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.

Green Cleanse - 9

I have FOUND IT..... I know, I like my green cleanse drinks. I am this freaky creature of habit. But I did something a bit different. THIS is the flavor I have wanted. I may never post another Green Cleanse drink. RIGHT.... until next week.

As we all know, I am a recipe junkie. I hope that someday, when I die, they will pass out my recipes... wait that is what the Internet is for.. I have read lately, that people are saying that Agave Nectar is just sugar. Well, it is and it is not. I am not even going to get into this debate. Crap, I used to use Splenda. I still like some Truvia once in a great while. I cannot bail out on the Agave. We are friends and I have a large bottle to use up first. Using Dates to sweeten and thicken shake and drinks have been part of my repertory for a while. So, I decided to give it a whirl. Why not. I liked everything I was adding to the drink anyway.

A lovely green color with a nice thick foam on top

YUMMY

Green Cleanse - 9 

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1/2 -1 fresh lime, juiced

1-2 cup fresh spinach

1 green apple, cored

4-5 dates

ICE - optional

Directions

Place all ingredients in the blender in the listed order, and blend until smooth 2-3 minutes.

I placed mine in the refrigerator overnight for a good chill, but you could drink immediately.

The Dates are the magical fruit that blow this drink out of the water

I always talk about "in the order listed", better for the blender

Looks fabulous on my table

I revamped my Easter centerpiece

I drank this for my late morning drink. 

Just what I needed. 

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. 

Green Almond Cleanse

Green Almond Cleanse... I went off the tried and true and outside my box. This recipe was just delicious. If I would have had raw almonds, it would have tasted better. You were suppose to soak your almonds overnight in water, used the water and pulverized the almonds. WELL, I was making this last night for today, and I am not at all that organized to make this into a two day drink. I can barely plan my days let along a two day drink. So, I punted and used Almond Milk. It is in the frig and need to be used.

This is a quick recipe, and without a doubt, it can be modified. GO for it people. Live a little

Look at that pretty green color. 

Rich, dark and intense

Green Almond Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1-2 cups spinach

4-5 dates, pitted

Directions

Add all ingredients into high powered blender, mix until totally smooth. Drink up

Simple ingredients that you would have on hand

Because of the dates, there is NO added sugar

Trying to work on my photo skills. 

I really just need to commit more time. 

Carrot Cake Smoothie

For my Husband's birthday in January, I made a fantastic Carrot Cake. It is his absolute favorite. Sadly, his cake tasted fantastic but was not photo worthy. It was supposed to be a goose, but looked like the Loch ness monster. Things are funny sometimes. Embrace the slight bombs and move on from there

When I came across this recipe, I thought ... a delicious dessert for a meal in a glass. PERFECT for us. It is a heavy drink. You cannot slam this one. But, a great source for a meal replacement. And it is not loaded in calories or fat. A great treat that is not bad for you. LOVE it.

I made this smoothie last night. So drinks fall together quickly, this one had prep. It actually gave it time to bring the flavors together. So instead of a bowl of cereal, I had a "drink" this morning. I felt full for hours.

It was not a bright orange color. Kind of blah, but it tasted amazing

Carrot Cake Smoothie

adapted from dishingupdirt.com

Ingredients

2 cups almond milk

1 tablespoon chia seed

2 frozen bananas, peeled

1 cup carrots, slightly cooked & chopped

5 dates, pitted

2 tablespoons almond butter

1 cup oatmeal, old fashioned

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 shake of nutmeg

1 fresh ginger, nail size

1 squirt agave nectar

Directions

Place almond milk and chia seeds in blender to soak. Let sit for at least 5 minutes.

Peel and chop carrots. Place in bowl of water and microwave for 3-5 minutes. Softened. Not overcooked.

Drain water and let carrots cool. Place in blender. Add the rest of the ingredients in the order listed and blend away. 

There are also OPTIONS to add or place on top. 

~~ raisins

~~ coconut

~~ walnuts

This also made two large drinks. Do not let the glasses mislead you. It could be 4 medium drinks.

This is a full list of items. There is some prep work for this smoothie

Let the Chia Seeds soak in the Almond Milk for 5-10 minutes

Microwave the carrots for 3-5 minutes. 

I did these for 4 minutes. Make sure your blender is capable.

Since this was done the night before, I did not let me carrots cool completely. 

I really feel this drink benefits with sitting overnight. The flavors meld together

If I was funner, I would have place a carrot in the glass. 

Working on my photography skills. It is what you think of later on.

Loaded with so much goodness, I could go on and on.

WELCOME to March. Do some yoga and try a new recipe. 

Hopefully the weather will get warmer where you are at.

Chocolate Fabulous Smoothie

I am still working on my green cleanse smoothies. My skin is breaking out, but I feel I am ridding myself of toxins. I have lost two pounds, but that is a combination of many  factors. But the biggest surprise is that I like them. They always taste fresh.

This smoothie was part of a treat at lunch. A clean healthy drink treat. Is there anything wrong with that??? My Husband thought it tasted fantastic. He has totally gotten past the weird colors. They are NO reflection on what the drink will taste like.

