Green Monsters Approaching!

Today was a pretty good day. See Magazine in Edmonton did a feature on vegans in the city and I got interviewed for it. Very cool to see a feature on vegans in Edmonton. Thanks to See and Angela for posting my recipe and blog! Click the link to view the article See Magazine - The Joy of Cooking Vegan

I cannot believe I have not done a post on green smoothies yet! I think I have mentioned them in passing once or twice, but never devoted a post to them. I started making green smoothies after reading Oh She Glows. I have always loved smoothies and this looked like a really easy way to get a few servings of veggies before 8:00 am.

The basic recipe:
- 1/2 to 1 banana
- 1 cup milk (any kind)
- 1 cup spinach, or kale
- Tbsp flax or chia seed
- ice

Throw it in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more milk if it's too thick.

Angela Liddon who created oh she glows has started a site devoted to the green monster: http://greenmonstermovement.com/. Check it out, there are lots of variations.

I usually put something with some vitamin c in it.. Apple sauce, lime juice, orange juice. Whatever is on hand.  If I use kale, I steam it first. Otherwise Kale can give a green smoothie a gritty texture. Nothing wrong with it, but some people may find it off-putting.

My favourite way to make a green smoothie right now, take the basic green smoothie recipe above and add:
- 1/2 avocado
- 2 Tbsp of cocoa powder
- 1 tsp sweetener (I use maple sugar)
- replace 1/2 of the milk with coconut milk
- 1.2 tsp vanilla

Warning: Adding cocoa or fruit can make a green smoothie look kind of... icky.. Pay no attention to this. Just because red or brown doesn't make a nice colour when mixed with green; doesn't mean the flavours won't work!

I now have green smoothies at least three times a week. They are easy, portable, tasty and good for. How often does that happen? Since starting them, I notice I can focus a bit better, and my energy levels are up.

Try them once, and I bet you'll be hooked. To prove my point - Even babies like them :)

Ben enjoying the euphoric green smoothie hangover