Wishing I was somewhere tropical...

... this smoothie almost takes you there. :-)

1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup coconut water
1 heaping cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned
1 heaping cup frozen mango chunks
1 banana, fresh or frozen
flax seeds, flax oil, or chia seeds, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. I'm sure this would also be good with some greens added.

What I'm drinking right now.

No photo again (sorry!), but this is delicious if you're in the mood for something dessert-ish but still healthy...

1 cup frozen strawberries
1 banana, frozen into chunks
4 medjool dates
1-1/4 cup vanilla soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 tablespoon Chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth, adding more milk if needed to make it blend.

Today's Smoothie

I forgot to take a photo, but this was a yummy one!

1 cup apple juice
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blackberries
1/2 cup frozen cherries
1 banana, fresh or frozen
as much kale as you like
2 medjool dates

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Limeade

This recipe is one of many delicious concoctions from the cookbook, The 30 Minute Vegan, which I recently acquired.

Limeade

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
2-1/2 cups water or coconut water (I used half and half)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons agave nectar

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir, or process in a blender for a few seconds. Serve in chilled glasses.

Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles

Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles

2 cups chopped watermelon
1 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
2-4 tablespoons sugar or other sweetener, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds* and freeze.

* I used these, and had just a bit of liquid left over.

More Parsley Goodness

I had some parsley in the fridge that needed to be eaten, so I wanted to make some good old parsley juice tonight. Sadly, I was missing a few ingredients, so I had to improvise, and this version turned out quite tasty as well - surprisingly mild and smooth.

New Parsley Juice

~1 cup pineapple chunks and juice (I used canned)
1 large banana
~1/2 cup orange juice
one half to a full bunch of parsley leaves
4 ice cubes
a squirt of agave nectar (or dates if you have them; I didn't)

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Still Craving Blackberries

Ever since I drank a couple of Jamba Juice blackberry smoothies on vacation a few weeks ago, I've been fiending for more blackberries. This was quite good, if I do say so myself.

Purple Berry Smoothie

1 cup frozen blackberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 banana, chopped into chunks and frozen
1-1/4 cup pomegranate juice
1/4 cup raspberry sorbet
1 tablespoon flax oil or flax meal, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Note: For a healthier version, omit the sorbet and add a generous handful or two of kale. Also very tasty!

Blackberry Milkshake

Perhaps you've noticed that my smoothie adventures are leaning more towards the fruity and less towards the veggie lately... I blame it on summer. I really indulged the other day and made a milkshake instead of my usual all-fruit (and sometimes veggie) smoothie.

Easy Blackberry Milkshake

1/2 cup vegan vanilla ice cream
1 cup frozen blackberries
1 cup vanilla soymilk or other non-dairy milk

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Fruity Summer Cooler

1/8 large watermelon, chopped
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup red seedless grapes
1 tablespoon agave nectar, optional
a few ice cubes
a bit of water, if needed to blend

Blend and enjoy! Makes kind of a lot...

Strawberry Watermelon Juice

Sorry again for the inexact measurements - I've been a lazy smoothie maker lately.

a couple of handfuls of frozen strawberries
about twice as much watermelon than strawberries (by volume)
a squirt of lemon or lime juice
a squirt of agave nectar
enough water to blend

Blend and enjoy!

Long Time No Post...

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I've still been drinking my green smoothies (last weekend I even shared some with family members who had never tried them before - that was fun!), but life has been beyond crazy and I just haven't had time to get too creative with my recipes. I did throw something together this morning that turned out pretty tasty though, so I thought I'd share, even though I didn't measure ingredients. Be warned, the combination of red fruits with fresh leafy greens produces a brownish color that is not the most visually pleasing thing, but the taste is great.

a handful or two of frozen strawberries
a handful or two of frozen cherries
2 medjool dates
1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional
lots of kale
enough non-dairy milk to make it blend (I used vanilla rice milk and vanilla soy milk)

Enjoy!

Yum!

Delicious Tropical Juice

watermelon chunks, chilled
mango chunks, frozen
papaya nectar, chilled
a bit of agave nectar, optional

Blend and enjoy!

Tropical Paradise

This is another one from my other blog, again without absolute measurements... sorry.

