.  Don't.  Because I used an entire banana and blueberries, I don't even taste the lettuce.

Breakfast Protein Shake

Ingredients
1 banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1 cup fat-free, organic vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 cup lettuce (or 1 cup spinach)
*Use a dark lettuce, not iceburg*
1 cup water
1 tablespoon flax seed, optional
1 scoop protein powder, optional
Ice

Directions:
Add all of the ingredients except for the ice in the blender.  Blend thoroughly (1-2 mins.)

Add Ice and blend.  Serve immediately!  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Theodore Roosevelt
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.

William Shakespeare
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.

I considered not even turning on my computer today but the I realized how many of my recipes are on my laptop.  Enjoy the Pumpkin Smoothie which I'll be making again this morning!

Deliciously Low-Fat Pumpkin Smoothie

adapted from healthful pursuits

Ingredients

1 cup milk 

(or non-dairy milk such as Soy or Almond milk)

1 cup pumpkin Puree

1/2 banana 

1 tablespoon flax seeds

1 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

pinch ground nutmeg

pinch ground cloves

pinch all spice

Ice

Whipped topping (optional)

Instructions:

Place everything but whipped topping in the blender.

Blend until smooth

Sprinkle with cinnamon if you’d like!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I've been Featured! Twice!

Good morning and welcome to my kitchen!  

Smoothies for everyone!

My recent post about Healthy Smoothies which includes a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Smoothies has been featured  over at

Adorned From Above

and True Aim

Stop by and check out their link-ups!  I bet you'll find more new recipes and projects than you'll know what to do with!

For more Smoothie Recipes:
Mango Smoothies includes Blueberry Mango, Mango Cardamon and Mango-Pineapple
Delicious Banana Smoothies include  Peanut Butter and Banana as well as Strawberry, Banana and Flax
SP Complete Shake part 1
SP Complete Shakes part 2
Summer Smoothie Series
Why Smoothies?

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up HERE.

Mango Smoothies

Mangos are in season here is South Florida.  I have a box full sitting on the floor in the kitchen just waiting to be frozen.  Below are a few of my favorite mango smoothie recipes from allrecipes.com.

Blueberry Mango Smoothie

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chia seeds (or flax seeds)

1 (6 ounce) container vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup mango juice

1/4 cup fresh blueberries

1/4 cup fresh mango chunks

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Grind chia (or flax) seeds in a food processor until pulverized; add yogurt, mango juice, blueberries, mango, and vanilla extract and blend until smooth. 

Mango Cardamon Smoothie

Ingredients

2 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted

1 cup plain yogurt (low-fat optional)

8 cubes ice

2/3 cup skim milk (fat-free optional)

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (or cinnamon if you prefer)

1 tablespoon Agave

Directions

Place mango, yogurt, ice, and milk into a blender. Sprinkle in cardamom and agave to taste. Puree until smooth, frothy, and creamy. 

Mango-Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1/2 banana, sliced

1 mango – peeled and seeded

1/2 cup nonfat milk

2 tablespoons cream of coconut or coconut milk

Directions

In a blender, blend the vanilla yogurt, pineapple juice, banana, mango, milk, and cream of coconut until smooth.

Delicious Banana Smoothies

Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function.

Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie

Ingredients

10 ounces skim milk or plain soy milk

1 tablespoon natural peanut butter

1 medium banana

Directions

In a blender, combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Use 6 ice cubes for a thicker consistency.

Strawberry, Banana and Flax Smoothie

Ingredients

1/2 medium banana

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries

1 1/2 cups skim milk or light soy milk

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

Directions

Blend all until smooth.

SP Complete Shakes! ( part 2 )

Add 1-2 cups of water or juice to each shake.  If you don't have SP Complete you may use another form of protein powder, soy milk or tofu.  I try to stay away from soy since it seems to be in just about everything.  AND  according to Seeds of Deception and Responsible Technology, 94% of Soy grown commercially is GMO!  Say NO to gmo!

Strawberry Twist

1 cup strawberries

1 cup freshly juiced carrots*

1 Tbs. flaxseed oil

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Triple Delight

½ cup fresh pineapple chunks

½ banana

½ cup frozen peaches

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Carrot Shake

1 cup freshly juiced carrots, with pulp

1 tsp. roasted sesame oil

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Dr. Agocs Special

1 banana or ¾ cup strawberries (or both)

40-50 grams freshly ground flaxseeds
(1.5 Tbs. pre-ground)

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

1 cup water

SP Complete Shakes! ( part 1 )

Add 1-2 cups of water or juice to Each Smoothie recipe!

Citrus Berry Splash

½ cup blackberries

¼ cup blueberries

½ cup strawberries

½ banana (optional)

The juice from 2 freshly squeezed oranges

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Banana Berry Blast

½ cup blueberries

½ cup strawberries

½ banana

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Flecks o' Flax

1 small or ½ large banana

A handful of sweet grapes

½ ripe pear or apple (cored & peeled)

1 cup water

2 heaping Tbs. of organic milled flaxseed (not oil)

Add 2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete and pulse blender 4-5 times for a smooth consistency

Triple Berry Banana Bliss

½ cup sliced ripe banana

1 cup organic berries (mixture of blueberries, raspberries, & huckleberries)

½ Tbs. flaxseed oil

2 rounded Tbs. of SP Complete

Ice cubes or cold water

Summer Smoothie Series

Thermos-Ready Smoothie

From EatingWell:  October/November 2005

Ingredients

1 cup frozen mixed berries

1/2 banana

1/2 cup apple juice

1/4 cup silken tofu

Preparation

Combine berries, banana, apple juice and tofu in a blender; blend until smooth

Nutrition

Per serving: 288 calories; 3 g fat ( 0 g sat , 0 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 62 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 6 g protein; 7 g fiber; 33 mg sodium; 539 mg potassium.

Why Smoothies?

I don't usually use fruit juices in my smoothies.  I might be considered hard-core...seriously! 

Hubby and I drink a protein shake or two a day.  Our shakes include SP Complete Rice Protein, Spinach or Celery, 1 Banana, 1 handful of Strawberries and sometimes 1 fresh mango...And 2 cups of water!

SP Complete is a product we offer in our wellness office for people who would like an alternative to the sugary, chemical-laden protein powders on the market.  SP Complete is also part of the 21- day Purification Program which we have complete several time with great results.

Standard Process (SP) is a whole-food supplement company, started in 1929 by Dr. Royal Lee.  "Dr. Royal Lee dedicated his life to finding solutions for all sorts of challenges, but his greatest passion was improving the nation's health by providing high-quality, whole food supplements and educating others about them. He devoted the majority of his life to spreading the truth about nutrition."

Why am I telling you all of this?  I believe in a healthy diet, regular exercise, whole-food nutrition supplements and occasionally falling off the wagon and eating Great-Grandma's 14 Karat Cake (or something like it).

Studies show that the "Average American" eats a steady diet full of fast food, processed and chemical-laden foods that are low in nutrients and high is refined sugar.  

It's summertime, which means I'll be posting lots of "healthy" recipes.  I try to keep the added sugars to a minimum and stay away from processed foods. 

Enjoy!

Raspberry-Avocado Smoothie

From EatingWell:  April/May 2006

2 servings

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 avocado, peeled and pitted

3/4 cup orange juice

3/4 cup raspberry juice

1/2 cup frozen raspberries, (not thawed)

Preparation

Puree avocado, orange juice, raspberry juice and raspberries in a blender until smooth.

Nutrition

Per serving: 249 calories; 14 g fat ( 2 g sat , 9 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 32 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 7 g fiber; 14 mg sodium; 625 mg potassium.