Day 2 - August 2012 GSC

This is how I started my day - with a Pineapple Chard Green Smoothie! These Green Smoothies are not only good for you - but are refreshing, tasty, and give you a lot of energy!

Pineapple Chard GS

2 cups water
1/2 mango, peeled and seeded
1 banana, peeled
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 knob organic ginger (1/2" to 1" chunk)
1 to 2 cups fresh Rainbow Chard (depending on your tasts buds)

• Placing the water and fruit in the blender first makes for easier blending
• After blending the fruit, add the torn or chopped greens
• Blend again and taste

Nutri-Tips:
Both Banana and Mango have soluble fibre to keep your GS from separating (like when you add citrus or apple). Insoluble fibre passes through our intestines largely intact - while soluble fibre prolongs stomach emptying time and may beneficially affect blood sugar levels as sugar is released and absorbed more slowly. For soluable fibre include fruits like banana, mango, blueberries, or pear. Peel and cut ripe peeled bananas into chunks and store them in a bag in your freezer. This way you always have some on hand for the creaminess you desire!

-------------------------

Finishing off this Green Smoothie Challenge with a Strawberry Milkshake GS. And although I have posted this one before, it is one that I like. Hope you enjoyed this month's GSC!

Strawberry Milkshake GS 

2 cups Arugula/Spinach mixture
2 frozen bananas
1 cup strawberries
2 cups Sesame seed mylk (from unhulled sesame seeds)

• In a blender, mix together until thick and creamy
• Using frozen bananas results in a thicker milkshake effect
• Strawberries can be fresh or frozen - adding more will give a reddish colour and a more intense strawberry flavour
• Use any nut or seed mylk

Nutri-Tips:  I find Sesame mylk has more flavour than Almond mylk, and sesame seeds are a good source of calcium, phosphorous, zinc and copper. Unhulled sesame seeds have a higher mineral content and are less processed than hulled sesame seeds; offer more calcium than hulled sesame seeds; and are less prone to rancidity - they are also gluten-free!

Day 1 - August 2012 GSC

Welcome to our Monthly
Green Smoothie Challenge!
Usually it is held on the 3rd Monday and Tuesday each month - but since I was away, for this month it is on the 4th Mon and Tues.

Next month the GSC will be on September 17 and 18 - be sure to mark on your calendar!

Begin by opening a fresh young Thai coconut (they are the white coconuts that have been shaved to a point and are wrapped in clear plastic). I find they are fresher and cheaper in Asian markets. 

Remember when buying coconuts to always shake them! If you hear liquid sloshing around - put it down and select a different one. The sound of liquid sloshing means the coconut is older and fermentation is taking place inside - you only want the young ones packed full of the precious liquid!

After removing the lid with the heel of a large knife and pouring approximately 2 cups coconut water into the blender, the meat is removed from the coconut with a heavy spoon, put into a bag, and stored in the freezer for later use in recipes.

Rainforest GS

2 cups coconut water
1/2 cup orange juice, fresh squeezed
1/2 mango, peeled and seeded
1 banana, peeled
1/2 papaya, peeled and seeded
1 to 2 cups fresh spinach (depending on your tasts buds)

• Placing the water and fruit in the blender first makes for easier blending
• After blending the fruit, add the torn or chopped greens
• Blend again and taste
• If using a Vitamix you can add the whole orange (peeled and seeded)

Nutri-Tips:
I always enjoy fresh spinach once a week. It is loaded with vitamins, is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, and with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory antioxidants, spinach shows evidence of protection against the occurrence of prostate cancer. It also alkalizes the body, nourishes the eyes, and strengthens the bones!

-------------------------

For dinner on the first day of a challenge, I usually make a thick pudding that fills me when I am normally looking for a meal!

Blueberry Pudding GS

1 cup water
1-1/2 cups frozen blueberries
1-1/2 bananas, peeled
1-1/2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup fresh parsley
1 Tbsp Chia seeds (optional)

• As usual I place the water and fruit in the blender first for easier blending
• After blending the fruit, add the chopped greens
• Blend again and taste
• Optional: After all ingredients in GS are blended, add Chia seeds, pulse for a few seconds to mix through and not break up the seeds - let GS sit for 5 minutes or so to thicken

Nutri-Tips:
Blueberries combat cancer, protect your heart, stabilize blood sugar, boost memory, and prevent constipation!

Raw Cheezy Veggies

Here is a recipe that I received and decided to give it a try. It comes from Ron Russell of the Sun Café and this is my modified version for the cheez sauce and veggies (shown here with Portabello Loaf.

Raw Cheezy Veggies

Veggies
1 cup diced celery
1 cup zucchini, quartered and sliced 1/4" thick
1 cup red pepper, sliced in chunks
1 cup green beans, ends trimmed off and sliced
1 clove garlic, pressed or chopped
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• Mix all together in a glass casserole
• Remove bottom 2 trays from dehydrator
• Place casserole in bottom of dehydrator
• Dehydrate at 105 degrees 2-3 hours to give a roasted texture

Cheeze
1 small red pepper, chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked and drained
4 Tbsp Red Star nutritional yeast 
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp paprika
1-1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
2 Tbsp raw agave, or chopped pitted dates
3/4 cup filtered water

• Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender (I used a Vitamix) 
• Pour cheeze over veggies - and enjoy!

Local Organic Berries

My first day back from holidays - and I was in the fields picking berries!

For local ORGANIC blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries I like to go to Warketin farm located on Harris Road on the way to Mission. Call Damon at 604-302-4968 for directions and crop availability.

Today I picked nearly 20 pounds of succulent fruit - blackberries so plump they almost fell off the vines, strawberries to make your mouth water, and sweet juicy plums that I have already eaten!

At home, I just rinse the berries in cool water, lay on a towel to dry a bit, and spread on trays in the freezer till semi frozen. Then they go in ziploc bags into the freezer, ready for use in green smoothies and desserts during the winter months!