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

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

Coconut Watermelon Pineapple Granita

I'm holding on tight onto summer. 

I made this frozen and fruity concoction so that I could pretend fall isn't nipping at our heels.

This one is easy, not so quick but hey, the best things cannot be rushed.

This was a perfect dessert for a hot summer evening.

And when I say easy, I mean EASY.

Put your ingredients in a blender, get it good a combined, pour it into a dish and pop into the freezer.

Freeze it for an hour and scrape. Wash, rinse and repeat four times. 

Ok, don't literally do that, but you get the idea. 

I could just dig in to that dish of watermelon! It is so so good. My boys loved it too, all three of them. 

Coconut Watermelon Pineapple Granita
Serves 6-8
(click to print)

Watermelon Granita:
3 cups cubed seedless watermelon
honey to taste.

Pineapple Granita:
2 cups of cubed fresh pineapple
honey to taste

Coconut Granita:
1 14 oz can of coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon honey

For each one, put the fruit and honey in a food processor, or blender. Pulse until there are no ore large pieces. Pour into a casserole dish or sheet pan and freeze for one hour, the take it out and scrap it with a fork and return to the freezer. Do this four times or more if needed. Serve immediately.

*You can see how quickly the coconut melts in my pictures.

Just imagine the fruity possibilities!

xoxo,
Ashley