Green Goddess Shake

Continuing on with the “green theme” for St. Patty’s Day, I have a creamy drink packed with nutrition and protein to jumpstart your morning!

We have been buying loads of kiwi for our yogurt store’s topping bar, which got me thinking about buying a few for my own personal use at at home. For some reason, I had forgotten about this little fruit. I always think of berries, apples and bananas when I am standing in the fruit section of the grocery store but lately I’ve had kiwi on the brain

Since I enjoyed using applesauce in my apple pie cheesecake smoothie so much, I decided to go the dairy-free route with this quick and easy shake that hit the spot when I was running short on time! Smoothies are one of the only things I’ve actually been making on a regular basis with the craziness of our recent schedules…at least I know I am getting some good nutrition at the start of my day before heading out to work.

Green Goddess Shake 

Ingredients

1/2 ripe avocado, halved and pit removed (could use a whole avocado for a creamier drink, but I only had 1/2 left in the fridge)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce (or 2 small apples, peel on)
1 kiwi, skin removed
1-2 scoops of protein powder (I used unsweetened vanilla rice protein)
2/3 cup mango (or pineapple would work here too) – (I used frozen mango chunks)
2 tsp chia seeds, optional
1 handful of greens (I used baby spinach)
1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used hemp)

Directions

1. Add ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, about one minute. Divide into two glasses and enjoy!

Serves 2

This photo is for you Sonia…a huge bowl full of frozen yogurt and part of our blooper reel from our commercial shoot for the store…blueberry frozen yogurt topped with every crazy topping imaginable…don’t worry, I don’t eat this way on a daily basis

Java Chip Smoothie

Today is a special day – it’s my mom’s birthday! So I want to give a big birthday shout out to my fabulous mother – not only is she my biggest fan, she is one of my best friends and she deserves an amazing day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I love you!

I thought I’d post a recipe today that with flavors my mom enjoys…coffee and chocolate! I’ve never been one to consume much caffeine or coffee on a regular basis but I do enjoy mocha and coffee flavored drinks and desserts. When opting for a hot drink, I would much rather have a cup of tea as opposed to coffee but I’ve also come to appreciate a little caffeine boost during the start of our new yogurt store :)

Here’s a mocha-inspired protein smoothie that is a delicious snack, after-workout drink or on-the-go breakfast!

Java Chip Smoothie 

Ingredients

1 cup non-dairy milk (almond, rice, coconut, soy, hemp)
2-3 dashes of ground cinnamon
1 scoop of protein powder (use soy,rice or hemp for vegan)
1-2 medjool dates
1 Tbsp raw cacao powder (regular cocoa powder could be subbed)
2 tsp instant coffee granules (regular or decaf)
4-5 ice cubes
1 tsp cacao nibs or chocolate chips for serving

Directions

1. Add non-daory milk through ice cubes to a blender and combine until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a glass and sprinkle with cacao bins (or chocolate chips) and enjoy!

Cran-Nana Sweet-tart Smoothie

I’ve had a bag of frozen cranberries in my freezer since the holidays. I tried making a cranberry muffin/bread/cake thing and it turned out looking like a leopard with a blueish tint– tasty but not pretty at all!

This is a must more attractive looking use of cranberries– a creamy sweet tart smoothie made with frozen banana and frozen cranberries. I added a scoop of protein powder for a hint of vanilla and extra staying power. You could sweeten this drink up with a drizzle of your favorite liquid sweetener if preferred but I enjoyed this a little on the tart side. I used coconut milk as my non-dairy milk but apple juice or orange juice could be substituted for a sweeter smoothie and a different flavor.

Cran-Nana Sweet-Tart Smoothie

Ingredients

1/3 cup frozen (or fresh) unsweetened cranberries
1 large frozen ripe banana, cut into chunks (you could use fresh and add ice cubes but will not be as creamy)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp chia seed (or flaxseed meal), optional
3/4 cup non-dairy vanilla milk (coconut, almond, soy) OR (could use no-sugar-added apple or orange juice for different flavor or a combo)
drizzle of agave or honey for sweeter, optional (I omitted this but just in case you want a slightly sweeter drink)

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Serves 1

Apple Pie Cheesecake Smoothie

I bought a huge case of unsweetened applesauce at Costco a couple weeks ago and I’ve been trying to come up with creative ways to use it. Since I am back onto smoothies (after what I am calling a “holiday and new year hiatus”), I’ve been branching out and trying new flavor combinations. Ever since Sonia posted her apple cheesecake smoothie, I knew I had to give it a go with a few changes based on what I had on hand. I am happy to report that I am ecstatic about the results!

This smoothie recipe seriously tastes like an apple pie cheesecake in liquid form. I was dancing around my kitchen doing a fist pump as I was trying to sip this smoothie and savor all it’s deliciousness. After several near-spills, I quieted down and drank my smoothie with a giant smile on my face instead of a full-out dance

This is a must try smoothie recipe if you are a fan of apple pie and/or cheesecake. It’s thick, creamy and decadent – it might just be my favorite smoothie yet. Though I used cottage cheese, you might be able to make this vegan/dairy free by using silken tofu and adding a bit of nutritional yeast for the cheese factor, I’d like to try it for myself!

Apple Pie Cheesecake Smoothie (adapted from The Healthy Foodie)

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup raw red apple, diced (I used Gala OR 2 more Tbsp applesauce)
1/2 cup cottage cheese (vegan might be able to sub 1/2 cup  silken tofu & add 2 tsp nutritional yeast)
1/2 scoop vanilla or plain protein powder, optional
1 Tbsp roasted or raw almond butter
1 Tbsp flaxseed meal (or chia seed)
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or other non-dairy milk of choice)
1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (I use the latter)
one shake of ground cloves (small pinch)
splash of pure vanilla extract

chopped or sliced almonds + cinnamon for optional garnish

Directions

1. Add all ingredients except for garnish in a blender or a Magic Bullet and process until very smooth and well incorporated (about one minute). Pour into a glass, top with almonds and a shake of ground cinnamon. Enjoy!

Serves 1