NommyDew

• Cucumber
• Celery
• Apple
• Spinach
• Pineapple
• Gorydew* ----> This is why I "draft" then edit, then pub. My phone thinks "Gorydew" is a delicious word.
• Ice

*(Note: Honeydew may be used in place of Gorydew.)

Anyone, anyone?

Bueller?...Bueller?...Bueller?...

I didn't think so. ;)

This space really is all mine to do with it as I please.

dreswsertdykfulgihlknbvcfdrtet6ryu7ikjnbhggvftr]yi8oup;lkmnjbhmjfxdzcvbhjkl;poiuytfgcvbnm,kl;poiuytrdsxcvbnmkloiu8y7tfghjkl;

That is all.

Something Green

I think I've realized my posts are missing something right here.

2 Carrots

6 Black Seedless Grapes

6 Cherries

1/4 Cucumber

2 handfuls of Spinach

4 Pineapple Chunks (freshly frozen)

Ice

There's something interesting about this drink. I close my eyes and can pick out each individual flavour. Perhaps my taste-buds are just in overdrive this "morning". ;) Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

Minor set-backs or fuel to my flame?

I can't keep focusing on how bad these past few weeks have been. I must realize how much progress I've made in the past few months in the grand scheme of things. It's all about the big picture, here. I may be feeling miserable right now, but it's obvious my body is getting stronger and healthier little by little. I just need to learn to pace myself, something I've struggled with my whole life as a

n over-achiever. I don't know everything, but finding doctors who are - at the very least, competent and willing to learn - is a priority! So far my track record isn't very good. 2 and 30? I am positive that I will overcome these speed-bumps in my road to recovery. Because I would like to be able to live my life one day too! =) (Instead of just one or two days a week.) I have goals and I'm not giving up.

One of my Favorites.

1 Gala Apple

2-3 Inches of Cucumber

3 Carrots

A Shiz-Load of Spinach

2 tsb Chia

7 Red Seedless Grapes (frozen at the peak of perfection.)

6-8 Ice Cubes

I will admit, this looks disgusting, but
it tastes pretty damn delicious. =)

This one might cure me.

There is not one overpowering flavor in it. That doesn't usually happen. The chia adds a great, almost nutty flavor that complements the grapes quite well. The apple and cucumber blends with the carrots producing an exquisite taste that masks the nearly half pound of spinach I shoved in here. =D

I'm getting full so fast and I have only drank half (10oz) of it! More for later! WOOT!

Just Peachy

1 Peach (Pitted, Skin removed)
5 Cherries (Pitted)
5 Mint Leaves
2 Inch Slice of Cucumber (Peeled)
A Bunch of Spinach
Ice
Blend on Variable 1-10 Then high until desired consistency. Enjoy in your favorite glass!

Carrot Juice with a twist

Since I didn't want to 'drink' my chutney, I needed to make something else. Pretty much the only other thing I had in my fridge is a big ol' bag o' carrots! I began peeling away. It's quite therapeutic peeling five carrots. I thought about which would work better, a vegetable peeler or a razor - both, on my legs, and on a carrot. (No, I did not test my hypothesis.)


I recently bought a set of two peelers, one regular, one serrated. I am still quite fascinated with how well the serrated one works on beets! (It was a very cheap set too, maybe only three USD!) Well worth it to have two extra peelers available. (I peel almost as much as I use cutting boards.)

4-5 Carrots Peeled
Handful Parsley
4 Mint Leaves
6 Ice Cubes
Variable 1-10 then high, until juice
Serve over ice.

Anyway, here it is: Carrot Juice with a twist.

I'm taking mine out to the pool to do a few exercises. Hopefully it's not too hot out! =)

Apple Mint Chutney

I dug through my fridge this morning-ish looking for something to make for breakfast. Of course my mind jumped to, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Next, I grabbed the spinach, mint, and parsley- aiming for a fresher approach. Noticing that I didn't have many veggies in stock, and not knowing what would go well with the above ingredients, I said "Oh, hey, let's just see how this turns out."

Realizing it wasn't enough to make a juice, (it was already smelling devine after a few seconds on variable 1) I instantly knew what I was creating!

Lo and behold: Apple Mint Chutney!

