Yummm

So I'm discovering that basically anything is delicious with any sort of nut milk incorporated into it. I REALLY like hemp milk, but I don't often find it at a very affordable price. So....go nuts with your nut milk and throw a bunch of good stuff into your blenders and see what you can create!

Here's what I came up with

Apple
Banana
Grapes
Cucumber
Kale
Spinach
Hazelnut Milk

Autumnkin Shake

Feeling a little autumn-y, so I decided to whip up this bad boy. Give it a try and let me know what you think?

2 heaping spoonfuls of real Pumpkin (not pie mix)
1 Fuji Apple skin on
Handful of Red Grapes
2 Handfuls Spinach
1/2 Frozen Banana
Nutmeg to taste
Cinnamon to taste
Ice
Hazelnut milk

Delicioso!

Seriously way too good to (not?) share.
2 tsp Chia
Hemp milk or other
6 Grapes
1 Carrot peeled
5 Cherries pitted
1/2 Frozen Banana
2 Kale leaves
Spring mix

Blend

Happy Fourth of July!

What a deliciously, thick and creamy, dreamy way to wake up on this beautiful Fourth of July!

Here's to you!

Hemp milk
2 tsp Chia
6 Grapes
1 Carrot
1 Peach - no pit
3 chunks frozen Pineapple
1/2 frozen Banana
2-3 Kale leaves
Spring mix packed to top!
Ice if not using fruit that is frozen

Detox May

Detox May

1 Carrot Peeled

1 Gala Apple Peeled

1 Celery Stalk

4 Mint Leaves

2 Kale Leaves

2 Handfuls of Spinach

Handful Fro Pineapple

Handful Parsley

Ice

It's that time again. I've learned the hard way (by eating out yesterday), that I need to be gluten and dairy free. So here I am, beginning Detox May! I'm aiming for at least one über-green smoothie/juice per day and healthy meals with no dairy, no gluten, and, of course no meat!

I know that the most difficult part will ultimately be the cravings, while also attempting to maintain a high enough blood pressure due to the POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Peer pressure has all ready shown to be somewhat difficult. I get feelings of guilt when someone offers "delicious food that I must try". They can't seem to understand that I'm not just being picky, or fussy, or rude, I am simply trying to heal myself by eating what I can tolerate, and avoiding what I makes me ill. UGH!

Life is all about choices. Every choice that we make, either consciously, or subconsciously, or even unconsciously, impacts our lives in numerous ways. That's the beauty of life. These choices, all of them, are up to you to choose what to do. Whether small or large, (putting an apple in my mouth, or eating pizza; climbing a mountain, or going skydiving) we can choose to do what we feel is right for  us. Sometimes when we're overwhelmed or stressed, it seems we tend to shift toward the extremes, which can possibly lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Other times, we can choose to do nothing at all, which is often worse than doing something. YEAH CHOICES! 

 My choices are my own, and I shouldn't have to justify them to anyone else or feel guilty of hurting feelings by saying "No, thank you." Right?

Poop-y Juice

Looks like poop, not poop

Kale
Spinach
Parsley
Golden Beet peeled
Carrot
Blueberry
Chia seeds
Cucumber
Honeydew
Coconut oil
Mint
Raspberry
Ice

Not the most delicious. But fairly nutritious. I'm not a huge fan of raspberries. I think it's the seeds that get me. =\ But I know how good they are for you, and I also know a bunch of berryholics!

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! 

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!

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.)

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!

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.

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 ÷)