Green Orange Cleanse

I know, I know, I know.... I was super busy at Memorial day weekend, and last weekend I was all about no side jobs of any kind. I SO thoroughly enjoyed my weekend. A perfect weekend for hanging with friends and sun and fun. There was no baking at all.... and no writing. This week, I have been suffering from a horrible toothache. An old root canal and crown, got terribly infected. I went to the dentist, three prescriptions later and a referral to an Endodists, (expensive) and some soup and ice cream to solve my other problems, I am feeling better. The infection is draining (gross) and my gum is very sore. My teeth are becoming a huge hassle. I clean them better than anything and yet these problems continue on. Probably going to have to change dentists. SIGH>>>>>>>>

Ok, enough complaining. I do not want to read about it. So, since I am not eating salads this week, I have no lettuce in the house. SO, what to do. I tried just green apple, ginger, lime and avocado. Very good, thick and fun. But, as I stood in my refrigerator with the produce drawer open, I had a thought. ADD some carrots. I love carrots, (hard on my teeth currently) they are sweet and have a natural juice. Maybe I can save my eyes. Doubtful. Oh my goodness. Just delicious. I was wondering why I had not added them sooner. Have we heard that phrase before. Hmmmmmmmm

This drink does have one of those colors, that looks murky.

Green  -- orange -- kind of yellow. 

All I will say.... It was delicious

Green Orange Cleanse

made by ME

Ingredients

1 cup of water

1 green apple, cored

1 lime, juiced

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted remove

2 dates, pits removed

1 piece of fresh ginger

Directions

Add all ingredients in the order listed above into the blender. Blend until very smooth. If you are drinking immediately, add some ice. 

Nothing crazy on the ingredients. 

I store the ginger in a zip lock bag in the frig, 

it stays good for a very long time

Just all rough chops. 

I cut the ends off the carrots. 

For me, it has been hard to find Medjool Dates. 

They taste really good. If you cannot find them, buy regular dates. 

The sweetness amps up this drink like you would not believe

I totally dig the avocado in this drink. Added a creamy layer, 

and just the right amount of thickness. 

I really like this drink. The carrots are fun.

AND fun is what summer is all about. 

Let me know what you think.

Tropical Green Smoothie

Happy Friday kids. It is a cold rainy day here. Some places nearby had snow flakes. It does not even feel close to May. Maybe March. It was SO nice last weekend and now it is UGLY. Under the comforter in bed kind of day. But, unfortunately, I have work to do and sides jobs to also work at. One of these days, I swear, I will have a nothing weekend. Nothing to do..... but then, I will find house jobs to do.... I am so lame. A shopping excursion or a beach day....

In the spirit of tropical drinks, I came up with this drink. I was scoping out the frig, looking for something different, and stuff that needed to be eaten. Went through my recipes and come up with a concept. My usual green drinks are light and cleansing. This drink is still a water base drink, (less calories) but it is thick. Fills you up without loading on the calories. Except for the 1/2 of Avocado, which really is not bad, this is a great drink to indulge in. Indulging in healthy drinks, REALLY, it is not like I am eating ice cream. Drink this every day if you want.

Pale green. Can you see how thick and delicious this drink is. 

OK, it is just delicious and yummy.

Tropical Green Smoothie

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup cold water

1/4 cup coconut 

1 frozen banana

4 dates, pitted

1/2 avocado, pitted

1 mango, pitted or 1/2-1 cup frozen 

1 squirt agave nectar

Ice if drinking immediately

Directions

Add water and coconut to your high power blender. Blend until smooth. (OR you can use coconut water) Add remaining ingredients in the order listed and blend for 2-3 minutes. Since my drink was going in the refrigerator overnight, I did not add ice. I would recommend if drinking immediately. 

If you wanted even more of a tropical feel, you could also add some fresh lime. 

This would give this drink a nice spin. None on hand, so maybe next time

Looks just like an avocado. 

Everything was so good in this drink. 

It took me a while to drink this drink. Slightly heavy, but not overwhelming.

