Green Smoothie

Green Smoothie Centerpiece

Lazy morning green smoothie.

Layer of frozen peaches
Layer of frozen mangos
Splash of vanilla soy milk
1/2 container of Vanilla Coconut Milk Yogurt
Nice handful of spinach
1 T ground flaxseed
Squirt of agave
Water

The agave was needed this morning to take the bite out.
Could have added a cucumber.

Warm Banana Smoothie

Some mornings I wake up craving something warm and nurturing. My standard green smoothie does not do the trick.  I decided to try a warm smoothie I adjusted from Clean Cuisine and More.

1 banana
1 cup hot water
a splash or two of vanilla soy milk
a generous sprinkle of cinnamon
4 dates

Blended together in the VitaMix.


Notes:
surprised to say that I really liked it and I'd have it again... maybe even think of a way to squeeze in some green veggies.

Chocolate Quinoa Bundt Cake

From:   Chef In You

• 2/3 cup Quinoa - cooked according to directions
• 1-1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup 1 % fat Buttermilk  ( I substitute non-dairy buttermilk made with vinegar and soy milk)
• 2 large Eggs   (next time, I would substitute a flax egg and figure out how to sub egg whites)
• 4 large Egg Whites
• 1 tsp pure Vanilla Extract
• 3/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted and cooled, see Tips
• 1 cup Coconut Sugar, see Tips  (I used all coconut sugar)
• 1/2 cup Cane Sugar, see Tips
• 1 cup unsweetened Cocoa powder
• 1-1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt

Tips

1. Coconut oil: I use Extra Virgin Coconut oil for this. You can replace this with butter or Olive oil.

2. Coconut and Cane Sugar : Because of the reason I mention in the previous para, I have used this amounts. You can either use 1-1/2 cups Coconut Sugar or 1-1/2 cups Cane sugar. If you don't have either ones, you can use regular white sugar instead.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a large bundt pan. You can use room temperature butter or shortening (or vegetable oil). I use a tissue to apply the grease all over the pan making sure to cover the indentations.

Since this is a chocolate cake, I use Cocoa powder instead of flour. 
Just sprinkle about 1 tsp of the powder and pat the pan, gradually rotating it so that the powder sticks to the pan wherever you have applied the grease.

Set this pan aside. If you don't have a bundt pan, you can also use two 8-inch (20-cm) round or square cake pans. Don't forget to line the bottoms with parchment paper.

Combine the buttermilk, eggs, egg whites and vanilla in a blender or food processor by giving it few whirls.
Add 2 cups of cooked quinoa and the coconut oil.
Blend until smooth and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the contents of the blender and mix well until combined.

Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake on center rack for 50 minutes until inserted knife comes out clean. Cool in pan before serving.

My Notes:

Do the children like it?  everyone but isaac
Would I make it again?   yes

I liked it, for chocolate cake which I don't like.
It was hard to get out of the pan - could have been because I was impatient or might just need to grease heavily.

Kris Carr's Green Smoothie Recipe

From:  KrisCarr.com

Yield: 2 servings

• 1 avocado  (1/2)
• 1 – 2 pieces of low-glycemic fruit: green apple, pear, berries and cantaloupe (2 pears)
• 1 cucumber (persian)
• A fistful of kale or romaine or spinach  (kale)
• Coconut water (or purified water)    (water and coconut oil)
• Stevia to taste, and or a sprinkle of cinnamon or some cacao (optional)  (stevia and cinnamon)

1. Blend ingredients in a high-powered blender.

My Notes:  

Good.  I would definitely make this again.  I used 1/2 avocado, 2 pears, a persian cucumber, a handful of kale, T of coconut oil, water, 1tsp stevia and a sprinkle of cinnamon