Avocado, Pineapple Banana Shake

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

1/2 Avocado

2 Cups Spinach

1 Banana

1/2 Cup Pineapple

Juice of 1 Lemon (3tbs)

1 Cup Ice

1tbs Minced Ginger (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Put the spinach and almond milk in the blender first. You'll want to be sure you've tightly packed your cup of spinach, get all that good stuff in there. Once you've blended that down, add everything but the ice. Blend again for just a few moments and then add the ice. Blend to desired texture.

NOTES:

This one isn't bad at all. I added the mince ginger but I think from here on out, I'll leave it out. I've decided I'm not too fond of tasting ginger in my smoothie - don't get me wrong, I like ginger... just not in my smoothie. BUT if you like it in your smoothie, its good for you, so put it in... or don't... but certainly no more than the 1 tablespoon because then you'll just have a ginger smoothie.

As for the pineapple - I totally cheated and used one of those small 8oz cans of crushed pineapple (or at least I think it was 8oz...whatever the smallest can size is).  Its what I had in a pinch and it worked just find. Saved me the cutting and mess too.

This smoothie was very filling, tasty enough, but again.. the ginger wasn't my friend, but don't let that keep you from trying it.

Antioxidant Cheers!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 Cup Kale
1/2 Cup Pomegranate Juice
2 Cups of Frozen Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries
1/2 Cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt


Blend your kale and juice first. Add the rest.

Did you know, that Kale has more iron per calorie than beef AND its high in fiber. Its true!

In fact, dark leafy greens have more nutrients per calorie than most foods and are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins (like K, C, E, and B), minerals (think iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium),  and phytonutrients (like beta-carotene, lutein). I mean, that alone should be enough for you to go for it. 

And here's a tip.. it blends out green but then when you add the berries, it turns purple - and that means, no turned up noses at the table because they are too busy slurping up this purple goodness.

Sunshine Smoothie

Well doesn't this look tropical.  I decided I'd attempt fancy today. I think I just surprised myself at my capabilities.. Ok, I know its a fairly simple thing, anyone can do it. But, I've never done it..and I did it! So that means you can too!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1/2 of an 8oz can of crushed pineapple
1 Banana
1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries
1/4 cup Mango-Peach Juice
2 tbs Honey


DIRECTIONS:
For the first layer, you'll want to blend your yellows. The banana and pineapple (with juice it comes in). If its too thin, add another banana.  Add the two spoons of honey.
Set aside.

For the second layer, blend the mango-peach juice with your strawberries. You may opt to add more strawberries if you feel its not enough. If you need it to be looser, add more juice.

Next, pour your yellow smoothie in a tall glass.
Then, SLOWLY pour your strawberry mixture. You want to do this slow so it stays somewhat separate.  Garnish with a strawberry and serve!

NOTE: you'll want to be sure the consistency of each layer is more thick than thin so that it stays separate. So add more or less of any of the ingredients as you see fit. Adding ice will also thicken it up if you are in a bind.

Pretty in Pink

Mmmm, look how pink this smoothie looks! A blend of random things found in my fridge, this was absolutely yummy, and you should make it or miss out.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

1 Avocado

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries

1 Apple

1 Banana

1 Yoplait (or whatever brand) Cherry Cheesecake Yogurt (single serving size)

1/2 Cup Pomegranate Juice

You can most definitely use fresh strawberries if you have them, and just add ice at the end to get the slushy smoothie consistency.  Add more or less juice (depends on you, but start with less and work your way up).

The yogurt, you can use whatever you have. This was just what I found in my fridge.

A Basic Smoothie

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1 Cup Spinach
2 Bananas
1 Cup Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Cup Grape/Apple Juice


DIRECTIONS:
Fairly basic.  Blend the juice and spinach together first. Always do this first. It just makes it better Easier.  Then add the remaining ingredients.  Add more juice if you want it looser. Add ice if you want it slushier.  Thats it!

Peanut Butter Banana Truffles

I kept seeing this recipe floating around but never thought to try it until I started getting into making chocolate covered treats.  I'm probably the last person on earth to know that chocolate, bananas and peanut butter go together, but now that I know, I'm setting this one on the top of my chocolate covered list.  Even better, is to freeze them. I cannot explain it any better other than to say its an amazing bite of deliciousness.  From the ice cold banana, to the sprinkle of salt on the chocolate, these are without a doubt a hit.