SO, according to my phone, it is 40 degrees outside.

This drink is the closest thing to the tropics that I am getting.

I am going to buy some limes for more tropical drinks.

AND Hope for warmer weather. 

Spring Green Cleanse

Holy cow thunder and lightening. From 1:00 am on last night, we have been up. Windy and Rainy like you cannot believe. If you ever wondered about Chicagoland weather, just live here for awhile. HIGHLY unpredictable and forever changing. As I made this delicious beverage, I watch it just pour outside. There is no running for me today. I would be hanging out in the basement with Shaun T doing some type of Insanity workout. Over the winter, I have not lost any weight, (depressing) but I have lost inches. My jeans still fit. I can actually do several big girl push-ups, (NO Knees) and jumps. My feet will leave the ground. I am grateful to have ran 4 days this week. That is the most since last November. WOW. Yoga is still a large part of my fitness routine. I have spread myself out to three different Yoga studios. Different teachers, techniques, and philosophy's. I keeps me from getting bored and betters my mind.

So why am I selling this drink as a Spring Green Cleanse. Well, it is green and it SO reminds me of Spring. Winter has lasted somewhere close to forever here this year. Usually with a green cleanse, I only use water, but today, I went with Almond Milk. I also used plain non fat Greek Yogurt in this recipe. I am going outside the Box with this recipe. So unsure, but it TASTE Delicious. A bit of Orange Sherbet, but way healthier. This recipe is a keeper, and this is why I am sharing it with you.

Green creamy goodness

Spring Green Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Almond Milk

6 ounces of Greek Yogurt, plain

1 cup of Spinach

1 Green Apple, cored and chopped

1 Tangelo or Mineola, peeled and quartered

1 piece Fresh Ginger, size of fingernail

1/2 Avocado, peeled

Juice of 1 lemon

1-2 cup of Ice (optional)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Drink up or place in the refrigerator and drink tomorrow. 

Very basic ingredients. 

The Almond Milk was not present for the picture

Rough chop and peels. 

This was a very simple healthy drink to throw together

The Vitamix was pretty full. 

I always mix everything first and then throw in the ice.

 This drink had a nice creamy texture. 

I think I will try to skip the Almond Milk next time and just use water

With both an Avocado and Yogurt, and all of the fruit, this drink is just delicious

I like my Lime Mint Drink, but this may be my new favorite.

Chocolate Almond Smoothie

This is for my Husband. He is my taste tester. Yet allowed to comment, is not allowed to be critical. HUGE fine line. He usually crosses over, but most of the time he is right. He likes Green Cleanse, but wants more to his drink. He is a meat kind of guy. He is NOT on board with meatless Mondays. Good Lord.... I am working on it. He will eat his coucous and quinoa, but not meatless.

This smoothie is just about him, with a whole lot of Shayla involved. Not high in calories or fat and loaded with nutrients and proteins. It has a simple chocolate taste, with just the right flavors. This is pretty much my Husband. Not to fancy, but everything needs to look good together. I am his complicated fancy.

This was my glass. I had to make sure it was Perfect.

Chocolate Almond Smoothie

adapted by ME 

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1/2 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder

1 frozen banana, peeled

1/2 Avocado

1/3 - 1/2 raw almonds

ICE

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed above. Blend until smooth. Drink up

I used Chocolate Protein Powder. Vanilla would have worked,

but since I have both. Why Not.

Frozen bananas and Raw Almonds

This reminded me of a Chocolate Milkshake.

Look at the swirls in the glass. 

Tasted Yummy also.

Husband Approved

Key Lime Smoothie

Green, Green, Green. I am getting closer to that All Important Green Cleanse Smoothie. I really hope I am not disappointed. The hype is almost just killing me..... I really want to get to water based smoothies. Getting closer. I came across this recipe yesterday and just had to try it. There were some slight modifications to this recipe, but really it all boils down to doing and eating what you like.

