(via Joy the Baker)- because all green smoothies practically look the same.
A couple of weeks ago, I remembered that I had a blender. For the past decade or so (boy, don't I sound old now?), it had been conveniently tucked away in storage, masked under a cardboard box and getting acquainted with dust bunnies.But ever since its being discovered, I developed the most miraculous recipe with it. It is simply a green smoothie, and it is so so delicious. Yes, it may smell like freshly mowed grass at first, and it may be an acquired taste, but it is seriously healthy and a seriously lazy solution for gals like me who dislike eating a plateful of raw spinach without dressing, think most store-bought dressing as fattening and unnecessary, and lack the patience to whip up the Barefoot Contessa's vinaigrette (however amazing it may be) every day.
The recipe only calls for three actual ingredients (unless us first-worlders count ice an actual ingredient). I pile on handfuls of triple-washed spinach (again, I am too lazy to wash my own spinach), two handfuls of frozen blueberries (which, in itself, is a great substitute for popsicles), and gradually pour in 1/2 cup of organic soymilk (again again, not sure if organic even matters when it comes to the matter with soymilk) into a medium-sized blender. To achieve a generally smooth consistency, I pulse the mixture and then whirl.
You may choose to add ice cubes to the blender, but because my blender is from, like, 1986, it doesn't process ice so well; so I generally use already crushed ice. It is a rather thick mixture at first, but once the ice begins to melt, it is the perfect smoothie consistency. The soymilk's creamy and nutty mixture overrides the majority of the spinach's earthy essence and the smoothie tastes like blueberry pulp with sprigs of summer.
To be even more adventurous (and smashingly healthy), I halve the spinach portion and substitute with fresh kale- the most glorious super-food on the planet- which enhances the woodsy essence by a few decibels. These recipes make me want to become a rawtarian which I cannot possibly do because I love roasted sweet potatoes too much.
Another amazing snack that I've discovered this summer is Boulder Canyon's Rice & Bean Natural Salt Artisan Snack Chips whose name is bigger than the calories in a serving. I've never been a fan of fried potato chips, and these are the perfect alternative. Wegman's carries two variations- Chipotle Cheese and Sea Salt (I'm partial to the former).
I don't eat out as frequently as I used to. Instead, I've been boiling, steaming, roasting, et al. at home; it's been fantastic. I've also become addicted to Pinterest, which is a great starter to a productive summer (I kid).
