Chocolate Berry Banana Smoothie

I post from earlier today I schedule posted but wanted to hurry up and blog about this smoothie I blended earlier today!  I used a small scoop of Genuine Health Gut Superfood Summer Berry Pomegranate in this! @genuinehealth #GHsuperfoods - Genuine Health sent me samples to work with and I'm in the process of working on ways to include this product in some recipes and I figured a smoothie is always a good place to start!  Below is what the recipe I threw together contains...

1 C Chocolate Almond Milk (or more if needed)
1 Pound Frozen Blueberries

2 Bananas

1 Small Scoop of Genuine Health Gut Superfood Summer Berry Pomegranate

Easy Peasy!  DH - the Carnivore - really liked it!

Please scroll down to check out today's other post and another one from late last night!  Thrift Shop & Cookbook Finds Ahead!

Global LOVE Project

Last week I was contacted by the fine folks at Global Love Project asking if I would be interested in contributing to their website and ongoing project of not only spreading love to others but having love for ourselves as well.  After spending a LOT of time on their website - I knew this was something I wanted to be involved with.

Below you will see a screen shot of my very first contribution which is a Pomegranate & Strawberry Smoothie Recipe!  HERE is the LINK for the entire post!  But may I also suggest that you take a look at the sidebar on that link and sign up for their eNewsletter!  Just for signing up you receive 5 FREE gifts!  I'm very much looking forward to contributing more to The Global Love Project!

ABOUT The Global Love Project

Love is the ultimate healer and transformer. A cliche, but for good reason; love not only can change our world, love does and is changing our world.

Love lies at the heart of who we are, and a separation from it at the root of our troubles and pain. It is the common thread that joins us all, its unifying power dissolving barriers, healing divides, bridging differences, and uniting all.

The Global Love Project is an international platform dedicated to humanitarian love founded by Aine Belton to encourage a more united and compassionate world, with numerous facets, resources, initiatives, and inspiration.

The homepage serves as a map for the various elements of the Global Love Project, our individual site pages offering more detail. Our new site design is recently live, more info and pages coming shortly!

Mango Cinnamon Vanilla Smoothie

This was my morning smoothie yesterday.  It was very simple.  I have the recipe below but first I have to say that Riley enjoyed about half of this because it ended up on the kitchen floor.  Yeah...great start to the day!  Thank GOD the rest of the day didn't follow suit.

Mango Cinnamon Vanilla Smoothie

2+ C Frozen Mango
2 C Almond Milk
1 Scoop Vanilla GoL's Raw Protein

1/2 tea Organic Cinnamon Powder

This was wonderful!  Mango might just be my most favorite fruit to add to smoothies!

RAW WEEK - Thursday

It's my 4th day of RAW during my RAW Week this week!  I thought I would share some of the Kitchen Adventures with you from last night and today.

In random order...

These Carrots with "Cheesy" Walnut Tomato Dip!

Recipe - All in Vitamix:

1 C Walnuts
3 Sun Dried Tomatoes
1/2 C Nutritional Yeast
2 T Lemon Juice
1 tea Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tea Paprika


I had some of these as a snack last night as well as part of my lunch today.  I still have some of the dip left over.

I jumped back in with the smoothies today after skipping only one day. 

Today's was a Blueberry Hemp Smoothie

Recipe - All in Vitamix:

2 one-inch chunks of frozen banana
1 C Blueberries
2 T Hemp Seeds/Hemp Hearts
1 C Water
1 Handful of Spinach
1 Date

This was super tasty!

My energy level has been pretty good.  I noticed a blemish on my chest yesterday and I'm chalking it up to my body's way of detoxing.

 I took another selfie this morning.  My hair is pulled back into a pony tail.

Other that no afternoon crash - which I don't usually get any ways - maybe once or twice a week - and the blemish I found - I haven't seen many major changes after 4 days.  I've been waking up better which is nice. 

I have already made a choice tho...eventho...I will be going back to cooking foods after this weekend...I'm going to try and stay High Raw...my goal is roughly 75% or so.

So I'm sure you will be seeing a lot more salads from me in the near future.