***** NOTE: Corrections, my niece Grace likes Chocolate Mint more than Gina. *****
I am correct in saying today, that my niece Gina does like LIMES. Grace may also, but I know that Gina will not suffer from Scurvy any time soon.

As with a large population in the United States, we have had record snow falls and VERY cold weather this winter. I want HOT weather again. I want to feel the sun baking me. Today it is -3. It is SO crazy.

I am back on Weight Watchers. I need to lose about 10 pounds. It is so hard to maintain your weight. Six years ago, I lost 28 lbs. Some of the weight has found me and started clinging to my body. All my clothes are getting tight, and I am NOT buying larger pants. NO Way. So hard core focus. Trying to be cleaner and healthier. And it takes forever to lose. That is the crappy part. This drink was a Weight Watchers points plus of 3. Not bad at all.

We are eating Sweet Potatoes this year. NO butter or sour cream on these puppies. Just baking them in the oven and placing some sort of topping on them. I will start to post pictures soon. They are not pretty photos, but they are delicious and very good for you. Last night on my sweet potato, I went with a Mexican theme. Cooked some beef, onions, black beans, cilantro, limes and salsa. Placed over the meat over the potato and then some cheese. Just a dinner. But we skipped the shells and chips. Healthier. 

This smoothie was perfect with dinner. Filling, but light. And the lime just bursted throughout the drink. Left a clean taste in your mouth. Perfect for a cold winter evening.

Key Lime Smoothie
adapted from cookeatpaleo.com
Ingredients
1 cup Almond Milk
1/2 - 3/4 avocado
zest and juice of 2 limes
1 or 2 squirt Agave Nectar or honey
1 cup of ice

Directions
Add all ingredients in this order to your Vitamix or blender. Blend until smooth.

 Just a few ingredients. Quick and Easy

My Avocado needed to be eaten. Starting to get the uglies

My Microplane is new and sharp. Try not to go to far.

I was thinking I would not use the Agave. Tried a pretaste, it needed a small amount of sweetener

This is totally up to you. 

Thick and Smooth. Just a burst of Flavor

My Husband was surprised with the flavor. Bursting.

I told him we are not about boring foods with boring flavors. 

Healthy Mint Chocolate Smoothie

So, last week I rambled on about going green and getting Healthier. Well this smoothie is green and mostly healthy. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I was feigning for something BAD. At least it was not Margaritas and Pizza.  This was not bad and it tasted delicious. I was still out of my normal box for Smoothie Nation.

My Niece Gina does not like bananas or bananas in her smoothie. She may change her mind when she taste this one. This drink has a slightly thick, but it is not heavy to drink. The Avocado and Banana gave this drink a smooth consistency.  The Mint made it taste fresh and not some crappy Fast Food shake. Totally solved my sweet craving without filling me up with bad calories and no nutrition.

These are my cats. They are usually not on the counter top, but I was looking for a good shot.

It would have been nice if they wanted to participate and play along with me. 

Kitty treats solved my problem. Just like children, a little bribery once in awhile 

will get you the results you want.

(Black Cherry and Smokey)

Healthy Mint Chocolate Smoothie

adapted slightly from nourishandinspireme.com

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk

1/4 of avocado, skin removed

1 frozen banana

3 drops peppermint extract

1 tablespoon cashew butter or soaked cashews

1 handful fresh mint leaves

1/2 scoop of Chocolate Protein powder

Ice

Directions

Add all ingredients into a blended in the order listed. Blend away until smooth.

NOTE: A COUPLE SQUIRTS of CHOCOLATE SYRUP MAY ADD SOME FLAVOR

All ingredients are easy to find.
The fresh mint was in the Produce area near the Parsley and Cilantro
The Cashew Butter did come from the Health Store. But the last time I used it was
for my Cashew Butter Cookies featured on 7/17/13. Still delicious.
Everything else, I did have on hand

Black Cherry was giving it the look.
I do not think he like the straw

Kitty city, always curious. It is so much fun having a kitten in the house.
Smokey does make a nice prop.
(DISCLAIMER: My Husband did not like the cats on the counter around the food)