1 Gala Apple peeled & cored
1 Handful of Parsley
4 mint Leaves
1 Handful of Spinach
2-3 Ice Cubes

Blend on Variable 1-5 until desired consistency.

*Chutneys are a type of condiment used all over the world. They can be made from vegetables, fruits, spices, peppers, oils, yogurt or herbs and sometimes nuts. =) Chutneys can be used on sandwiches, as a dip for fruits and veggies, or as a dressing on chicken, fish, meat or salads.

There is lit'rally no end to the possibilities in chutney land!

Have you tried my Apple Mint Chutney? What is your favorite chutney? Sound-off below. =)

Faux Kiwi Boost

1 Gala Apple

2 Tsp Chia

1 Golden Beet

7 Grapes

7 Strawberries

3 Handfuls Spinach

Ice

Believe it or not, this is the first time I've shared one of my beverages with someone else. My mom got to be my guinea pig! Of course, I went into it having no clue whether it would be good or not, but like always I knew I would drink it because it's all good for me! Since this turned out to be one of my more fruity drinks; if she liked it, I figured it would give her the confidence to try some more of my creations! ;) It turned out to be really yummy!

Some of her comments:
"It tastes like kiwi!"
"I don't taste the spinach at all." (The only reason she knew there was spinach in it was because she saw it on the counter, and she knows I'm a spinach fanatic.)
"Thanks for asking me to share that." "You're quite good at mixing flavors."
"I feel energized by it!" (As she flexes her muscles.)

Hehe, so I guess it worked out quite well! ;) Would your mom drink this?

DelishRefresh

Could you use a refresher?

Handful of Concord Grapes
1 Gala Apple Peeled/Cored
1/4-1/2 Cucumber
4-6 Ice Cubes
Blend Variable 1-10 then High until smooth.

It is 116 degrees outside and I needed something super refreshing. My roommate/mom accidentally bought concord grapes today thinking they were really plump looking blueberries. An honest mistake, because just the other week I pointed them out to her and said, wow look how cheap these blueberries are, and they look delicious!" (I'm new to the whole blueberry thing.) She even corrected me and informed me that they were indeed grapes. Hehe

So here I was with a fridge of miscellaneous ingredients as usual, and no real direction in mind. I grabbed the "wannabe blueberries", a gala apple, and a cucumber and tossed them in my VM with a few ice cubes. Et voila!

Kale Beast!

2 Tsp Chia

1 Beet

6 Cherries

3 Kale Leaves

1 Plum

1/4 Cucumber

Water

4 Ice Cubes

Blend on Variable 1-10, Then High until Desired consistency.

This is not one of my favorites. It's a little bitter. I think I put too much kale for my liking. Of course, I'm drinking it anyway!

Two of my friends actually asked me recently if I'd ever made anything gross. As in, if any of my creations had turned out horribly wrong. Immediately, I said no. And followed up with this explanation:

When I am juicing or making smoothies I typically go to my fridge and dig out the first things that I come across, prepare them, and throw them into my VM. I aim for more vegetables than fruit, and overpowering, taste-masking fruits. If it turns out good, then great! If not, then I won't lie about it, but I will drink it happily- knowing that it is indeed good for me and can learn what to do to improve for next time!

Do you dare to try this Kale Beast and submit any suggestions on what could improve it? =)

Carrot Juice +

4 Carrots Peeled

Handful of Parsley

1/4 -1/2 Cucumber Peeled

5 Chunks Honeydew

1tsp Lemon Juice (Optional)

1 Cup Water 

4 Ice cubes (I like my juice cold!)

Variable 1-10 then High until juice

Serve over ice =)

I didn't even get to sit down to enjoy this one!

2 Tbsp chia

1 Apple Peeled/Cored

1 Beet Peeled

1/4 Cucumber

1 Handful Parsley

3 Cantaloupe chunks

3 Honeydew chunks

Spinach

Ice

3 Oz water

This was sooooo good, I couldn't even snap a pic before gulping the whole thing down! =)

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

There's WHAT hiding in there?!

Caption not worthy of what's inside.