Tropical Smoothie

frozen strawberries
frozen banana chunks
pineapple chunks (from a can)
frozen mango chunks
orange juice
a splash of flax oil

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Pomegranate Smoothie

(originally posted on my McFarland Designs blog)

I don't have exact measurements for this one - more of just a general guideline. :-)

Pomegranate Smoothie

frozen banana chunks
frozen strawberries
frozen mango
pomegranate juice, frozen in ice cube trays
ground flax seed (1 tablespoon per person)
apple juice

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Repetition

Sorry I haven't posted much lately; I've been drinking pretty much the same smoothie over and over lately and here's why - I learned a few months ago that I'm mildly iron deficient. The doctor recommended a supplement, which I attempted to remember to take for a while, but I prefer to get my nutrients from whole foods whenever possible, and I recently read that combining spinach (a good source of iron) with vitamin C helps to increase your body's absorption of the iron. So I've been dedicating myself to drinking lots of shakes with spinach and oranges. Here's a current favorite -

Iron-Rich Green Smoothie
makes one large or two smaller servings

1 cup pineapple juice
2 oranges, peeled
half a bunch of spinach (or more)
2 medjool dates, optional
1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Popsicles

Last night I made fruit popsicles for my son. They didn't set up quickly enough for him to try one last night, but right now he's eating a popsicle for breakfast. And I don't even have to feel guilty because it's all fruit!

Fruity Popsicles

1 cup apple juice
1/2 can pineapple chunks and juice
2 handfulls frozen mango chunks
2 medjool dates

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

This recipe made more than I could fit into my new rocket popsicle molds, so I saved the leftovers and this morning, I added an orange, half a bunch of spinach, and a couple of ice cubes, and I had a delicious green smoothie for breakfast.

Sorry, No Photo...

...I gulped this one down today after my run without even thinking of taking a photo. It was tasty though!

Serious Spinach Smoothie
makes one large or two smaller servings

1 ripe pear, quartered and cored
2 hand fulls frozen mango chunks
2 hand fulls frozen blueberries
4 dates, pitted
lots of spinach - I used an entire bunch, minus the stems
just enough orange juice to make it blend

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Day of Smoothies

I overate yesterday big-time (homemade vegan cinnamon rolls in the morning, plus vegan cheese tasting and dinner out in the evening - lots of fun, but ugh!) I decided I needed to detox a bit today, so I had a green smoothie for each meal with a smaller-than-usual portion of solid food. I know, I probably should have stuck with just the smoothies, but what can I say - I have a healthy appetite. :-)

Breakfast -

Minty Green Smoothie
makes one large or two smaller servings

This smoothie had a fairly thin consistency; if you prefer a thicker smoothie, reduce the amount of non-dairy milk and/or use frozen bananas instead of fresh.

1 cup non-dairy milk (I used vanilla rice milk)
1 large ripe banana
1/2 can pineapple chunks, drained
4 dates
5 small mint leaves (use fewer if your leaves are large)
3 ice cubes
as much kale as you can handle

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Lunch -

Blueberry Green Smoothie
makes one large or two smaller servings

1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used vanilla rice milk)
1 large ripe banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
4 dates
4 ice cubes
as much kale as you can handle
handful of alfalfa sprouts, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Dinner -

Mild & Fruity Green Smoothie
makes one large or two smaller servings

1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 ripe pear
1/4 cantaloupe
4 ice cubes
as much kale as you like

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Applesauce

Yesterday I used my blender for something a little different - applesauce! It was quick and easy. I didn't follow a recipe, but it turned out just fine.

Applesauce
makes a lot

12 large apples (I used Fujis)
1/4 cup sugar, optional
1 tablespoon cinnamon, optional

Quarter and core the apples, then cut each quarter in half. Leave the peels on for extra fiber! Put the apple chunks in a large soup pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, stirring if necessary to make sure the apples all get some underwater time (mine kept floating to the surface). Drain the cooked apples in a colander, allow to cool slightly, then place in blender with sugar (if using) and cinnamon, and process until desired consistency is achieved.

Parsley Juice

Well, in case any of the ten or so people who read this blog were intrigued by my use of parsley in yesterday's smoothie, here's another parsley concoction. This makes a very thin smoothie - more like a juice really. If you prefer a thicker drink, omit some or all of the juice and/or milk.

Parsley Juice
makes two large servings

1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup vanilla rice milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 large or 2 small bananas
2 oranges, peeled and quartered
4 dates
1 bunch parsley (I used flat-leaf)
4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Surprisingly Tasty

Ever since I learned that people put parsley in smoothies, I've been intrigued and a little afraid. I knew I'd have to try it one day, but it was hard for me to imagine that it would taste good. Well, today I finally brought myself to look that bunch of parsley in the fridge squarely in the eye and take up the challenge. And I'm glad to report that the resulting smoothie is really quite good!

