St. Patrick's Day Green Smoothie

This was so yummy! :) Maybe my fave green smoothie to date!
At Whole Foods on Sunday, I bought a little packet of this stuff. I had tried it in there one day, didn't want to pay a TON for it, so then I saw this little packet - that's my style. Added good nutrients to my already good for me smoothie.
Also in the smoothie was 1/4 cup of this yummy stuff! More nutrients and added good smooth texture! Got it at Whole Foods too!
Also normal stuff: 1 1/2 cup frozen strawberries (from Huber's last year), 1/2 red pear, 16 oz water, 1/2 banana, 1 1/2 big handfulls of spinach.

This was so good. I drank half and will drink the other half for breakfast this morning. I anticipate being full until my lunch at Cheesecake Factory!

Yoplait Giveaway

Smoothies are everywhere! Lyon in the Kitchen had one on his show the other day. Green Smoothies are all the health rage. Smoothie King is raking in the dough! So, wanna make your own at home?

Yoplait and My Blog Spark are giving you the chance for a "Free" smoothie. You get a coupon for a Yoplait Smoothie (found in freezer dessert section) and a single serve blender - I LOVED THIS this morning. Will definitely keep it.

You could either drink the whole thing, or actually have two servings. The one I chose, the Strawberry Mango Pineapple was a little sweet - but those are naturally sweet fruits too.

So, all you have to do is leave me a comment - what is your favorite smoothie? It can be homemade, green, take out, restaurant, whatever...

Let me know!

Day 5 Green Smoothie and Recap

Ok - here is my last smoothie for the week of smoothies:

1/4 apple
1/2 banana
1/2 cara cara orange
1 1/2 tsp ground flax
1 1/3 cup water
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup kale
3/4 cup frozen strawberries

Mix all.
Very good - not too sweet.

I like the low-cal, heavy fiber, portability of green smoothies.
I like the quickness of them in the morning.
I like all the veggies and fruits you are getting first thing in the morning.
I would like more protein in mine - I usually pair it with pb on a thin or something. PB in the morning is so good.
Now, for the week of oats.

Day of Green Smoothie - 4

This one was so quick this morning - and yummy and healthy - because I woke up late. Already drank half of it before leaving the house (with oats in a jar/ 1/2 banana) and sipping on the other half in my SBTS insulated tumbler.

1/4 red apple
1/2 naval orange
1/2 banana
2 small pieces mango
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup spinach
2 stalks kale
1 1/2 cup water

You know what to do. Blend away! Enjoy!
150, .5, 7 fiber = 2 points, and a ton of veggies!

Day 3 of Green (Blue) Smoothies

This morning my smoothie ended up being blue - blueberries are potent! Mine was thick and sweet. The blender seemed extra loud to me this morning, so I didn't mix it as much. Still so good - and I cranked it all into a calculator - 145c, .5 f, 6 fiber! I also had a pb thin which was good and so I'll be full for a good bit!

1/4 red delicious apple
1/2 banana
1/2 naval orange (I used the juice of it last night for some scones, recipe coming later)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/2 cup spinach
2 small stalks kale
1 1/4 cup water

Mix all. Enjoy.

Since I forgot the ground flax seed - I sprinkled some on my pb thin this morning - added a little texture!
Happy Breakfasting no matter what color your smoothies!

Day 2 of Green Smoothies

I am trying Green smoothies for 5 days in a row this week. So far, yesterday, I was fuller all day (which basically means I needed less to fill me up once I got hungry again - if that makes any sense at all).
Here was my smoothie this morning
1/4 red delicious apple
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 small banana
2 small branches kale
1 1/2 cups spinach
2 tsp ground flax
1 1/2 cups water

Not as sweet as yesterdays, but good - and healthy for me.

My first green smoothie

Actually, it is just my first time making it in my own kitchen. I had one back in November from my friend Rachael in Wake Forest, then I made one for my Dad over Thanksgiving. But, I used my brand new red black and decker blender I got at Kohls after Thanksgiving for 27$. Much cheaper than a VitaMixer for right now.

