RECIPE: Ultimate Green Smoothie

Ultimate. Green. Smoothie. Three powerful words make up an equally powerful nutritious drink! The ingredients are simple. The process is simple. The results are AMAZING!! Granted, this drink won't win any awards for it's beauty, but it tastes FAR better than it looks AND it's very healthy!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Coconut Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt (I prefer ZOI)
1 ripe Banana
2 small Carrots (cleaned and cut into chunks)
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
3 - 4 cups organic Spinach
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices
1 teaspoon grated unsweetened Coconut
8 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

 Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Carrot Spice Smoothie

Yes, I am branching out and making smoothies with different vegetables ... This time I tried a carrot. Guess what? We both LOVED it! I have seen a few recipes with carrots, so I did my own experimenting and this is what I came up with ...
CARROT SPICE SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond milk (I'm sure Coconut milk would be great, too!)
1/2 cup ZOI unsweetened vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 large Carrot
1 Banana
1 teaspoon Agave
1 tablespoon unsweetened grated coconut
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices (or some combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and/or cloves will do!)
6 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and peel a large carrot then cut it into chunks.
2. Put ingredients in a blender. 
3. Blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: White Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie

Who doesn't love white chocolate macadamia nut cookies? Who doesn't love smoothies?? I experimented today ...
WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Banana
2 tablespoons White Chocolate Chips
2 tablespoons Macadamia Nuts
6 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. This may take a while if the macadamia nuts are whole. 

For best results, chop them first. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Mixed Fruit Smoothie

With lots of beautiful fruit around I can't help but make more smoothies. It's a great way to get a nutritional, energy packed meal!

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 Banana

5 Strawberries

1/3 cup frozen Mango chunks

1/3 cup frozen Peach slices

1/3 cup frozen Blueberries

2 - 4 Ice Cubes

 Place all ingredient in a blender.

 Blend until smooth and creamy.

 Pour into a cup.

 Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Mango Smoothie ... With Avocado and Spinach!

Conrad isn't completely sold on the idea of "drinking vegetables" mixed with fruit, so I took yesterday's recipe and added avocado and spinach and drank it myself. It was awesome! Smooth, rich, creamy, nutritious ... green ... what more could one ask for!


STRAWBERRY MANGO SMOOTHIE WITH AVOCADO AND SPINACH

INGREDIENTS
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup ZOI vanilla Greek Yogurt
6-8 fresh Strawberries (I used fresh)
1/2 cup chunks of Mango (I used frozen)
1/4 Avocado
2 cups fresh Spinach
1 teaspoon Agave
6 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Mango Smoothie

Even though "Smoothie Month" is officially over I am still making and loving drinking them. With Spring and Summer just around the corner, I am going to be trying even more varieties. I will post my findings as I progress.


STRAWBERRY MANGO SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup ZOI vanilla Greek Yogurt
6-8 fresh Strawberries (I used fresh)
1/2 cup chunks of Mango (I used frozen)
1 teaspoon Agave
6 ice cubes

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie

One thing I must say ... When I have a smoothie packed with fresh fruits and spinach I usually do not feel the slightest bit hungry until late in the afternoon. That is one of the most important things I have discovered while doing "Smoothie Month" and I wanted to share. I start thinking about preparing dinner and I feel like I've had a surprising amount of fruits and vegetables already during the day. That's a very good feeling!
I thought I'd end the month (Happy Leap Day, everyone!!) with one of my favorite smoothies. I will continue to explore and post smoothies, so don't anyone get upset. :)
STRAWBERRY BANANA SPINACH SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 banana
6 fresh Strawberries
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
1 teaspoon organic Agave
6 - 8 Walnut halves
6 Ice Cubes
2 - 4 cups fresh Baby Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2.  Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Peach Banana Smoothie

Conrad's 16 year old son was here this weekend. He spent the entire weekend studying for his Physics final. I felt sorry for the kid and asked him if he wanted a smoothie mid-afternoon. I thought it might give him an added boost of brain power. Whether it worked or not, he loved it.
STRAWBERRY PEACH BANANA SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 banana
6 Strawberries
1/2 frozen Peach
6 ice cubes

 DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Pumpkin Coconut and ... Spinach Smoothie?

I have to admit I was skeptical about adding such things as spinach or avocado to smoothies. After all, I think of fruit, yogurt, milk, and ice as the main components of smoothies. Man, was I wrong! There are literally millions of options and combinations of ingredients for making smoothies! Here's one that sure to blow your mind, but trust me ... It's delicious!!
PUMPKIN COCONUT SPINACH SMOOTHIE

It's GREEN!!!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt (I just discovered ZOI brand, and I LOVE it!)
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened Coconut
6 Ice Cubes
1 teaspoon Agave (not pictured)
2 - 4 cups organic Baby Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender - adding spinach last. The amount of spinach used will vary on how tightly you add it. 
2. Blend until smooth and creamy. (Yes, it will turn BRIGHT GREEN!!)

 3. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!