One thing I have noticed about my "senses" is I have found that I LOVE pickles in my salads now.  I have tried it every once and a blue moon before but I'm totally digging pickles in my salads now.

Speaking of Salads...here's mine from last night!

The lettuce variety I used for this salad was Petite Tango.  I did a whole head again.  I also threw in a good amount of Cherry Tomatoes, a few mini Orange Bell Peppers - diced, pickles - diced, and a really tasty dressing!

Apple Walnut Mustard Dressing

1 Apple
1 T Raw Grapeseed Oil
2 T Lemon Juice
1 Date
1/2 tea Mustard

I really enjoyed this dressing!  I will say this is the first oil I have added to anything this week!  Eventho it was 1 T or less even - I am pretty sure that is what was 'going on' in the toilet POST my visit earlier today! 

:)

Happenings & A Raspberry Vanilla Smoothie

I had FULL intentions of posting yesterday but the day ran away from me!  I'm looking forward to a few days off on Monday and Tuesday and hope to do some scheduling of posts to keep the site active.

A while back Tammylee poked that I needed to update my profile pic on the crafting sites and Facebook.  My default Profile Pic is years old.  But I have to say - I don't often like the photos I take of myself nor do I take many.  I always seem to be the one behind the camera and not in front of it, I guess.  I'm NOT Camera Shy but there certainly aren't a lot of recently photos of me.  More specifically ones I would or could use as a profile photo in a semi-serious situation.  I belong to a lot of writing, radio, and voice over sites as well so I should look into changing it soon, eh!?

My foods have been overly simplistic this week!  Mostly smoothies, salads, mono-meals of fruit, maybe a veggie sandwich or two.  I did 'cheat' and had a Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich using Daiya Cheese the other day...and I have had Tempeh twice this week.

I'm sprouting more Radish Sprouts as well as a Salad Mix.

Another interesting kitchen experiment tidbit - I'm going to start trying to grow Celery soon!  Yes...in my kitchen!

A Smoothie I had the other day is pictured here!  Very simple...

1 C Raspberries
1 C Almond Milk
1 Scoop of Garden of Life Vanilla Protein Powder
1-inch chunk of Banana

It was tasty!  I also received a shipment of more NuNatural Products yesterday and I will be messing around with those soon!  I was intrigued by the Oat Fiber as well as the Tagatose which is a naturally-occuring sweetener found in fruits and veggies.  But I'm super excited about the Peppermint Stevia Flavor!  YAY!

PS - Fantastic Food Friday has MOVED - check it out HERE!

Pumpkin Persimmon Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Here's a little concoction I made before Christmas and it was so fulfilling and flavorful and packed with TONS of vitamins, nutrients, and GOOD stuff!
Pumpkin Persimmon Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
1 C Coconut Milk
1/2 C Pumpkin Puree
1 Persimmon
2 T Chocolate Peanut Butter
3 Drops of NuNaturals Cocoa Bean Stevia
3 Drops of NuNationals Vanilla Stevia
1/2 Scoop of Garden of Life Yerba Mate Perfect Food Engerizer

I put all of this into my Ninja and blended well.  This is VERY thick.  I could have done with less Coconut Milk and probably made it into a pudding.  I couldn't finish the whole thing.  I drank this over two days!  It was very tasty, tho!  As you can see I put it in my new EcoJarz Lid (Wide Mouth, pictured) and my stainless steel straw!

Pomegranate Strawberry Smoothie (With & Without An Extra Boost!)

Isn't this a lovely color smoothie?  This first one I used the following...

The seeds from 1 Pomegranate
1 C Frozen Strawberries
1/4 of a Banana
1.5 C Hemp Milk

This worked out REALLY WELL.  Many of you know I HATE Bananas but I have been working up the courage to try them again.  All I could do is a quarter of 1 banana but to be honest it really didn't need more than that!  It was sweet enough with the Pom and the Strawberries AND the Hemp Milk, even.  I don't usually use Hemp Milk but I found some recently at a really good price and decided to buy some.  I guess I forgot how sweet Hemp Milk was on it's own.