What You Need:

• 2 bananas - slice them into 1/2 inch pieces.
• 2tbs of creamy peanut butter
• 1 tbs heavy cream
• 1/4 cup or confectioners sugar 
• 1 bag of Wiltons chocolate melts 
• Sea Salt
• Toothpicks
• Wax or Parchment paper
• Baking sheet

Directions:

• Line the baking sheet with the wax or parchment paper
• Place the sliced bananas on the sheet and set aside for a moment.

• Mix the peanut butter, confectioners sugar and heavy cream together. At this point the peanut butter will be thicker and you can take a bit and place on top of the banana slices.

• Melt your chocolate (I personally prefer to use Wiltons versus the Nestle morsels because of how easily and quickly they melt).
• Dip each of the banana/PB slices into the chocolate. Swirl it around to ensure its all coated.  Using a toothpick, transfer back to the baking sheet.
• Sprinkle a little sea salt and any other sprinkles you want.
• Place in freezer for an hour or so. More or less is up to you.
• You're Done!

Virgin Sangria!

Well the pictures for this post aren't going to be as awesome as this tasted as I was far too busy eating the fruit to even pay attention to the fact that I was doing such a crappy job... the fruit was THAT good!   I mean, look at it!....via my crappy iPhone pictures.. :/   Anyways, so I was having this surprise party for my best pal Wendy and her husband DJ, to celebrate the fact that they have a new baby on the way. Everyones talking beer, wine, vodka gummies and the like- all things my partner in crime cannot partake in now that she's pregnant.  So I'm racking my brain for a tasty virgin summer drink that would totally make her happy and well what better drink than Sangria!  Its easy to make, it tastes amazing, and really, once the citrus soaks in there, with the grape juice and stuff....it kinda tastes like an alcoholic beverage... I think. Sorda.  Wendy was happy. Success!

What You'll Need:
3 Cups Grape Juice
3/4 Cups Apple Juice
1/2 Cup Orange Juice
2 Cups Ginger Ale
1 Lemon - thinly slice, leave on the peel.
1 Lime - thinly slice, leave on the peel.
1 Orange - thinly slice, leave on the peel.
1 Apple - core and cut into chunks.
Grapes - seedless.
Cherries - I leave the stems on for easy grabbing and eating.
Nectarine - remove pit and cut into chunks.
Strawberries - cut in half or leave whole.

Directions:
After washing and cutting the fruit,  combine everything except the ginger ale into a pitcher or two and place in the fridge overnight. You don't have to do this, but its well worth it to have all the flavors mix together and soak into the fruits.
Before serving, add the ginger ale. 

Apples and Peanut Butter

I use to hate apples. Then as I got older, the only way I'd eat them or any fruit was if someone cut them up for me. Now that I'm a mom, I'm kind of the one stuck having to do the cutting.  Apples have since totally grown on me, my preferred ones being the green ones. 


Here's a simple and tasty idea.... you really can't get a bad snack out of apples, peanut butter, granola and raisins.


Turn the apple on its side and slice even pieces.
Cut the core out (this apple barely had much to cut), and then spreading peanut butter on each slice. Follow it with granola (I used Kashi Cereal) and raisins.  Yum!

Let me not even pretend that it stayed put in this leaning tower pose. It was the most non-cooperative apple ever and the whole thing toppled over a second after this photo was shot. And no it didn't topple over like you see here.  That would be too fancy.

Mothers Day - Homemade Edible Arrangement

Check it, check it out! 

Edible arrangements from the store - $80.  

Homemade, under $20.

And you certainly can't put a price on something homemade, especially by a little five year old boy and given to his grandmother for Mothers Day!

  Thats made with love!

What I used:
Skewers
Fruit - grapes, strawberries, pineapple, melon, blueberries. 
Clay Pot - I got mine from Michaels for around a dollar.
Foam piece - to hold the skewers in place.
Paint markers - easier for my little man to decorate with.
Cookie Cutter
Wiltons Chocolate Melts - to dip the strawberries.

Grandma was extremely pleased!

Happy Mothers Day!