Day 2 January 2013 GSC

After you have finished this 2-day Green Smoothie Challenge - remember to email "I Did It - your name and your city" to Clive of RawBC so he can track the numbers participating - send email to info@rawbc.org

If you've ever had a craving, then you will understand mine today. This morning I awoke with blueberries on my mind. More than just an image in my mind's eye, my body was talking to me. 

At first I considered making a blueberry milkshake GS, but that would take time for creation and picture taking. Choosing the quicker route, I searched my archives and found this to share with you!

PEPPERY BLUE GS PUDDING
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup Arugula greens
1/2 Avocado, peeled and seeded
1 pear
1 cup blueberries (I used frozen)

• Place water, pear, blueberries in blender first, then top with greens and 1/2 Avocado
• Blending will make a very thick pudding because of the Avocado
• Arugula is one of my favourite greens because of its slightly peppery taste 
• Thin out with more water if you prefer to drink from a glass
• Otherwise all you need is a bowl and spoon to enjoy!

Nutri-Tips:

• Arugula contains Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant that boosts immunity and is great for the eyes, skin, and teeth.
• Being low in oxalates, Arugula is a healthy alternative for those seeking foods high in calcium and essential minerals.

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Since blueberries were calling to me today, and the milkshake idea was still floating around, I simply decided to go with the flow - enjoy!

BLUEBERRY MILKSHAKE GS
2 cups fresh sprouts
1 cup Arugula
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen pears
2 cups Sesame seed mylk (from unhulled Sesame seeds) 

• In a blender, mix together until thick and creamy
• Using frozen fruit gives a thicker milkshake effect 
• Adding more blueberries deepens the colour and intensifies the flavour
• I have used Sesame seed mylk, but feel free to try with any nut or seed mylk

Nutri-Tips:  

• Blueberries 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 affect blood sugar levels as sugar is released and absorbed more slowly.
• 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 are light brown as opposed to hulled sesame seeds which are white. In their original state, unhulled seeds retain their higher mineral content; 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 - January 2013 GSC

Welcome to our Monthly Green Smoothie Challenge!

Next month the GSC will be on February 18 and 19 - be sure to mark on your calendar!

By combining the divine sweetness of Coconut Orange Juice with nourishing Collard greens a new flavour combination was born. Remember that young Thai coconut water always adds a unique taste and texture to Green Smoothies! 

ORANGE COLLARD GS

2 cups fresh young Thai coconut water

1 orange, peeled and seeded

1 cup frozen pears

4 Collard greens with centre stalk removed 

• With the heel of a large knife, remove the top from a young Thai coconut and pour the liquid into a high speed blender. If less than 2 cups, add enough water to make up the difference.
• Add fruit and blend until smooth
• Add Collard greens last, and blend until creamy
• For a sweeter taste, increase the number of oranges to two
• Adding more pears will give you a creamier GS without separation

Raw-Tips:

• For a really simple drink that tastes like ambrosia, try blending young Thai coconut water with a peeled and seeded orange. If you do not have a high speed blender, replace the whole orange with orange juice.
• Save that coconut meat! Using a spoon, remove the white meat from inside the coconut and either use it right away or store in a bag in the freezer for future use.

Nutri-Tip: 

• Collard greens are packed with nutrition and provide anticancer properties.
• An excellent source of vitamins B6 and C, carotenes, chlorophyll, and manganese, one cup of collard greens provides more than 70 percent of the RDA for vitamin C.
• They are also a very good source of fibre, and several minerals, including iron, copper, and calcium, with vitamins B1, B2, and E.

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To continue the coconut theme from this morning, I looked in Victoria Boutenko's book, Green Smoothie Revolution and found this tasty GS!

GREEN COLODA GS
1 cup Spinach
2 bananas, peeled
1/3 fresh pineapple
1/2 cup young Thai coconut meat
1 cup young Thai coconut water

• Add all ingredients to blender and mix together until smooth