red mulberry green smoothie

i love where i live.  we moved from a really cool 1930s house to this one about four years ago, and i love that we live a little off the beaten path.  we have land - which means we see deer, turkey and beavers and lots of toads, snakes, and field mice all the time. in addition to our plentiful garden, we also have wild strawberries, morels and mulberries out the wazoo.  when the mulberries ripen, i take my colander outside and just fill it up, over and over again.  don't worry - there are plenty left for the birds, i only pick the ones that i can reach, and i still have to freeze them because there is no way i could eat them all before they'd go bad.

• 3/4 cup red mulberries
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 1/4 cup water
• ice (optional)

put everything in a regular blender and go for it.  green smoothie tip - don't put the spinach in first.  :)   also, my mulberries were frozen ones from the late spring harvest, but if you are using fresh ones, i'd throw in a couple ice cubes.

ps - if you know anything about glassware, i bought these glasses in an antique store about 5 years ago.  it's a set of 6 tumblers.  i don't know anything about them, if they are vintage or not, but whatever wisdom you might have, i'd love to know.

fruit salad green smoothie

being the only veggie in my office, i always get offered the remains of the fruit trays from pot lucks and parties (which i totally love). leftover fruit salad is great - if you can eat it quickly. sometimes it may be a few days before i can polish it off, and a bowl of mushy fruit doesn't sound that great. here is the solution, my friends. if the fruit is still good, maybe just not in peak form, throw it in a blender with a some greens. it's delicious, nutritious and you won't let anything go to waste!

• 1 1/2 cups fruit salad
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 ice cubes

this was a bit of fruit salad leftover from my belated birthday party (i ate most of it before it started to get mushy). thanks to the true family for making it with tons of fresh fruit - just how i like it. it was a delicious combination of cantaloupe, bananas, strawberries, green grapes, and peaches.

put all ingredients in a regular blender for about 30-45 seconds. if you have a lot of watery fruits, you may not need a full 1/3 cup water... just start with a little and add enough to get it blending.

POM wonderful green smoothie

to pom or not to pom... that was my question. many may know that POM (makers of the flavourful POM wonderful juice) once had a shady past with animal rights. thankfully, through the urging of PETA and many other animal lovers, they decided to cease those practices. i originally wasn't sure if was ready to accept them back, but i believe that they deserve kudos for changing their ways. i once ate meat, and i would hate to be punished for my former transgressions. so, thanks POM! now let's drink!

• 2 oranges, peeled
• 6-8 strawberries
• 1½ cups baby spinach leaves
• 3/4 cup POM Wonderful juice

as with my typical green smoothies, you could use any other green, but i like the baby spinach most often because it doesn't overpower the fruit. however, when i'm feeling up for a more 'green' juice, i'll use kale, romaine, etc.

put everything in a blender for about 45 seconds. so easy! i find that this recipe is so filling that when i mix it up for lunch, i'm not hungry again until dinner. beyond awesome!

banana blueberry green smoothie

i love green smoothies, but i'll admit that i don't make them much over the winter. so three cheers for the warmer weather, so i can make lots of green smoothies without being chilled to the bone.

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1½ cups spinach (or any green)
• 10-15 raw untoasted almonds
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 ice cubes

like all my green smoothie recipes, i just toss everything in a blender. pulse a few times to help break up the ice, and then blend for approximately 30-45 seconds until everything is smooth and creamy. you may have to add a little more water to get things mixing.

beginner's green smothie

if you haven't tried a green smoothie, i suggest you give it a shot. they are uber-delicious and super nutritious. there are quite a few recipes online (just google 'green smoothie') - some are more complicated than others. this was the first one i ever made, and it remains one of my favourites. it tastes like yummy orange julius.

• 1 banana
• 1 orange
• 1½ cups fresh spinach
• 4 ice cubes
• 1/3 cup water

since there is no added sugar, use a ripe banana - with the little brown specks. if it is under-ripe, the smoothie will loose some of the natural sweetness.

put orange, banana, and water in a blender. blend fruit until creamy, then add the ice and spinach. blend until you have a nice thick smoothie (about 30 seconds). usually 1/3 cup water works for me, but add more water if your blender has trouble with the spinach and ice.

serve in a pink elvis glass, if possible. :)

pretty in pink green smoothie

this is a tasty watermelon and kiwi green smoothie with a bit of ginger zing. i added the greens to it after the picture because it turns a murky brown colour. honestly, i didn't want to call it 'murky brown green smoothie' - how appetizing is that? :)

• 1/4 of a seedless watermelon
• 1 kiwi fruit
• 1 tablespoon (or more) of fresh ginger
• 1 cup of spinach
  
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 or 4 ice cubes

peel the watermelon, kiwi and ginger and cut up into cubes. drop in the blender with water and ice. you need less water than with most green smoothies because watermelon is so juicy. after it starts to smoothie-ize in your blender, add the greens and blend again. :) makes about a quart of filling smoothie.

cantaloupe green smoothie

i've read that it's the official 'green smoothie day' today, so in honor of that, i decided to post another green smoothie recipe that i've recently been enjoying. i love going down to the city market on the weekends and scoping out all the wonderful produce they have - at such great prices! when i'm driving home with a car full of new and interesting foods (and lots of my old favourites), i often find myself dreaming up new recipes for the following week. however, there is something to be said for sweet and simple - this next recipe is just that.

• 1/3 ripe cantaloupe
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar (or more if desired)
• 1.5 cups romaine lettuce
• 1/3 cup water
• 5 ice cubes

throw everything in the blender and whip it up. add more water as necessary. i use agave nectar to give it just a little sweeter flavour - you could substitute stevia if you don't have any. makes about 20oz. of green smoothie.

ginorango smoothie

ah... the green smoothie. i am huge fan of green smoothies, and love spreading the word on how delicious and healthy they are. store bought smoothies or smoothie stands often puts tons of refined sugar in their smoothies, and it is not only unhealthy, but i think it's just gross. i've read that a good green smoothie mix is about 60% fruit and 40% leafy greens. i just eyeball it in my blender. if you are interested for more information on them, you can just google "green smoothie" and there is a ton of websites with info and great recipes.

this was the first smoothie i incorporated ginger in, and i loved it! i will definitely be making some more ginger recipes!

• 1 mango
• 1 orange
• 1 chunk of ginger (about the size of a small ice cube)
• 1.5 cups spinach
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 ice cubes
  

if you just have a regular blender like me, you'll want to peel the mango, orange and ginger. then separate the orange, and cut the mango & ginger into a couple chunks.
put those ingredients, plus water and ice into the blender. add more water if your blender has trouble. blend until smooth, then add the greens and blend again. makes about 20-24oz of deliciousness.

drink up!