Recipe #62... Apple-Cuke Cooler... Hot outside but cool as a cuke on the inside

Note: Finding the state of "cool as a cucumber" sounds pretty OK right now, as it is pushing 100 deg outside.  If you are feeling clammy on the outside... as we enter into the Dog Days of Summer and meet July 1st, 2012... try blenderizing some cooling fluid for your internal radiator...

Apple-Cuke Cooler
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings

1 c coconut water
2 handfuls loose spinach
2 tbsp loose parsley (fill your palm with leaves)
5 leaves of fresh mint
1 sweet apple
1/2 english cucumber
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

It's a little green, slightly foamy, but oh so refreshing... You'll be cool as a cuke in no time... Cheers to AC, ice cubes, and sprinklers... -A

Recipe #58... Fresh Detox Juice... Imported from Toronto

Note: I traveled to Toronto for work, and while experiencing a bout of Vitamix withdrawal, I stumbled across Fresh; a local Toronto juice bar.  Work travel often asks that we eat on the go, if at all, and that we make do with whatever provisions are conveniently on our path between meetings or events.   Fortunately my path was sprinkled with Fresh, an espresso bar, a yoga studio, and a few charming cafes and restaurants.  It was quite refreshing to find myself in a city where I didn't need to choke down Chicken McNuggets with a smile...
  

Fresh Detox Juice 
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 servings

1 c water or coconut water (lime would be good)
1 c frozen kale
1 c spinach
1 bunch parsley
3 stalks celery
1 apple
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Whether you are in your home country, home office, or kitchen table breakfast joint, you can summon a little Toronto Fresh piece of mind... Allow yourself to exhale...  -A

Recipe #53... Strawberry Vanilla Chai Smoothie... Greens in good form

Note: If you like Chai tea, you're in for a treat!  Vanilla Chai Amazing Meal has a serious dose of Yum-factor.  In my opinion, it's another success from the folks at Amazing Grass.  I think it's super mixed with a simple glass of milk, but I bought some bananas, and my honey-flavored greek yogurt was expiring soon, so here we go...

Strawberry Vanilla Chai Smoothie

Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 servings

1 c coconut water
1/2 c milk or almond milk
1 6 oz honey or plain greek yogurt 
1 packet of Vanilla Chai Amazing Meal 
1 banana
2 tbsp ground flax
1 c frozen strawberries
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

I'm pretty content to sip my smoothie at the moment... (crickets chirping... if you could hear a smile, there'd be that too) ... -A

Recipe #48... Proteins & Greens... A healthy marriage

Soldiers of health

Note:  Have powders, will blend... Without question I cobbled this together for a much too late, 8pm (how'd it get this late?) liquid dinner.  It was a Monday... I was suffering from Monday brain... and I wasn't as incredibly concerned about flavor as I was about avoiding a nachos-n-cheese 8pm dinner... To my delight the combination worked.  Now I am energized and unexpectedly typing this post.  I took a picture of the "pantry health brigade" because I drank the smoothie without documentation; having no intention of sharing my strange mixture... Surprises never cease... 

Proteins & Greens 
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 1 serving

1/2 c coconut water
1/4 c milk
1 tbsp shredded coconut
4 scoops protein powder (1 serving of tempt vanilla spice  )
1 scoop amazing grass original green superfood
2 c loose spinach 
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Maybe I was too tired to accurately evaluate the tastiness of my creation, but you could recreate the optimal conditions for drink-likability... Step #1:  Come home tired from work.  Step #2: Demand a little physical activity of yourself because the weather is too beautiful for sleeping til sundown on the couch.  Step #3: Realize it is now 7:30 and you forgot about the minor detail of your dinner... Follow this procedure at the front end of the recipe and you are guaranteed to love this healthy marriage of proteins and greens.  From my belly to yours... -A

Recipe #42... Apple Vanilla Spice Smoothie... Tempted by hemp

Note: You don't have to wander the globe in Birkenstocks or regularly lose yourself in lengthy jam band sets to reap the benefits of hemp... Though there certainly is a benefit to un-tethering your inner free spirit and rocking out to a little Phish from time to time... If you're not a fan of whey, soy, pea, rice, or other vegetable variation on protein powder, give hemp a go.  For this recipe I used the tempt brand vanilla spice mix.  As you'll happily discover, hemp seeds are an easily digestible form of protein and quite delicious and nutritious... 

Apple Vanilla Spice Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 servings

1/2 c coconut water
4 scoops (1 serving of Vanilla Spice Hemp Protein)
2 oranges, peeled
1 organic sweet apple
1/2 avocado
2 c frozen spinach or kale
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Even though it's hemp, I can't promise that this drink will slay your inner dragon and leave you feeling mellow and content, but I can tell you it will satisfy your munchies and give you a sweet send-off into your day's adventure.  Peace and Hemp Seeds... -A

Recipe #41... Pineapple Mint Detoxer... Rescue me from my weekend

Note: This past weekend I bestowed the gift of silk undies, danced with reckless abandon to rap music while being shuttled around in a pepto-pink short bus, and to cap it off, witnessed a frenzy of cheery chicas inhaling taco dip, chocolate cake, and pasta salad at the wee hour of 2:30 am... No, this is not my typical weekend plan of action... and yes, I was an active participant in a bachelorette celebration.  I probably don't need to elaborate on the necessity of detoxification.  For the future bride: This drink's for you... maybe share it with your other half... I hear he may need to administer some self-rescue as well... 