1 Golden Beet, 1 Apple (Gala), 5 Cherries,
1 Handful Parsley, 2 Kale Leaves, 5 Honeydew Balls
4 Ice Cubes 4oz Water

I am at a loss of words to describe how tasty this is!!! I feel like my photos do no justice. You'll just have to take my word and give it a try, make it yourself! 

This was my first time dealing with Golden Beets and boy, they sure are beautiful! Though, I did miss the "bloody-hand" experience I usually have with regular beets. ;) As much as I love the all-consuming deep red, it's nice to sneak some beets into a green drink! =D

PS: A drink doesn't have to be green to be Green. ;)

PPS: How have I lived this long prior to owning/using a melon baller?! If you don't have one, please, please, please, do yourself and your hands a favor and go to the nearest dollar store and buy one! They're so much fun!!! (I love snacking on frozen honeydew and cantaloupe, and balls are so much easier then chunks.)

I've got a lovely bunch of... Key Limes and Coconuts?

I cracked my first coconut!!! Surprisingly, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Perhaps I just got lucky.

Wanna know my secret? When I went to grab my lovely coconut, it slipped out of my clumsy hands and dropped onto the tile-over-concrete-floor. Et voila! One cracked coconut! ;) Granted, it did take a bit of prying and some more pounding on the floor to get just the right crack to where I could drain the delicious water/milk? into a cup. MMmmm.

I found this nifty bag of key limes at the store and snatched them up. I had to do something with them. So, I put the lime in the coconut. Right? =D

Here's what I threw in my Vitamix::

•Juice of about 6-8 key limes (can use regular, probably 2 regular limes.)
•Fresh coconut water
•Fresh coconut meat - as much as I could safely scrape/cut out without cracking my beautiful coconut any further* (yet.) ;)
•Sugar in the raw or your choice of sweetener
•3-5 sliced frozen strawberries
•Ice

Variable 1-10 then High until you hear the motor change and you should see 4 lumps form in the bottom of the VM container.

If you accidently over-blend, it will make a delicious smoothie. Or just add more ice to blend/freeze it up.

Here comes the fun part, serve in your expertly cracked coconut! =) Enjoy!


*When I finished, I rinsed out my coconut and wraped it in a dish towel and set it on my concrete-tile-floor and smashed it with a hammer several times to break it into small pieces then proceded to filet my meat! Beware, this is a long, tedious process and you *will* cut your finger off if you rush it. Also, please be careful not to smash your floor. I cannot be held responsible for any damage done. =S I'm just sharing my experiences.

I'd love to hear any of your coconut cracking experiences and/or other possibly safer techniques! =)

Finally a delicious beet!

To be honest, I'm starting to think it's the Greek Yogurt that really gives the extra richness! (Who am I kidding? Well duh, I know it is.) Anyway, if you're not aiming for a dairy free diet, then Greek yogurt is an amazing way to get your calcium and probiotics. It's so thick, and creamy, and just delicious. You can even use it for cooking, in casseroles where you would normally use creams, cheeses, sour cream, or mayo =X etc. 

For now, enjoy this sanguine and oh-so-decadent drink!

1/4 c. Greek Yo, 1/4 cucumber, 1 beet
1 Gala Apple, 1 Large Carrot, 5 Red Grapes
Ice
Variable 1-10 then High until smoothie

Nuttylicious

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt, 1/3 cup almonds,
1 Gala Apple, Spinach, Ice

Variable 1-10 then High until smoothie

I thought to myself, "What the heck, why not?" So, I tossed some almonds in my VM and some yogurt an apple and of course some spinach. Here we have this delicious nutty treat.

Afternoon Delight.

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
3 Handfuls Spinach
1/2 Cucumber
5 Pineapple Chunks (Fresh-frozen)*
5 Cherries (Fresh-frozen)*
Ice

Blend Variable 1-10 then High until desired consistency

Serve in your favorite mug or glass. Enjoy this beautiful day in this precious moment, as it is all we are guaranteed.


*I say Fresh-frozen because I use all fresh fruit, then freeze it. You may use whatever is available to you!

Ciabattahhmazing!!