My friend Becca was coming over. This thing is so healthy and good for you and filling and low in points (if doing weight watchers). I've also listed the health benefits of what I threw in:

1/2 large red delicious apple:

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html

1 cara cara orange from tree in parents yard:

http://www.paramountcitrus.com/fresh_citrus/cara_cara_oranges

1 small banana:

http://thetaoofgoodhealth.com/6-awesome-health-benefits-of-bananas-9/

3/4 cup frozen strawberries (picked from Huber's this summer and frozen):

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=32#healthbenefits

1/8 cup cut mango:

http://www.freshmangoes.com/aboutmangos/index.html#b

2.5 stalks of kale:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

3 cups fresh baby spinach:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

1/2 cup water:

http://www.health-benefit-of-water.com/

1 T ground flax seed:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81

I blended the water and apple first, then did it all in that order till it was ready to go! My blender worked fabulously!

Homemade Cocoa Vanilla Frappacino

My sister in law and I basically had the kitchen to ourselves this morning as we cooked away for the noon Christmas meal. And on top of that, I am trying to get more into coffee. It is growing on me. And one of these girlie drinks are definitely more affordable at home than even at my favorite place, Caribou.

We used a Christmas present that I received at the office, my brother's French Press, and Mom's magic bullet.

This recipe makes one, so we doubled it.

½ c. milk (we used 2%)
1/3 c. strong coffee (Christopher Bean Organic coffee, french press style)
2 T. sugar (or 3 Splenda packets) - we used Splenda
1 t. cocoa powder
dash vanilla extract, or caramel flavoring (other optional flavors)
1 ½ c. ice

Put all ingredients except ice in blender and blend until sugar is dissolved. Add ice and blend.

12 Days of Christmas Baking - Day 5 - Cappuccino Mocha Punch

I love this girl. This girl has been a true friend to me the past 4+ years. We met at a Shanes concert at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh and then dinner at Red Robin. Never would have dreamed this girl would have so much impact on my cooking, homemaking, and walk with Christ. (Sorry for no picture. Not for lack of, but for blogger being mean to me. I'll try to upload one again!)

Here is a hospitality tip from Rachael:

Hospitality Tip: the true sense of hospitality is the welcoming of strangers. Christmas is the perfect time to minister to neighbors, inviting them over for a cookie swap or a night of watching Christmas specials. Remember that hospitality is not entertaining, it is inviting people into your life to serve them and sacrificially love them with the love of Christ. So this Christmas season remember to listen and be attentive to the needs of those around you. You won't know those needs unless you take the time with them. Be purposeful. Amidst the joy that we celebrate, there are many who are desperate for a Savior. You can be the voice of hope as you share Christ through your love towards them in hospitality. Lord willing there will be more time after Christmas to continue with a gospel centered relationship where your neighbors can see that Christ is not just celebrated one month out of the year but He is your purpose for living each day.

If you like coffee and have a party to host - here you go:

Cappuccino Mocha Punch

Recipe serves 75 (see below for personal use)
4 cups water
4 cups sugar
1 small jar instant coffee (approx. 1 cup)
3 gallons of milk
3 quarts vanilla ice cream
3 quarts chocolate ice cream

Boil together water, sugar and instant coffee for a few minutes to make coffee syrup. Let cool and refrigerate until ready for use.When ready to use, mix the coffee syrup with milk. Then add the ice cream by scoops.
**For personal you can divide the recipe by ¼. To make an individual serving, combine 1 T coffee syrup, ¾ cup milk, and 1 scoop of each ice cream. You can store the coffee syrup in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks.

Taste of Black Mountain, NC: Dripolator

Knowing that healthy or unique was not on the Ridgecrest, NC menu for breakfast on Saturday - I drove 2 miles to Black Mountain and found this little coffee place.
Very local, great guys who worked in there, very "organic" and earth friendly (as is Black Mountain and Asheville). I got their African Nectar Mighty Leaf tea (iced) - it was awesome. And a biscotti - which had chocolate in it and was very crisp, which I like.
Great little place, wish I lived there - it would become a regular!

New Adventures in Bubble Tea

Went to Chai's today with Kristin - mainly b/c I had to try the bubble tea. Kristin likes them and so did 2 former co-workers, but I had yet to try them. They weren't at all what I expected them to be. It was flavored ice-milk (I got strawberry, she got chai tea) with tapioca balls or "bubbles" on the bottom. It really tastes like a smoothie with gummy bears in it. It was actually quite good. They also had a jelly tea, which I've heard is like jello on the bottom of juice. Don't know about that, but what I had was good. I will plan on making one more trip there before I head out of NC. I don't know of Thai places that serve bubble teas in Lakeland or Orlando...
Thanks Kristin! :)