If you have never tasted Chia seeds, I recommend them. They are loaded with benefits to healthy eating. They also thicken this smoothie. If you do not want to use Protein powder, that would just fine. Greek yogurt has protein in it. Using the unsweetened chocolate powder, really sent this drink to a new level. That I would not skip. If you did not have strawberries, I would use raspberries. I always seem to have more strawberries on hand.

This was one of my favorite smoothies.

Funny shade of green - brown

Chocolate Fabulous Smoothie

designed by ME

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1 tablespoon Chia Seeds

1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

1 scoop Chocolate Protein powder

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

10-15 Strawberries, tops cut off

1 cup fresh Spinach

4-6 Dates, pitted

ICE 

There are a lot of ingredients, but this smoothie tasted AMAZING

Directions

Place Almond Milk in the blender. Add Chia Seeds to Milk. Let sit for 5 minutes. (AT Least) Place the remaining ingredients in the blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth. ADD Ice to make frozen.

This is a load of Strawberries. I wanted to finish my container.
It did give it a more intense flavor. Up to YOU on how many you add

A very full Vitamix. This smoothie made 3 drinks.
Perfect for my Husband the next day

There is Love in drinking healthy smoothies together
The Dates added a natural sweetness to this drink

I always love my bursting bubbles on top. 

This drink was thick, but not heavy.

It was perfect compliment to our salads.

Cranberry Oatmeal Smoothie

I got ALL of my fruit servings in ONE drink today. Four fruits in 1 drink. WOW. This smoothie was not a slammer, it was a long drink. It was a meal. I loved it. It was very filling but not heavy. DOES that make any sense???

In February, I am going to focus a bit more on more healthy and lower calorie smoothies. (Not that the Oreo smoothie was not amazing) As January has gone on, I have been shifting gears. I want to focus on cleanse and types of meal replacements. Cleaner eating.

I have also been working on different recipes. I am trying to regularly incorporate sweet potatoes into our diet. They are loaded with so many good things and NOT loaded in calories.(we are not putting butter on them) Just to keep this blog happy, I still have some new cookie and bar recipes. That whole deal has not gone out the window. Just like smoothies, there are tons of cookie recipes for me to sample....

Cranberry Oatmeal Smoothie
slightly adapted from somethewiser.com
Ingredients
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
1 frozen ripe banana
1 apple, cored and quartered
1/2 cup whole cranberries
4 tablespoons rolled oats
4-6 whole pitted dates
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
Place all ingredients in a Vitamix or high powered blender in the order listed. Start slowly and increase power until smooth.

I let this smoothie sit overnight, you can drink immediately if you want.

Simple ingredients. 

The dates last a long time and add huge flavor to smoothies

These cranberries were from Christmas. 

There were one or two that were ugly, but they have a long shelf life

This delicious monster was AMAZING.

Forget the Fast Food Calorie Laden Nightmares, make your own.

This drink is not fattening.

Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie

I had my first bomb. So not cool. I made a smoothie that well basically SUCKED. Almond Milk and Mandarin Oranges. blah... so I added Peach Yogurt. Still not better. Had I hit a road block in Smoothie Nation. Gone off the deep end of the Vitamix  abyss. NO, I rinsed out the appliance (according to the lady at Williams-Sonoma) and started a new one.

I had come across a recipe with all of my favorites. Really ... Mandarin oranges are good, peach yogurt not one of my favorites, WHY did I make it? Because I was trying to be different. This new recipes is really what I should have made to begin with.There is nothing wrong with going outside of the box, just do not compromise and provide lackluster results. Disappointment is inevitable. Trust me, there have been many bombs in my life. It all sounds good in my head.

Let me tell you about this recipe, I believe it is one of the BEST smoothies I have ever tasted. **I almost never say phrases like that.** Thick, creamy, flavorful and filling. And full of goodness. Dates, Nuts, Chia Seeds and Bananas. NO syrup today. All Healthy Goodness.  This is what Smoothie Nation is all about. TOTALLY recommend this recipe.

Two Tall Glasses of Deliciousness. 

Chocolate Pistachio Smoothie

Slightly changed by halfbakedharvest.com

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup almond milk. plus more to thin

2 tablespoons chia seeds

4 whole dates, pitted

1/3 cup roasted and shelled pistachios

3 frozen very ripe bananas

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together the milk and chia seeds. Let this sit for 10-15 minutes

If you have a Vitamix or high powered blender, add the milk and chia seed mixture, dates, pistachios, the frozen bananas, and cocoa powder in that order. Blend for 3-4 minutes. 

If you do not have a high powered blender, PLEASE blend the dates and pistachios first. They should become finely chopped and almost peanut butter like.  Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend for a couple of minutes. Scrap down the sides

If the shake is to think for you, add more milk. Drink away

Mixing together the milk and chia seeds. 

While I was shelling the Pistachios,

I wondered why I would not spend more for a bag of SHELLED Pistachios.

NO one was allowed to snag any, unless they helped.

This was a lot of work for the Vitamix. It ground everything up. 

There was no stirring here. The swizzle stick stayed right in the middle

My Husband proclaim these to be the Best Smoothies.

AND that is why I am posting 

Happy Drinking and let me know what you think