smooth like a Smoothie
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of smoothies. I have at least one a day and every time it’s a new combination. They all follow a “formula” which is a base, the add-ins, supplements and the liquid. When choosing add-ins, it’s all about seasonality, buying different fruits and vegetables in season is a win win. Saving money and getting to enjoy them at its peak. Also depending on the fruit or vegetable or root, they can add extra boosts. When I am feeling a bit under the weather and I need an immunity boost, my go to add-ins are fresh turmeric root and kumquats. When it comes to supplements, my big three are chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds. They contain a ton of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. As for the liquid, I am a fan of using cold filtered water so I can really taste all the delicious blend of fruits and veggies. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
tropical summer smoothie
Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1 20-ounce smoothie or 2 10-ounce smoothies
Ingredients:
3 large stalks of kale, cleaned and chopped, about 2 cups
1/2 medium dragonfruit, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
1/2 medium ripe mango, peeled and diced, about 3/4 cup
3/4 cup fresh diced pineapple
1/2 cup fresh raspberries, rinsed
1/2 cup fresh blueberries, rinsed
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
2 cups cold filtered water
Instructions:
Add the kale, dragonfruit, mango, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries hemp seeds and water* into the carafe of the blender. Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
chasing winter blues smoothie
Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1 20-ounce smoothie or 2 10-ounce smoothies
Ingredients:
3 cups of cleaned spinach leaves with tender stems
2 stalks of celery, cleaned and chopped, about 2 cups
1 medium gala apple, washed and quartered
1 cup rinsed whole kumquats or 1 medium orange, peeled and quartered
1 1-inch piece of ginger, washed
1 tablespoon flax seeds
2 teaspoons chia seeds
1 1/2 cups cold filtered water
Instructions:
Add the spinach, celery, apple, kumquats or orange, ginger, flax seeds, chia seeds and water* into the carafe of the blender. Blend until smooth and serve immediately.
Special equipment:
Power blender such as a VitaMix, Breville or Ninja
Cook’s Note
It is important to drink immediately so you get as much of the nutrients as possible. If you can’t enjoy it immediately, try to drink within a 12 hour period. Transfer to an air tight container or bottle and pop in the fridge until then.
*If you prefer a looser consistency smoothie, please feel free to add more water.
Tip: Want a taste of fresh berries at their peak in the cold winter season? Wash berries and drain in a colander. Transfer to a baking sheet in a single layer. Place in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Transfer frozen berries to a ziploc bag or container and add to smoothies whenever you want a little extra boost of antioxidants. Why do it this way? This will prevent the berries from sticking to each other and maintain their cute little shape. Otherwise, it will be a big frozen brick.