Kiwi Pineapple Green Smoothie

I told you I was coming with smoothies this month. 

I keep my promises with kiwi, pineapple, kale and spinach.

   I know, the blog world, your Facebook and Pinterest feeds are over run with smoothies and salads right now. Everyone is chanting "new year, new me." Guess what! I'm not. I live for smoothies 24/7/365. I grew up drinking smoothies. I don't think Mom even put spinach in them, but she did make them for a quick breakfast or as a dessert to keep us away form ice cream. Now, I give them to my boys for the very same reasons. I tend to prefer them for breakfast because I am a slow starter (I've mentioned this before) and I can make these with my eyes still blurry and my brain is still warming up. 

   I lean towards smoothies when my stomach problems rear their ugly head. Unfortunately, it is just something I have to deal with and there is nothing that can be done about it on the bad days. There is no medicine, no magic cure. My only option is to lean on liquids on the days or weeks that I feel awful. I won't go into what I have or why because it is boring and that's not why I'm here. But, I add of that to say, I don't necessarily believe in juice or smoothie cleanses. I've done them and HATED every dang second of it. But on the days, where you feel bloated, binged on bad for you food the night before or are just getting over a stomach bug, these are the days that this kind of smoothie is what you need. You don't want to do this for every meal though, there are far too many fruits in here and that would be way to much sugar for one day. 

Kiwi Pineapple Green Smoothie
serves 1
(click to print)
1 cup kale*
1 cup spinach*
1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1 kiwi chopped
1/4 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon flax seeds
honey to taste

Combine all ingredients and blend until liquefied.

*I used 2 cups of a spinach kale blend

Coconut Carrot Mango Smoothie

Hiiiii-eeeeeeee! Want something nice a frozen and fruity here in the middle of winter? Good me too! 

   I've got some Christmasyness up my sleeve headed your way buuuuuttt.... it's not quite ready. I'm having one of those days, you know the kind, I mean, I feel like I have 2.7439 million things going through my head. So, I made a smoothie instead of cookies. I needed brain food. Brain beverage, I suppose, is more accurate. Now, I'm going to sip on this and contemplate whether I'll be doing laundry, dishes, picking up, making apple butter and jelly or DIYing a few photo ornaments. Maybe, I'll just pretend all of that is done and binge watch some Netflix. 

     Full disclosure, I may have used photos I took of this smoothie earlier this year, I swear it is the same smoothie recipe and looks identical.  Some serious slacking on my part! But, trust me, make it, put on some reggae and pretend it's not freezing outside! It will take you to the beach.

Coconut Carrot Mango Smoothie
serves 2-3 people
(Click to print)

2 tablespoons flaxseed

1 large or two medium carrots

1 1/2 cups coconut water

2 cups frozen mango

1 cup orange juice 

1 tablespoon honey

In a blender pulse the flax seeds until pulverized. Add carrots and pulse until broken into smaller chunks. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Taste for sweetness and make adjustments as needed. Enjoy!

Cheers!

xoxo,
Ashley

Tropical Carrot Smoothie

   I didn't plan on sharing this smoothie of tropical amazingness but that changed once I tasted it. I realized how good it was, I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple of shots. Then I promptly, sucked it down like it was a chocolate milk shake. Don't judge me, it was sooooo good. 

Tropical Carrot Smoothie:

makes 2 large smoothies

(click to print)

2 carrots, washed and roughly chopped

2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup chopped frozen pineapple

1/2 cup chopped frozen mango 

1 tablespoon flax meal

2 cups coconut water

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

honey (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until carrots are broken down. Turn on high until blended, test for sweetness, add honey if needed and enjoy!

This is a great breakfast or midday pick me up!

xoxo,
Ashley