Pineapple Mint Detoxer
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings
*Reminder... I am not a nutritionist

1/2 c coconut water (I love Nirvana's flavor)
1 lemon, peeled to the pith
1 inch of lemon zest
1 organic green apple
2 c frozen spinach or kale
2-3 sprigs of fresh mint leaves (discard the stem)
1 tsp fresh ginger
1 1/2 c frozen pineapple
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Take the sweet with the sour... the smooth with the stubble...  It's not always easy but it's one big beautiful mess and there is never a wrong time for dancing with reckless abandon... pink short bus not required, though it may keep things interesting.  Hugs... -A

Recipe #37... Omega Please... Hydrating from the inside out

Note: Hard to believe but true: most fats don't make you fat...  In fact, the healthy ones do amazing things for your well-being... I should acknowledge that, on the right day, a warm, sticky cinnamon roll can also contribute positively to your mental well-being... But back to those healthy fats... --- Omega 3's: Protect your heart --- Omega 6's: Help you absorb more vitamins from food --- Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA): Help improve cholesterol... And of course, with the assistance of your blenderizing machine, you can easily add their riches into your diet...
  
Omega Please

Sticky reads: "Powerful Stuff"

Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes two healthy servings

1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 6 oz greek yogurt or scoop protein powder
1 juicy red pear, skin on
1 tbsp chia seeds - Omega 3's
1 tbsp roasted, unsalted almonds - Omega 6's
1/2 avocado - MUFAs
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 c kale (fresh)
1/2 c frozen mixed berries
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Hydrate from the inside out... your skin will glow like you've just returned from a well-deserved vacation, your lovely locks will have the resilience of Rapunzel's, and your nails will be as supple and strong as those shiny gel ones, without the time commitment... well maybe not, but you might feel that way...  Many happy returns...  -A

Recipe #36... Mint Chocolate Breakfast... Seems too good to be true

Note: Let me begin with a disclaimer.  I found the mint chocolate chip recipe on the GOOP blog... I followed the recipe from the greens powder to the fresh mint leaves... silent pause... that combo was a stretch in my opinion (and a one-sip wonder in Brett's).  So after a few days of mulling it over, I modified the ingredients a bit and came up with a recipe that I feel good about sharing with others.  If you don't have chocolate protein powder, you can cheat and use hot cocoa mix with greek yogurt instead... I wouldn't dream of revealing your secret.

Mint Chocolate Breakfast... dessert or anytime treat

Add the following to your mixer of choice...

Makes 2 servings

*Reminder... I am not a nutritionist

3/4 c coconut water

1/2 c vanilla or chocolate almond milk

1 packet chocolate protein powder (I used Tera's Whey)

2 cups loose spinach (you won't detect it!)

1/2 avocado (for creamy texture)

1/4 tsp peppermint extract

1 1/2 c Ice (big cubes usually 6-8) 

I do have to share Dr. Lipman's feelings about the addition of avocado in his concoctions... "My secret for extra creamy smoothies? Avocado! One of my favorite foods with benefits. They have healthy fats, more magnesium and less sugar than bananas, so they make a great base ingredient for many breakfast smoothie recipes."... Amen brother!  -A

Recipe #35... Matcha Green Tea Smoothie... Slide aside Starbucks

Note: If you enjoy the Starbucks green tea latte, read on.  I bought a matcha green tea powder mix from... you guessed it - Amazon.com - my ultimate go-to, supply-everything site.  According to Matcha Source, 1 glass of matcha is equivalent to 10 glasses of green tea in terms of antioxidant content and nutritional value.  Straight-up matcha powder is very bitter so many of the powders you can buy will have added sugar (like the Starbucks mix - there is a reason it's pretty yummy)... Brands like "Gotcha Matcha" don't have sugar or preservatives added.  If you buy a sweetened mix, no worries... skip the honey and be sure your milk choice is also sugar-free.

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings

3/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
1 6 oz container plain greek yogurt
4 tsp matcha green tea powder
1 apple
1 giant handful of spinach (2 cups loose leaves)
1 tbsp chia seeds
3/4 c frozen grapes
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

You could totally make this with pineapple or mango for a tropical green tea smoothie.  You could even sneak in kale, avocado, or other green food friends.  OR for a dessert treat you can feel slightly better about, blend the matcha powder with vanilla ice cream and milk.  It's a delicious way to round out your next carry-in sushi dinner... -A

Recipe #31... Amazing Grass Breakfast... No need to deny your addiction to this grass

Note:  Eating something named "Amazing Grass" sounds a lot more devious than it really is.  In fact, I have it on a regular basis and enjoy it so much that I feel compelled to hand it out to my friends, neighbors, and even to their children (gasp!)... no, I am not a closet pot dealer... My product of choice - packets of green superfood... Disclaimer: I am not a rep for, associated with, or paid by the Amazing Grass organization... though if they'd like to pay me I wouldn't be averse to that... dream on, I know... Anyway... The mixes are fantastic by themselves - dissolved in milk or some variation thereof .. i.e. almond, rice, soy milk.  For those who are a little intimidated by the powdery drink... I'll offer this smoothie version... baby steps...