Parsley's-Not-So-Gross-After-All Smoothie

1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
2 handfulls frozen strawberries
1 large or 2 small bananas
3 dates, pitted
1/2 - 1 bunch parsley (I used flat-leaf)
1/4 cup walnuts, optional

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

Granted, this smoothie looks a bit like a science project gone terribly awry, but trust me, it's tasty!

Sludgy Green Smoothie
makes two medium-large smoothies

1 cup orange juice
1 orange
handful or two of frozen strawberries
handful or two of frozen mango chunks
2 ice cubes
2 handfuls of greens (I used kale)

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Apple, Banana and Sweet Potato Smoothie

This one is straight from the Vita-Mix website. It's one of my favorites.

In addition to the USDA recommendation of three cups of dark green leafy vegetables per week that I mentioned earlier, they also recommend a minimum of two servings of orange vegetables per week. This smoothie is a delicious way to get some of those tasty orange veggies. Enjoy!

Yield: 4 cups (960 mL)

1 (114 g) medium sweet potato, cooked, unpeeled and cooled

1/2 cup (120 mL) non-dairy milk

1 (120 g) small banana

1/2 (70 g) golden delicious apple, cut in half

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon honey or other sweetener, to taste

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups (480 mL) ice cubes

Place all ingredients in Vita-Mix container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Run for 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately.

Sooo Purple

I can't say anything too articulate about the flavor of this smoothie... after fighting off my preschool-aged son's cold germs for months, my body finally gave in and I'm all stuffed up - can't taste much at all. But the color was nice!

makes one large or two small servings

1 cup frozen cherries
1/2 can pineapple and juice
1 apple
large handful of spinach

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Shopping for Smoothie Ingredients - Organic vs. Conventional

Most of us are now aware of the benefits of organic foods, both for our bodies and for the planet. But in a tough economic climate, not everybody can afford to buy organic. What's a smoothie-loving girl to do? Prioritize.

With this handy-dandy list from the Environmental Working Group, you'll walk in to the produce department armed with critical information. The list names the 12 most heavily pesticide-laden produce items, as well as the 15 cleanest. I carry this little card with me when I'm shopping to help me decide which items to buy cheap at the mainstream discount store and which to shell out the big bucks for organic at the natural foods store.

A Smoothie in Two Acts

Last night I felt like whipping up a thick, fruity, dessert-ish smoothie, so I threw in equal parts frozen strawberries and frozen mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries), plus enough vanilla soymilk to make it blend. The resulting concoction was fairly good but not as sweet as I would have liked - I think it needed a nice ripe banana to sweeten it up but sadly, I was all out. Anyways, it was pretty.


I made more than I could eat for dessert, so I put the leftovers in the refrigerator and this morning, I put it back in the blender, added some kale, a few ice cubes, and a couple of dates, and re-blended it for breakfast.

Mmm... green sludge.

I almost didn't post about this smoothie since the taste was just okay - nothing to get too excited about - but then I thought I'd share since it illustrates the value of saving your leftovers for a new go-round the next day. :-)

A Healthy Orange 'Julius'

I remember walking around the mall sipping an orange julius as a kid... ah, those were the days. The days before I realized the horrors of disposable cups and artificial sweeteners, that is! :-) Try this healthier version at home - your body will thank you for it.

makes one large or two small servings

2 navel oranges, peeled and quartered (use more if you're using smaller oranges like mandarins)
2-4 dates (depending on size), pitted
1/4 cup vanilla non-dairy milk (if you only have plain, add a splash of vanilla extract)
2 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Orangey-Schmorangey

The red chard in this smoothie imparts a pretty strong, earthy flavor; if you prefer a milder tasting beverage, feel free to use just the leaves of the chard (I included the stalks) or substitute a milder green leafy vegetable such as spinach.

makes 2 medium-sized servings

1 cup mango (I used frozen chunks)
2 mandarin oranges
1-2 handfuls red chard
1/4 cup water
2 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

A break from the green...

A girl cannot survive on green smoothies alone - sometimes a fruity pink concoction is in order! I neglected to actually measure ingredients, so feel free to consider these amounts as rough guidelines.

