Week 2 Lenten Smoothie Recipe

I found this recipe at incrediblesmoothies.com. It worked my Oster blender over with all the frozen ingredients as did my overlooking the instructions that followed the ingredient list. Oops. This recipe calls for the blending of a few ingredients at first then adding the remaining ingredients one at a time. I followed the blending instructions the second time I made this and it makes about 2 days worth (four 8-oz glasses). The third time I made this I forgot the avocado, which I missed when I took the first sip; the acidic edge was distinct.

PINEAPPLE, KALE, COCONUT OIL GREEN SMOOTHIE

Broccoli is great for your body’s detoxification system– it’s full of vitamins C and K. Vitamin C helps repair your body’s tissues, aids in iron absorption, and decreases “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. And vitamin K supports your bones, regulates your blood, and helps your body transport calcium. Slurp your veggies!

Ingredients

2 cups kale

1/2 cup fresh broccoli florets

2 cups frozen mango

2 cups fresh cut pineapple

2 bananas

1 cup strawberries

1/2 avocado

2 cups water

2 Tbsp coconut oil

squeeze of lime juice

Directions

Blend kale, coconut oil and water first for 30 seconds (or until it is a juice-like consistency). Add frozen fruits 1 cup at a time and blend for an additional 30-45 seconds. Add remaining fresh fruits and blend until desired smoothness. Serve immediately for best texture and to receive optimal nutrients.

Lent 2013

I have this crazy relationship with food. I love eating it! I hate preparing it! The latter is to my detriment most often, and results in my spending a lot $$ eating out and a ton of bland, mismatched morsels in my fridge. I’ve talked about being a non-cook in the past, and this year I’m hoping to change that relationship for the better for good by making a Green Smoothie every day. This didn’t make much sense to me in the beginning either much like turning off the car radio, but I have to start somewhere, and it may as well be with something I already enjoy making semi-regularly.

Dietary benefits aside, I want to enjoy the handling and preparation of something that tastes yummy and is lovingly prepared by yours truly. And much like turning the radio off in my car, this is not a BIG add. However, the commitment to preparing this drink every day means that I must ensure that the ingredients are on hand and it also means going to the grocery store with regularity – an activity I welcome about as much as I welcome organizing my tax documents. Imagine filing taxes ever week! Not only am I going to the grocery store every week, but I am going to make a different smoothie when I run out of ingredients so that I can handle and prepare a variety of foods.

As with all new relationships, I eased into the task with my standby recipe. I started Lent late, so this is the end of week one. Handling fresh greens, grapes and frozen fruit each day takes priority, and when it looks like the day is slipping by without, I hustle home to get it in.

Today is the last day of my old standby; it's time to try something new. I’ve read that it’s not a good idea to use the same green base expressly (I use spinach), so I’ve incorporated kale into my usual concoction. Next weeks green smoothie calls for kale only. Here’s the recipe for week 1:

1 cup green grapes

½ cup pineapple (I use frozen)

2 cups of greens (spinach/kale)

½ banana (again, frozen)

½ cup ice

½ cup water