Zucchini Pesto

Two posts in one day! This is a surprise recipe from making supper tonight.  I am trying to use all my garden produce. But sauteed Zucchini gets old. We are having pasta tonight and I wanted to add Zucchini. I knew if I put it in coins, the boys would eat around them. I decided to try a pesto.
I think this is a really tasty pesto or a dip for crackers. I have been snacking on it as I cook the rest of the meal! Please note, I cook a lot by taste so there isn't a lot of exact measurements:)

Zucchini Pesto

1 m size zucchini

handful of basil

3 cloves of garlic

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (the stuff from the green can)

handful of pine nuts

olive oil

salt and pepper

Blend the Zucchini in a food processor.

Add the basil, garlic,pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Blend until paste consistency.

While blender is running, drizzle Olive Oil until it looks like pesto. (How else do I describe this?).

Add salt to taste and 5 or 6 grinds of a pepper mill to the pesto. Pulse to mix.

Serve over warm pasta or with crackers/ chips.

I am also going to add some halved cherry tomatoes.  I have lots of those right now so I am also trying to find creative ways to use those.

Cucumber Mint Mango

 I have a good resource of materials of some of the best quality food right in my back yard. My garden is producing, and I want to find a way to use some of the garden produce in smoothies.  I am sure I will have some that fail, but today's smoothie was a success. Right now I have many Long English Cucumbers hanging on the vine. I wanted to make a smoothie using these, partially to find another way to use them! Very refreshing smoothie! Modifications for next time would be to add more mango.

Cucumber Mint Mango

1 banana

1/2 long English cucumber, peeled

2 sprigs of mint, just the leaves

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup honey Greek yogurt

 1 T ground flax seed

1T wheat germ

2T raw quick oatmeal

Soy milk- enough to make 4 cups of smoothie

Antioxidant booster Smoothie

Not really sure what to name this smoothie, but all the main ingredients are high in antioxidants.   I rediscovered my goji berry and bee pollen in my fridge yesterday. That inspired me to think ahead to create today's smoothie. Goji berries are an Asian food high in antioxidants to learn more about Goji berries and health benefits here.
I have dried Goji berries and I like to soak them for a smoothie. I blended them dried once, and it was okay, but I hand flecks of hard bits in my smoothie. I soak my Goji berries in a small dish of water overnight and add the water and berries to the smoothie in the morning.
The bee pollen you can learn more about here.

Antioxidant Booster Smoothie

1 T goji berries soaked overnight (use the liquid as well)

1/2 T bee pollen

1 T Wheat Germ

1 T ground flax seed

2 T quick oatmeal

1 T honey

1 banana

1 C blueberries (mine are frozen but fresh work)

1 6 oz blueberry yogurt cup

3/4 c Green tea (I used an Acai berry melon blend)

Soy milk to make the 4 cup mark

Blend and enjoy. Every now and again a sip will yield a bit of bee pollen that packs a extra honey flavored kick. YUM.

Creamy Strawberry Banana

I was feeling up for something classic this morning.  Nothing fancy or using a interesting ingredient.

Classic Creamy Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1 banana

1/2 cup honey greek yogurt

large handful of frozen sliced strawberries

1 T wheat germ

1T ground flax seed

1 T raw quick cook oatmeal

soymilk

Add soy milk and blend until you get the consistency you want. I ended up with about 3 cups worth of smoothie.  This would also be an easy smoothie to make green with a handful of spinach. 

Mixing it up!

I started this blog calling it "All the Life". It was originally going to be a way to remember all the events that go on in my life. My journal essentially.  Ok, so that didn't really happen past March! It is now August! So I am mixing it up. I renamed the blog. It has a new purpose. Hopefully I can keep it up this time!Now the purpose of my blog will be to record events from my life, and to document the smoothies I make.
In January 2012 I decided to change my breakfast habit. I dislike a "normal" breakfast. Oatmeal, yuck! Cold cereal, ewww. Eggs and pancakes, I would rather have for supper.  If I was to eat breakfast it would be tea and toast or a pastry. Not the healthiest.  So I decided that my breakfasts would change to be a smoothie. I have kept it up and have a smoothie most mornings.   Some of the creations are interesting. I have been putting a post on my Facebook account, but not the recipe. Here I will try and post the recipe.
The new name of my blog, Blended, should nicely bring everything together. "Blending" life events and my smoothie blog together.
As I sit and type this morning, I have a smoothie by my side.
Smoothie of the Day: SOTD

Mango Melon Pina Colada

1 banana

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

3/4 cup coconut milk (from a can)

1/4 cup frozen mango

1/4 cup fresh honeydew melon cut in chunks

1 T ground flax seed

1T wheat germ

2 T uncooked quick oats

Soy milk

Blend and add enough soy milk to be the consistency you want.

I made too much today. I would need to cut down on the amounts next time.  I try and make about 4 cups each day, 2 servings of 2 cups each, my husband gets the other one. 

Enjoy!

Blended Iced Coffee

Skipped the morning breakfast smoothie today. Had some yogurt and tea.  However, I decided I would make an iced coffee for an afternoon treat.  I have made this before, but I added a twist with the Greek Yogurt today.  It changed the flavor a bit, but still very good.

Blended Iced Coffee with Greek Yogurt

2 cups coffee, room temperature of chilled

8 ice cubes

4 T Southern Butter Pecan Creamer

2 T sugar

1 T Chocolate Syrup

2 T caramel coffee syrup

1/2 C Honey Greek Yogurt

What a Beautiful Day!

Inspiration: Chris Cagle song What a Beautiful Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5qQfGv6p-I
I meant to post something March 1.  It was my first 7 year anniversary.  Yes the first one, the second one will be June 26.  My husband and I got married twice.  Long story, maybe for another post.
Back to the song. Makes me think about the days I have had with my husband.  It will take some thinking but I am going to try and figure out some of the highlights, and struggles of our life together.
 August 20,2003- meet for the first time
 August 26- first date (coffee at Urban Stampede)
 September 9- We decided to officially date
September 10- His sister was murdered
May 15, 2004 got engaged!
March 1, 2005 got married in GF
June 26, 2005 got married in AB
June 28-July 15- Honeymoon in Hawaii
September 27- Guess what, I am pregnant!
June 2, 2006- Welcome baby Zorryn Lyle, Lyle after Troy's Grandpa
June 30, 2008- My mom dies
July 7- My mom's funeral
September 19- my cousin dies
January 15, 2009- I am pregnant!
May 5,2009- Found out it is another boy
September 19,2009- Welcome baby Ryker Walter, Walter after my grandpa
January 7, 2011- I am pregnant!
May 5, 2011- found out it is a girl. I cried.
September 8,2011- Welcome Baby Cadence Louise, Louise is after my mom.
March 1, 2012- 7 years of marriage. 
There have been ups and downs, and of course I skipped a lot of information here, but I am thankful for the man beside me that rejoices with me, cries with me and for me, and is with me every day.
I hope we have many years together.  My grandparents have had 73 years of marriage,  I would be so blessed to enjoy that!
But, for today, I am thankful for the beautiful day we had today. Walking with our family together, enjoying the AMAZING spring weather in GF! Truly a beautiful day in many ways.