I don't know what's in a ciabatta but at this moment, I don't care. I'm in control of my life and every now and then a delicious hunk of bread isn't going to kill me. So, tonight I decided (after slicing in half and heating both sides) to top it with some of my favorites: roasted red pepper hummus, cucumbers, one whole avocado diced, sea salt and lime! If I'd had spinach I would have snuck some in there. I was fairly hungry after a long afternoon at the pool!

Ooh yeah, Happy Independence Day! =) I hope you all got to enjoy the day with family and friends! Ours was pretty relaxing yet, kind of lonely, no fireworks were seen. Having just moved 3,000 miles away from everyone we know, we are just getting settled in our cozy nook. I spent the evening (after devouring this masterpiece) lying in my room finishing the eleventh book of the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. I am well-past (kind of) my teenage years, but still enjoy the occasional teen-drama books. This series is much more than that. I highly recommend them to anyone. Obviously, since I've read twelve of them now! (There's a Christmas special add-in called Pretty Little Secrets, too!) I've also read her series The Lying Game. They are just as good, maybe better? I love her writing style. She makes me think, without hurting my head. Ha. ;) I have this issue with books, though; when I get into a good book, I tend to stay up until the wee hours of the morning reading. =\ I'm a bit of an insomniac.

Thoughts, comments, questions, concerns? =P Any favorite books you would recommend?

Super fresh!!

1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt, 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, 1 Handful Parsley,
1 Peach, 3 Pineapple Chunks, 1 Mustard Green, 3 Handfuls Spinach,
Ice
Variable 1-10 High til Juice
Serve over Ice

Enjoy on this hot beautiful day!

Faux Berry Smoothie

2 tsp White Chia Seeds, 1 Beet, 1 Carrot 1 Celery
1 Handful Fresh Parsley, 5 Chunks Canteloupe
6 Ice Cubes 1/4 cup water
Variable 1-10 Then High Til Juice
Serve Over Ice! =)

This beautiful deep red drink looks like a sugary triple berry drink, but is indeed chock full of goodness! So you can feel like one of the "cool" kids while actually being one of the cooler kids. ;)

*I say smoothie, but of course since I got my Vitamix I have been juicing like CRAZY! Any of my recipes can be made into smoothies by blending for less time and adding more ice.

Cheers!

Good Morning Super Boost!

1 Beet, 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, 1 Carrot, 5 Cherries,
3 Strawberries, 3-4 handfuls Spinach, Ice
Variable 1-10 Then High Until Juice
Serve Over Ice! 

2-Recipes-In-1! Mmm A Real Treat!

Don't let the cup fool you. It's my cold tumbler.

• 1/2 Kale Leaf
• 2 Carrots Peeled 
• 2 Chunks candied sweet potato (*from dinner last night YUMMM!) 
• 3 Cherries 
• 2 tsp Chia Seeds
• Ice

Variable 1-10 High Juice!
Over ice

Candied Sweet Potato
*Peel sweet potato, 1-2 inch cubes, boil then when "forkable" strain, and transfer to foil lined pan with a little coconut oil and brown sugar, and broil, turning every couple minutes. YUMMMM! (If you have leftovers that is.)

11:00 AM Revelation. =O

I woke up salivating to the delicious aroma of Banana bread that of course, I cannot eat. (Allergic to many ingredients, most severely EGGS).

So I made the right decision and whipped up this bad boy. I threw in some extra fruit for an enjoyable treat. I think my taste-buds deserve a break from the earthy flavors for a bit. I must admit I have not been faithfully "juicing" every meal. Nor have I given up meat or dairy completely yet. It is in my future though. I strongly believe it will be a huge contributing factor to how I feel in the long run. A full detox is what MY body needs.

1/2 Kale, 1/2 Pear, 5 Cherries, 2 Pineapple Chunks
1/2 Cucumber, Ice
Variable 1-10 Then High til Juice!
Serve over Ice 

I am however making even smarter choices and leaving off the condiments (moreso than medically necessary in the past). Past dietary restrictions have made me give up so many things. I have changed my diet drastically years ago by cutting out sweets, soda, anything containing HFCS (high fructose corn syrup),  anything low calorie, (My known food allergies include: Most all, especially whole and popped Eggs, Corn, Soy, and Wheat in moderation.) I cannot tolerate anything artificial, or artificial sweeteners. I strongly believe they are poison.

