Raspberry Kefir

After the flu, I am making sure I get the kefir into my smoothie to get the good probiotics back into my system.  This smoothie is very yummy. Not as full of "extra ingredients" as some of my smoothies. 

1/2 banana
1/2 c Greek Yogurt
1/4 c kefir
1/2 c frozen raspberries
1 T goji berries
1-2 T raw honey
1 T coconut manna (I can taste it!)

Blend and enjoy.  The coconut manna gives it a bit of a "gritty" texture, but I don't mind that. I add the honey because I find my taste buds and don't like the harsh acidity of the raspberries, but the honey could be optional. Perfect smoothie to make green by adding a handful of spinach.
Again, I have my little girl doing a smoothie taste test, she declaired it "Yum"!

Almost BRAT

I had the flu this weekend. AGAIN. 4th, yes 4th, time this winter! It is getting old. I haven't been sick like this in a L O N G time. Granted, each time I have been sick, a child has been sick as well. At least I know where I am getting it from! Of course, the child recovers faster than the parent does. I am starting to NEEd to eat but I still don't feel like eating. Smootie of the day is basic, bland and hopefully will sit well on my tummy. Hence the BRAT.
1/2 banana
1 c frozen peaches
1 cup almond milk
3 T raw oatmeal.
Blend. That is it.

Leftover Smoothie

With a family of 5, I rarely have enough leftovers to make a complete meal. Last night we had haystacks for supper, that meant a bit of cucumber, a bit of avocado and a bit of everything else left over. The cucumber and avocado made it into the smoothie this morning. I also had a bit of mango left over in the freezer. 
My other recent find for my smoothie is a salad mixture that has baby spinach, baby chard and baby kale in it. It is also organic, a plus! 

 

1/2 banana

maybe 1/4 cup mango

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 c kefir

1/2 c Greek honey yogurt

large handful of the salad blend

1/4 c chopped cucumber

1/4 of an avocado

almond milk to blend

My husband would probably say this one tastes too green. Plus he doesn't like avocado, if he knew it was in there, he would dislike the smoothie.  I like that the avocado adds a creaminess to the smoothie that you don't get without it.  For some reason I didn't add any grains today. Not sure why. Anyway, to my taste buds, this is a good one. It should give me the boost for my workout today!

Sweet, like Cantalope Juice.

LOVING my smoothie this morn! So yum. Today is grocery day, I will make sure to buy the ingredients for this!

1/2 Banana

1/2 C cubed cantaloupe

1/2 C fresh strawberries
1/2 c honey greek yogurt

1/2 C kefir

1 T wheat germ

1T ground flax seed

Blend and enjoy. In the summer, if it ever gets here, (mid April and we have 3 day winter storm watch!) I would add a cucumber. Would be so refreshing! 

On a Kefir note- This batch is a much better experience! Like runny yogurt, not as prickly in my nose if I smell it (it is fermented after all), and a better taste.  I even made buttermilk pancakes with some of the leftovers the other day, the family didn't know (mwah, ha ha). Of course, the cooking process takes the benefit of the kefir away.

On an exercise note- met with a trainer 2 weeks ago. She helped me set up a program to help meet my goals.  I made it too the gym 3 times both weeks.  No weight loss yet, but my body is getting tighter and more toned.  The trainer is changing my program for the next 2 weeks. A bit more intense. We will see what happens now that I am into it.

Trying Kefir again

About a year ago I got some Kefir grains to try making on my own. The stuff you get at stores is super high is sugar.  That batch I did not like. Very sour, very curddled and not at all something I wanted to continue. The same friend, just gave me some new grains that are much better. Like watery yogurt, but smoother than the last batch. Trying it again to see how I feel about it.  Today was the first day I had a batch ready. 
* As a note about the pineapple core... I bought a whole pineapple and I always take the rind off and cut the column into quarters. The quarters have a firmer core to them that my kids find hard to chew. I use to gnaw on it myself and then throw it our. Thanks to my Vita Mix I now save the core, throw it in a smoothie and it grinds the core up to nothing!

Avacado Raspberry Kefir

1/2 banana

2 of  the pineapple core*

1/2 avacado

1/2 c frozen raspberries (it needs more raspberries next time)

1/4 c kefir

1 T ground flax seed

2 T hemp seed

1 T wheat germ

almond milk

The avacado makes it super creamy and thick. As noted it needs more raspberries.  Maybe 1 T of honey.

Green Hawaii!

Really!? I haven't posted one of my favorite smoothies. Oh my.  I will have a variation of this today, I think!

1/2 banana

1/2 cup Greek yogurt or 1/4c coconut cream (from a can)

1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks, or fresh

3T raw oatmeal

1 T wheat Germ

1 T ground flax seed

large handful of baby spinach

almond milk to make 2 cups blended drink

if you want it sweeter add 1 T honey

 

 
You can also make variations of this by adding orange juice or pineapple juice to replace the milk. Make it tropical and add other fruit for example,mango, papaya and kiwi would be delicious! I have even added broccoli in!

40 day challege!

Yep, me again, saying I am going to loose weight. This time I have incentive! To the tune of $140! Some of us got together and started a 40 day challenge to get fit for spring. By the way, it is the 2nd day of spring here in GF and we have had NO melting! A ton of snow is on the ground, and another storm is on the way. sigh. Anyway, gonna get fit for spring. Today is the first day of the challenge. We weigh in at our own homes (all about honesty with this group), and 40 days from today, April 30, we weigh in again. The person who has lost the most % of body weight wins the cash!
I have incentive to change my diet, workout more and get fit for summer. My weigh in was 135 lbs. My goal for summer weight is somewhere between 115-120 (I am only 5' tall so that isn't a crazy goal) we will see where I get in 40 days. PLUS, I want to tone up, and I know muscle weighs more than fat.

 

To start the challenge my SOTD is a Citrus Berry

1/2 banana

Fresh juice of a Temple Orange

handful of blueberries

handful of strawberries

1/2 c Greek yogurt

1 T flax seed (ground)

1 T wheat germ

1 T goji berries

I have plans to workout this morning. Hopefully this will have the energy boost that I need.

I also created a little sweet snack last night in my vita mixer!
I blended 2 cups raw almonds to make almond butter, did not work. The paste was kinda crumbly and wouldn't spread very well, so I re- purposed!  I took the almond butter out of the mixer. Blended 10 whole pitted dates to make a paste. Added 1 T honey. Added the almond paste back in and blended to make a new paste. You have to use the tamper with all these processes to make it work!  Took the new paste out of the blender and rolled them into little balls. Froze them for 30 min. Then rolled them in melted dark chocolate.
My hope is that they will be a sweet treat that is healthy and curbs the chocolate cravings. 

Wish me luck!