Present Tense...: October 2010

A few people have asked me how I make my daily green smoothie - so here is what I do: In the next section I will go into more detail about specific products.

In the blender I first put: 1 1/2 c. crushed ice, 1 cup water, 1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk (plain or vanilla), scant tsp. of vanilla, 2 tiny scoops of stevia powder, heaping Tablespoon of rice protein, heaping Tablespoon of raw cacao nibs, Tablespoon of coconut oil (or other), 1 tsp. vitamin c powder.

I add 2 big handfuls of spinach. I buy this at Costco ($3.99 a bag). You can also buy organic spinach at Costco.

This is what it looks like after it is blended for about 30 seconds. You do not need an expensive blender to make these. I've used all kinds. I've had this VitaMix for over 6 years - my daughter gave it to me. If I bought a high-end blender now I'd get the BlendTec - it fits better under you cabinets, and has a larger base blending point. The BlendTec doesn't have a plunger and I use the plunger on the VitaMix to help with the frozen stuff. So, it's about 6's.

These are ingredients you may not be familiar with. I use about a Tablespoon of coconut oil. It does give a slight cocobut taste to the blend - but I love coconut. I use this for skin care. It melts when the temperature is low. We use to use it for suntan oil on the beaches of Oahu. Who knew? There are many good oils that I switch around between. Udo's woman's blend is great or Barlene's oils. Barlenes' now make a mixture specifically for smoothies. Pricey, but a good idea.

I use 2 of these tiny scoops per batch. The stevia in the packets you can buy have this much stevia and the rest is filler. It also comes as a liquid but I've never tried it. Optional or use to your taste. The spinach is very sweet on its own and sometimes I'll leave this out and don't miss it.

I throw this in. One scant tsp. It doesn't affect the taste and during cold and flu season I figure it can't hurt.

Totally optional. I like it. Raw cacao nibs adds a nice richness to the mix. Heaping Tablespoon.

I add a heaping Tablespoon of this brown rice protein to help balance the sugars - it comes in a vanilla flavor that I usually get.

This is standard for what I add to the spinach mix. About 1 cup of frozen bananas and a heaping cup of berries (from Costco). The possibilities are endless for fruits or greens.

Blend for about one minute - I use the plunger here. If it is too thick to handle - add more water.

I think the color is what scares the kids off. More berries would make it more purple. Or maybe use cups that hide the color. Or, maybe your kids are really awesome!

This is how much one batch makes. I eat all this through the morning. Usually every day. I miss it if I don't. It's a great start to the day. It tastes like a milkshake to me - but my husband wouldn't agree. I make his sweeter and leave out the berries because of the crunchy little seeds on them. The tumblers are Aladdin brand. BPA free. I got these at Costco during the summer. 16 oz., double walled, dishwasher safe and reusable thicker straws. Handy in the car. Amazon had them when I checked 3 for $35.00.

This is a little tip that makes blending easier and you can make the green smoothie in your $19.99 blender. Let a bunch of bananas ripen up until they are beginning to get brown spots. They will be sweeter and contain more enzymes for digestion. Peel, and with my hands I chunk them into 1/2" bits. Freeze like this for about an hour (but if you forget and leave them in the freezer for a day or two, like I do, then - no harm - no foul. Put in a freezer bag and they'll stay loose and easy to use instead of clumping up.