I have many strong feelings about many topics. If we were meant to eat artificial products, we might as well chew on some plastic and call it a day, eh? No, we were meant to eat from the earth. And that's what I'm aiming to train my body to do. To live like our ancestors did. What the heck did cavemen eat? Nuts and berries, of course! Not packaged ho-hos and chips and frozen dinners. What the heck is a french fry?! (A grease-covered-unhealthy-piece-of.......?)

Let us nourish our bodies, because our bodies want us to succeed. My body is fighting itself, because it loves me so much it wants to cure itself. ....at least that's what I like to think. Autoimmune diseases are silly; I have a love/hate relationship with my body. ;) I'm beginning to love it, because I'm beginning to understand what it needs to function properly!

Before I put something in my mouth, I say to myself, "Is this going to heal me, or is this going to hurt me?"

Let me leave you with this food for thought:
Could you be suffering from some sort of food allergy or intolerance that you may be unaware of? It's quite possible. Is there some aspect of your life that you'd like to improve? I have strong belief that it can be drastically improved by changing your diet.

Feel free to comment below =)

Fact: Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

1 Beet, 1/2 inch Lemon Slice, Parsely, 1/2 Kale Leaf
1 Celery Stalk, Cilantro, 1-2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, Ice

Refreshingly healthy, and boldly beautiful.

It's true. I do love NY. Also, why wouldn't bears eat beets. ;) & I love The Office. I've been hiding out from the desert heat having an Office marathon for the past two months in the spare time. (Probably the time I should be blogging.) We reach temps of up to 120+ in the summer here. I've been doing pretty good at staying hydrated and keeping active as well as dousing myself with SPF 3000. ;) Most of my exercise happens in the pool, as I have temperature regulation issues relating to my POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). So, obviously doing much of any strenuous exercising in the hot, hot, heat will inevitably result in a slew of symptoms. I have been getting out a bit and trying to explore and do some walking and of course snapping photos of everything in sight, while also trying to meet some people around town, but it's just too hot right now. I'm sure once it cools down a bit things will be a bit easier. =) 

Cheerio!

Beets: Take Two: Yummm!!!

1/2 kale leaf, 1 beet, 1 apple, 

2 broccoli flor, 5 red grapes, 6 ice

Variable 1-10 Then High until 

Liquified Super Juice!

Serve over ice

Finally. Well, I can't exactly say finally since it's only my second attempt at beets but I did it! This one is slightly earthy with a tad of sweetness in the aftertaste. But, hot *durnt*, I did it! Mmmm. =) I actually don't have to choke it down like the first one.

A quick tip I will share is to blend it longer than usual juices since beets are a root vegetable and are quite hard. "It'll slide down your gullet more easily."

Broccoli & Kale Juice

This one is right off the vm website. I can't take credit for it. =^" It was pretty tasty, but I do prefer to experiment and see what pretty colors I can produce.

2 broccoli florettes
1/2 kale leaf
1/2 (20 g) celery stalk
2 (100 g) small carrots
1/4 (34 g) apple
1/4 cup (60 mL) cold water
1/2 cup (120 mL) ice cubes

Blend on Variable 1-10 then High until juice!

GuAcAMOLE!

As you probably figured out by now, I'm in love with avocados. Get used to it. ;) 

If you haven't read my previous post on them, feel free to meander on over there.

Since my cross-country move to Sunny CA, I've been eating avocados like a mad-woman! They are delicious and nutritious!

Don't get me wrong, I was an avocado fiend in the past, but somehow they just taste better here. In fact, everything seems to taste better here. Perhaps because they're straight from the source? 

Anyone care to comment from experience? 

A Lovey Dessert!

Strawberries (frozen)
Greek Yogurt
Lime
Sweetener of your choice (optional)
Ice

Tastes like a margarita-daiquiri! So refreshing on a hot desert day!

This one made me feel weird.

Perhaps because I drank it late at night, but also becuase it had quite a few radishes and beets in it. I have very low blood pressure to begin with, and apparently they are known to lower your blood pressure and within a short amount of time. =\ On the flippity-flop, they are also very good for you in other ways. so in the future I must supplement my diet with a mucho amount of salt and stay hydrated to keep my blood pressure in the "normal"-healthy range. =)

Here we go at Juicing!