Amazing Grass Breakfast
Serves 2
Blenderize the following...

1/2 c coconut water or almond milk
1 packet Amazing Meal (I used Pom-Mango Fusion)
1 apple, quartered
1/2 avocado (for healthy fats)
1 c frozen pineapple
1 c ice (5 or 6 big cubes)

I shared this with Katie and Jules... Both were a little skeptical of the smell... one can detect a hint of "green"... however, the drink itself proved to be a hit!  The proof is in the pudding (that would be the lip-licking, smoothie in our case)... -A

Recipe #29... Giada's Green Juice Jolt... who doesn't want the energy of a chef goddess?

Note:  She cooks for millions of viewers, she travels (and this typically involves a passport), she appears on the Today Show, she creates cookware and sauces for Target and yes... she fixes dinner for her familia and manages to squeeze in yoga with the amazing Kathryn Budig... so who wouldn't want a little slice of Giada De Laurentiis vim and vigor...  Here's a drink that Giada blenderizes each morning to get her own juice... 

Giada's Green Juice Jolt
Serves 2

1 c baby spinach leaves, rinsed
2 medium carrots, scrubbed
2 apples, halved and cored
2 sticks celery (I was out, so I omitted this in mine)
1/2 large lemon (skin on)
1 piece of ginger, peeled (1-inch)... ZING!
Ice

The reaction... Confession: I was initially a little worried with all the lemon and ginger going on here... but why would I ever doubt the author of three cookbooks that I possess and consult regularly?  Give it a try... maybe it's the secret to having a super-successful cooking empire and a husband who designs clothing for Anthropologie... Bonus for her wardrobe! -A

Recipe #20... The Green Granny... Pucker your lips...

Note: Once upon a time, there lived a child, who would never dream of passing on candy or taking a dare.  So when the three crossed paths; the dare, the child, and the candy, a new appreciation for moderation was born.  The candy - sour warheads... the dare - hold the candy in your mouth for as long as possible without crunching it or spitting it out... the child - determined to win and therefore teary-eyed and seeking the aid of something sweet... 

The Green Granny
Add the following to your mixer of choice...

Makes two healthy servings
**I am not a nutritionist, and I guesstimate portions.

1/2 c Coconut water or Unsweetened Green Tea (Iced)
1/2 c Plain greek yogurt 
1 c Seedless watermelon
1 tbsp Chia seeds
1 Giant handful of spinach
1 Kiwi (Peeled... say no thank you to fuzz)
1 Granny Smith apple (skin on)
3/4 c Frozen strawberries
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

The watermelon and strawberries are included for balance and moderation... leave them out if you dare...and have a sip of something that will satisfy your inner sour-seeking, double-dog-daring child... -A

Recipe #16... Springtime SOS... Allergies, the bloomin' price we pay for Spring...

Note: Springtime = Twittering birds, plants bursting with seed, and frolicking bunnies who distribute pastel eggs in woven baskets, brimming with plastic grass... Nature, in all her glory, experienced between nose blows and viewed through itchy, watery eyes.  If you google "natural seasonal allergy remedies" you'll find a list of compounds with hard to pronounce names like quercetin... luckily they are found in foods whose names we learned when we're in diapers... apple... 

Springtime SOS 
Add the following to your mixer of choice...

Makes two healthy servings
**I am not a nutritionist, and I guesstimate portions.

1/2 c Plain or Coconut Water (Magnesium, pleaseum)
1/2 c Plain Greek Yogurt (Protein for balance)
1/2 tbsp Honey (Raw, local variety)
1 tbsp Chia seeds (The Omega 3's)
1 Seedless, Whole Orange (Source of quercetin)
2 Carrots (Carotenoids - easy to remember)
1 Giant's handful of Spinach (More carotenoids)
1 Apple (More quercetin)
1/2 tsp Fresh ginger (Tasty)
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6)

So give this "remedy" a whirl... I think the choice is easy, given that it doesn't involve streaming warm saltwater into your orifices... though I hear that works too!  -A

Recipe #13... Julia's Smoothie... Lucky #13

Note: If Miss Julia, my best friend and neighbor's daughter, only knew as she sipped and smiled, that she was drinking in kale, spinach, and chia seeds, or coconut water (Not her mama's favorite) she may not have asked for seconds!  That's the beauty of the vitamix!

Julia's Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes four-ish
**I am not a nutritionist, and I guesstimate portions.

1/2 c Plain or Coconut Water + some extra to help it blend later
1 c Plain Greek Yogurt (Optional)
1/2 A Giant's handful of Spinach
1/2 A Giant's handful of Kale
1 Apple (A Bitey one like Braeburn)
1/2 Banana, Frozen1 1/2 c Frozen, Unsweetened Blueberries
1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6)

Pour into a cute cup with a straw, and prepare to delight!  Your heart may just melt!  
-A