Ginger Get Well Smoothie

makes about 2 1/2 large glasses

1/2 to 1 inch ginger
3 green apples, seeds removed
1 1/2 -2 cups frozen red grapes ( I freeze my own)
1/8 cup cran concentrate
1 head red butter/boston? lettuce
1/2 cup filtered water
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/8 cup grape concentrate (I think I’ll reduce this to a tbsp at most next time)

Put all the ingredients blender except the grapes and strawberries (or alternately and probably preferably some of the apples).  Blend in a Vitamix or Blentec for the Vitamix you’ll need the tamper, I can’t personally say about the Blentec. After the initial ingredients have blended you’ll have room for the others.  I still had a little room to spare so I may try switching from cranberry concentrate to frozen cranberries to make a colder smoothie.  My fiance is currently sick and felt that this recipe really helped with his sore throat.  The smoothie is more red than green in color but isn’t particularly vibrant or smooth looking, the actual texture is of course very smooth and the taste has a lot of punch to it.

Note: for those new to the Vitamix please start on low and at 0.  After turning on quickly turn the dial from 0 to 10, then flip the other switch to high.  Always have the tamper or clear top piece ready to block any liquid from shooting upwards.  It is suggested that you do this this every time you turn on the blender even if it has only been off for a second.  If you forget this then you may end up with liquid on your ceiling, but it’s doubtful you’ll hurt the blender. 😉

Blueberry Banana “Bread” Smoothie

I wanted a muffin in a glass this morning.  Unfortunately I didn’t really measure anything so it’s going to be a rather vague or to taste time of recipe.

over a cup of frozen blueberries

1/3 a pint of fresh blueberries

a handful of fresh spinach (a large handful but I have small hands)

1/2 very ripe banana

roughly a tablespoon of flax seeds

about 4 walnuts

a capfull of vanilla extract

one squeeze of agave

enough filtered water to make this into a smoothie

Blend.  I think next time I’ll try making a walnut milk for it, and/or perhaps some cinnamon.

 

One Day at a Time

Starving and with none of my weekend fixings left for lunching I splurged today on two Amy’s Non-Dairy Burritos and a container of Casa Sanchez Salsa Roja.  Bad for two reasons:

1) The tortilla of the burrito and lack of accompanying veggies means I fell off my acne diet wagon (no processed foods allowed)

2) Everything was wrapped in plastic, and the burritos weren’t even in a reusable or recyclable kind.

Insult to injury if I’m going to cheat it could be a more extravagant cheat like goat cheese, bread and wine, or my beloved tamales.  Also a burrito is not only cheaper and tastier to make myself, but healthier and without plastic on every inch.  If I keep falling off my diet every week like I have been I’ll never get to see if all the things I’ve given up on (like a little convenience in my life) would have paid off.  I’m thinking to keep a food and acne outbreak journal.  Problem is all the tricks your mind can play on you.  Oh yay, and of course stress effects acne.

The sad thing is I have food, I even have recipes, it’s time and energy I lack.  So I’m just going to have to find some more easy staples.  Making a pot of soup on the weekend and having salads for lunch everyday isn’t doing it.  If I mix up the lettuce time and dressing it helps but not enough.  I get bored, run out of (huge batches) of soup too fast, and then I get hungry but don’t want anything I have.

I’d at least be having more smoothies if I could find Papayas anywhere.  That could be the good side though.  I finally found not one but two farmers markets within a reasonable drive from me that are year round.  I also found that there are some local grocery stores in Brisbane that I’ve been completely missing.  I plan on checking out a little of both this weekend.

Tropical Smoothie

I’m trying to have one green smoothie a day.  Although if I add black and blue berries I can have a purple one.  In any event my favorite creation to date is the following:

1/2 papaya no seeds (because I don’t know if they qualify as good for you seeds or bad for you ones)

1/2 mango

5 leaves red leaf lettuce

1 small handful of spinach

1 1/2 cups frozen peaches

1 light squeeze of agave or raw honey (optional)

small spash of orange juice

Turn on the Vitamix and mash into the blades, and blend for 2 minutes.  Drink.