Yesterday was a big day for yours truly. Yesterday I made my first Green Smoothie.
Inspired by Mike Roberts’ experience doing a month-long raw food diet, I decided to look into the raw food movement more closely. A homemade green smoothie was the perfect snack for beginning my research, so I (literally) dusted off my gorgeous KitchenAid blender and gave it fair warning: Don’t get your hopes up for tequila, pretty lady; today you’re gonna chop some GREENS.
Yes, I occasionally talk to my appliances. Most of them are stronger than me, so it’s important they remember who’s boss.
Then I did a google search and quickly found a crap-ton of green smoothie recipes that call for seven thousand ingredients including fancy-dancy stuff like hulled hemp seeds. Not in the mood to navigate the alterna-hippie wonderland that is Whole Foods on a hunt for a unicorn hair, I went with the simplest option I could find: Pears and Spinach.
It was cheap, easy to whip up, and Oh green smoothie, where have you been all my life good. I hereby declare green smoothies in all varieties an official staple of my diet. Decided!
Spinach & Pear (& Banana!) Green Smoothie Recipe
You’ll need:
Several handfuls of spinach, stems included (I used about a third of a bunch, maybe)
2 big pears (I used Bartlett)
1 banana
Water & Ice Cubes
Step 1: Wash your greens like good boys and girls. Even if they’re organic. Even if the package says they’re pre-washed. Rinse the heck out of those babies. Nobody wants e-coli, gross.
Seriously. Wash them.
Step 2: Wash your pears and then slice them a bit if you want to be good to your blender. I didn’t photograph the washing or slicing. I don’t apologize for this.
Nice pair.
Step 3: Load up your blender with the sliced pears, handfuls of clean spinach (ahem), half a dozen or so ice cubes and a cup or two of water. Blend big time.
Before the plant carnage.
This being my first go at it, I used more water than was probably ideal and it came out too soupy after the first spin. So - I grabbed my roommie’s last banana (sorry, E!), peeled it (duh) and added it to the mix. The banana really helped thicken it up, and running the blender on puree a bit longer added to the frothy and therefore non-wateryness of it all. I didn’t think to photograph the banana part. For that, I am sorry.
Step 4: Pour the yummy green goodness into a drinking vessel that makes you feel like a Brilliant, Vibrant & Sexy Human Being, because after your first glass that’s exactly what you’ll be.
Pure Power in a Pitcher.
Step 5: GULP GULP GULP.
Today I’m ready to try a new fruit/greens combo. My sweet friend Kelli suggested I try one with an apple, and I’m really looking forward to giving that a shot – maybe with spinach and celery. Any other suggestions?
Happy Friday!
Dear Sweet One, really awesome that you documented your green smoothie debut and even awesome-er that you named me as the catalyst for such a bold move. On the strength of these 2 events, I feel obligated to give you the secret behind making a bomb-ass green smoothie each and every time out…
…Give them a name.
Here are a few ideas:
Tropic Thunder: Mango, Banana, Pineapple and swiss chard
The Maroon Monsoon: Raspberries, Strawberries, banana and Lacinato kale (the color of the smoothie will be similar to dirt, but taste delish)
The Drunk Minimalist (what?): Whatever over-ripe fruit ya got/whatever greens ya got.
The term “green smoothie” sucks, and when you offer one to a loved one, they will likely make a face like they are sucking on a lemon. When you offer your friend a sip of your “Tropic Thunder”, in a cool glass with a wedge of pineapple on the rim, they will beg you for more.
~Mike
ps- I read through some of your articles and I can see that you’re into the “minimalist” thing just a bit. *Spoiler Alert* for September’s “Big Goal Hunt” I am going to eliminate EVERYTHING I own except for 10 items. It should be an interesting experiment :)
Haha thanks for the great advice! I shall call the Spinach-Pear-Banana concoction the Par Three on account of its making me want to rush out and go golfing for some reason.
I look forward to reading your so-called “interesting” post. I’d call it “crazy” myself, but I guess I’ll just have to wait until next month to see if my suspicions are confirmed. :)
You. Are. Hilarious. I love the way you write! Keep up this blog, PLEASE! :D
Thank you so much! It really means a lot! :)
Isn’t she? Love this girl, love her blog! Keep up the good work!
Thanks to you, too! I’m really so flattered by the compliments and that both the MinimalistGirl and the MinimalistWoman stopped by!! :D
Nice blog! I’ve been doing green smoothies for several months. Papaya is definitely good to add- gives it a tropical flavor, plus super good for you (has enzymes that help with digestion). I’m not sure if it mentions this in the book you have, but just make sure to rotate your greens. Also, i like to juice oranges and a lime or two for a nice citrus backdrop- especially good for really strong greens like dandelion greens. Have fun!
Hi and thanks for the tips! I’ve not ever tried dandelion greens, but now I definitely will – I have a few limes on hand that I need to use up. I’ll let you know how it goes! :)