Kale, Pear, Grape, Pineapple, a few icecubes

Not so bad! =)

I got my Vitamix!

Who needs a glass when you have a 64oz
container and a really long straw?

Check out the pulpy goodness of this delicious carrot juice!

I don't think you can fully understand how long I've been waiting for this moment. Ever since that first moment I tried a healthy smoothie in my Aunt's Vitamix maybe 8 years ago, I knew I needed one in my life! I have been saving my pennies and finally invested in my very own Vitamix 5200! I am in love. I've already made fresh vegetable and fruit juice, chutney, salsa, smoothies, cheese dip (I know, bad!) and sorbet, to die for....all within the first 36 hours of owning this badboy!


Might I add, objects in real life are much larger than they appear online! My shipping weight was 16 pounds! I was shocked, and quite pleased with the quality of the product. I am sure it will outlive the 7 year warranty! =) Although using it several times a day might put some wear-and-tear on it. ;)

Apple, Celery, Carrot, Spinach, Greek Yogurt,
Strawberry, Grapes, Chia Seeds

Keep a look-out for a ton of wild and wacky recipes in the near future!

Naan Extravaganza!

Wow! A lot has happened since my last post.

Physically and mentally, I am in the best place possible to kickstart my plan, Operation: Road to Recovery! I *finally* have the supplies necessary to do this. VITAMIX!  Get ready for juice/smoothie action coming up in the next post! =D

I've created a new LIFESTYLE for myself consisting of healthy eating habits, exercise/fitness activities, and good sleep hygiene. WOOT! Let's do this!
<== Here are a few naans I made the =other week...semi-healthy, but not quite the drastic change that I need to cleanse my body of the toxins.

This is not just ANY naan! ^Chicken Tikka with Cilantro-Mint Chutney!^ This delectable authentic Indian naan came especially from my lovely friend in India! I was so excited to finally make it from scratch! (Except for the naan, and I didn't grow the chicken) ;) It was AMAZING! I ate it 3 days in a row!

Also, I LOVE HUMMUS. I can't wait to experiment and make my own!


*Note, some of the blogstamps are delayed because of merging blogs and moving.

Spinach, Guac, & Cucumber Boats!

It all started this morning with three of my favorite foods.

I began making my favorite guacamole as I usually do.. Then decided I was lacking some spinach in my diet the past couple of days. I pulled out my tub-o-spinach (yes, the plastic containers really do keep it fresher longer! But with how quickly I go thru spinach, it really doesn't matter. I just buy whatever is cheapest and freshest.) I thought about making a salad and tossing in my guac.. Eh, been there, done that. I pulled out a cuke and started playing. ..with my food!

You will need:

• Baby Spinach Leaves a bag or tub depending on quantity desired
• My Favorite Guacamole (see recipe here)
• Cucumber washed, sliced, halved

The picture is pretty self-explanatory.

1. Take some baby spinach leaves
2. Fork a dab of My Favorite Guacamole on the leaf.
3. Add cucumber half.
4. Top with more guac if desired. (;
5. Arrange on plate or platter if serving a group.
6. Sprinkle with sea salt & lime (optional).
7. Enjoy!!! (÷

Et voila! Here you have my Spinach, Guac, & Cucumber Boats! (Be warned they may not float...but your poop probably will!)

My favorite Guacamole!!!

Super simple recipe. See below for that! (; First, I'd like to talk a bit about how much I love avocados.
If I could marry an avocado, I would. And I would eat him everyday. But of course I'd save his seed to plant and regrow another. ...hmm, I'd better start ahead of time, I think they take a while to sprout.
Avocados aren't just delicious, they're good for you too! Avocados! Yadda yadda...
Avocados make great beauty products too..face masks etc.

Recipe:

• 1 Avocado
• 1/2 Lime
• Sea Salt to taste

1. Mash avocado as much as preferable to your palate. 
2. Squeeze as much lime and salt as you'd like. 
3. Enjoy with chips, or fresh veggies, or the experienced avocado connoisseur will enjoy this delicacy with a fork! (=

UPDATE!: I have actually started an avocado sprout! I will be posting photos as he continues the growth process. =D

Since guacamole is one of my specialties, I might make a video in the future!