Fruity Pink Smoothie
makes two large servings

1/2 can of pineapple chunks and juice
2 bananas (I used frozen chunks)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1/2 cup vanilla non-dairy milk (or more as needed to achieve desired consistency)

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Tropical Green Smoothie

No photo today; I figure you don't need me to post a picture of every single green smoothie I make; after all, a green smoothie is a green smoothie is a green smoothie. :-)

Tropical Green Smoothie
makes 2 medium-sized servings

half of a pineapple
1 cup mango (I used frozen chunks)
2 kiwis
1-2 handfuls kale
1/2 cup pineapple juice
4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. This would probably also be good with a banana added.

Another Green Smoothie

If you're ready to take your green smoothie adventure to the next level, here's one that's actually green in color. This was a 'cleaning out my refrigerator' kind of breakfast. :-)

(pictured with one of Hannah's Superfood muffins)

Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink Smoothie
makes 2 medium-large servings

1 orange, peeled and quartered
1 apple, quartered
1 banana (fresh or frozen chunks)
1/4 pineapple
1/2 cup mango (I used frozen chunks)
3 dates
2 handfuls kale
1/2 cup pineapple juice
4 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Green Smoothies 101

Regardless of a smoothie's final color, I refer to any smoothie containing a leafy green vegetable as a 'green smoothie'. These tasty treats are an amazing way to enjoy the many benefits that leafy green veggies provide.


Dark green leafy vegetables are, calorie for calorie, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. [Source: About.com]

The USDA recommends a minimum of 3 cups of dark leafy vegetables a week, an amount I'd venture to guess the vast majority of us aren't getting. Green smoothies provide the perfect solution for upping your intake - I drink one a day, each containing around a cup of greens, which means that on the basis of my smoothies alone, I'm consuming more than twice the USDA recommendation.

If you're new to green smoothies, here's a recipe I think you'll enjoy. The flavor of the greens is totally overshadowed by the sweet cherries and strawberries, and the finished product is a nice burgundy color.

'You'll Never Guess There's Greens In Here' Smoothie
makes one large or two small servings

1/2 cup frozen cherries (about 15 cherries)
1/2 cup frozen strawberries (about 10 berries)
1 ripe banana
1 apple, quartered
1/2 cup pomegranate juice (apple juice or water would be okay as well)
1-2 handfuls of greens* (spinach and kale are good)
3 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

* If you're new to green smoothies, start with a small amount of greens and gradually work your way up. Many green smoothie aficionados recommend a balance of about 50% fruits to 50% leafy greens for an optimally healthful smoothie, but some greens are better than none, so don't give up if your palate isn't quite ready for that ratio yet.

Morning Juice

I've been drinking this juice every day for weeks. Usually I make it with fresh oranges and ice cubes (which results in an 'Orange Julius'-ish effect, but healthier), but gladcow over at Vegan Represent gave me the great idea to use frozen fruit instead of ice cubes, so I tried that this morning.


(You can thank daylight savings time for the crappiness of this photo; no good daylight yet when I made this today.)

Rise & Shine Orange-Strawberry Juice
makes one large or two small servings

2 oranges, peeled and quartered
1 tablespoon sweetener (I used agave nectar), optional
1/4 cup non-dairy milk or water
2-3 ice cubes or 10 frozen strawberries

Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth.

Helloooooo Out There...

Welcome to my world... Planet Smoothie! I am a hard-working, animal-loving, VitaMix-owning vegan and I'm hoping this will be a place where I can (a) preach the vegan smoothie gospel, (b) share amazing recipes that will help you eat lots more fruits and veggies than you ever thought possible, and (3) create a paperless archive of my adventures in smoothie making for my own later use.


When I recently acquired my VitaMix blender, I did some surfing and was kind of disappointed by the lack of appetizing, interesting smoothie blogs out there* so I thought, what the hell, I have three blogs already (and tons of spare time {not}), why not start a fourth blog for smoothies?

Why smoothies, you ask?

• Smoothies are fun. Even the name is fun. Heck, even typing the name is fun.
• Smoothies are delicious.
• Smoothies are pretty.
• Smoothies are portable.
  
• Smoothies can help you get the nutrients your body needs in a very yummy way. My morning smoothie typically packs at least five servings of fruits and vegetables into one large drinking glass (around 2-1/2 cups).

I'll be focusing mainly on healthy smoothies (often blending leafy green veggies with fruits for a super-nutritious drink that's still sweet and tasty), but may occasionally post more dessert-y recipes as well.

So stay tuned, I'll be back soon with some mouth-watering recipes to share!

* In my search for other decent smoothie blogs, it's possible I overlooked some. If you know of any good smoothie blogs, please leave a comment with a link and I'll be happy to add them to my blogroll!