Updated Update:: (7/28/12) My seed has not sprouted. It cracked open, but nothing came out. hehe =( Also, I really have no soil or sunny area where I could plant it at this point in time. I will try again in the future.

Here's a pic of a lovely smoothie I made the other day!

Yumm

hehe ;)

My Super Delicious Secret Recipe ;)

Yesterday morning I made a smoothie, as I do most mornings, and froze half of it for today's breakfast. My smoothies consist mostly of a large amount of fresh spinach. I know what you're thinking..."Gross! No way in hell am I eating/drinking that!!" ...but wait! There's more! Won't you give one of my Super Delicious Secret Smoothies a try?!

Here's what you'll need:

• A highspeed blender with one of those stick thingys that helps the blending process along. (I recommend a Vitamix, I'll tell you all about them later! For now, I'm using a regular smoothie machine which gets the job done...fairly well...but, I can tell the motor is dying on me. It's not meant for breaking down fruits and veggies like the VM is.)
• A HUGE bunch of fresh spinach (I mean, I really pack the whole blender up with leafy green goodness!) Three times as much as this image shows. I just wanted to show the prettiness of all the ingredients ;)
• Maybe a half cup of organic greek yogurt (Chobani is good but a bit pricey) I've recently switched to Dannon Oikos, which is just as delicious and equally Greek!
• A few frozen strawberries from the garden
• 4 or 5 dark sweet cherries (fresh or frozen)
• 4-6 small red seedless grapes (can be frozen-btw frozen grapes make a great snack!)

Add a small amount of your choice of milk or coconut water and blend on high speed (with lid on!) use stick thingy until, smooth.

Be amazed at the beautiful color you're about to see! ;) *(hint it should be bright green..if it is poopy brown, your "strawberry, cherry, grape::spinach" ratio might be off. It will still taste DELICIOUS. You can add more SPINACH next time! ;) I promise, you won't taste the spinach!!!! But the color will be prettier.

Pour into your favorite glass or mug. ========>>>
Enjoy!...share, if you must. ÷)

-A few variations I have made, include adding:

• Milled flax seed and an apple for fiber ..OR
• Oats, peanutbutter, and honey (yummy!! Even with the spinach) OR
• Can add frozen peaches, mango, pineapple, or another exotic fruit!

**Best prepared with a highspeed blender i.e. A Vitamix or else you might notice a few small un-chopped bits of skin. I just add a couple ice cubes after everything is completely liquefied and then blend some more. It makes it colder and more unnoticable until I can get my Vitamix!!!

*Did you know - you can put a whole apple into a Vitamix machine and it will just eat it up! ..core, seeds and all! ÷) This enables us to get the vital nutrients we would normally throw away when eating an apple, or even by chewing our food. That's just one example. You should look it up! Be forewarned they're not cheap. Which is why I don't have mine yet! The day I get one will be a birthday to myself, and Christmas! I'm excited just thinking about it!! Ha!
*DO NOT TRY TO PUT A WHOLE APPLE IN ANY OTHER BLENDER/SMOOTHIE MACHINE!!!

By the way I do not work for Vitamix in ANY way. lol I have just been an admirer for about 7-8 years and have finally got serious about changing my life and health one step at a time! ÷)

For a simple, yet delicious recipe, I did not expect this post to be so long! Ha...and really, no one is going to read it. Wunderbar! Arrivederci ÷)

Intro:

Here I am, in the "prime" of my life, on an adventure and sooo ready to get healthy! I've created this blog to chronicle my efforts, thoughts, accomplishments, failures (if I admit to them), and possibly pictures if I'm brave enough in the future.

I'm going into this with the MINDSET that no one is reading, and hopefully I can keep up that way. Be forewarned, I may not censor, and sometimes I may seem downright mean. ;) Hey, it's who I am and I'm SICK of holding it in any longer! Truthfully, I'm the kindest, most caring and sympathetic person you'd ever know..but oftentimes have a difficult time showing what's really going on inside.

Thus, the blog is born!

I've been pretty bad at keeping up with previous blogs in the past, but I really want to make a strong effort to do this! Let's see what happens, shall we?