In the 2nd Picture is a variation of the Smoothie that I did for Tuesday Morning.  It includes all of the above along with a FULL SCOOP of Garden of Life's Perfect Food Energizer Yerba Mate Flavor.  I'm overly pleased with the way this Smoothie turned out!  I have to admit it's my very first Smoothie using Pomegranate Seeds and it turned out GREAT!

What's so great about GoL's Perfect Food Energizer Yerba Mate?  Well, I will tell you!

Perfect Food^® RAW Energizer

Perfect Food RAW Energizer is power-packed with naturally occurring chlorophyll, beta carotene, B vitamins, minerals, protein and amino acids from RAW organic USA grown grass juices, dark green juices like spinach, parsley and kale, protein-rich sprouts  and juiced-up super antioxidant fruits like RAW organic blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and Indian Amla Berries.

Amazing Organic Energy Activators: 

·       Guayaki^® Yerba Mate, traditionally used for centuries to promote immediate energy and long term focus†

·       RAW Organic Peruvian Maca, harvested by hand, aged and sun dried to perfection, to support energy production as well as healthy, balanced hormones†

·       RAW Organic Pomegranate Juice and Cordyceps Mushrooms, long prized for providing the sustained energy you need to power through your busy day†

·       RAW Organic African Baobab, rich in minerals, especially magnesium, to promote the production of ATP—energy on the cellular level† 

Perfect Food RAW Puts the GREEN in Greens—with More Chlorophyll per Serving

Our CERTIFIED ORGANIC Greens are sustainably grown by our family farmers here in the USA. We harvest before the grain buds (to prevent gluten from forming) and then juice at the farm immediately after harvest. Our juice is gently low-temperature dried and powdered onsite locking in its nutritionally dense, organic goodness. The end result is highly bioavailable and many times more concentrated in nutrients, including Chlorophyll, than whole leaf grass powders, putting the GREEN IN YOUR GREENS!† 

Vegan • Certified Organic • Dairy Free • Soy Free • Live Probiotics and Enzymes • No Whole Grass Fillers
No Added Sugars • No Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners • No Preservatives

Good Intentions & Busy Week

 Yeah...THAT was about a week and a half!  Whew!  My Healthy eating intentions and attempts where good this week!  I'm pleased!  One thing I haven't done as of yet is this week's smoothie...but...I might do it for 'dessert' this evening!  This is the one that is on my list!  Blackberry Chia Maca Smoothie!
2 C Blackberries
2 C Coconut Milk
1 T Agave
1 T Chia Seeds - hydrated
1 tea Maca Powder
(Borrowed & Altered Photo from Sun Warrior)

What's this?  You might be asking...Well, let me tell you!  It's from Core Foods and it's a Defender Meal - a FULL Meal To Go!  It's High in Fiber and the flavor I had yesterday for my lunch was Raw Almond Raisin!  It's Raw Vegan, USDA Organic, and Tested Gluten Free!  This specific flavor had ALL Organic Whole Oats, Almonds, Raisins, Flax, and Ground Spices.

CORE is as fresh as Produce!  It lasts 6 months frozen, 1 month chilled, and 1 week on the go!  They suggest storing in the freezer for maximum freshness!  If you do freeze these babies than they suggest you let thaw for 10 minutes prior to eating!  All you have to do is eat ONE bar and follow it up with TWO glasses of water!  By doing this THIS product is equal to a full bowl of oatmeal and gives you FOUR HOURS of stable energy!

I would totally agree with this giving you energy!  After eating it I, personally, was in a VERY good mood, my energy level was extremely high AND my mind was on-track and quite clear!  And it wasn't one of those 'mind games' because I wasn't concentrating on the fact that I had one of these for lunch nor was I really 'expecting' it to give me 'that much' energy.  It wasn't until late in the evening that I wondered if my energy and mood had to do with what I ate...I'm chalking it up as so!

Here are some of my other findings for this product!  I thought the Whole Oat and Almond Combo provided an interesting taste and texture upfront.  Unlike anything I have ever had before!  The Raisin and Spice combo helped punch the flavor thru!  The Raisin did jump in with a sweetness all of it's own as well!  The Oat and Raisin flavors seemed to linger...that was pretty pleasant!  I was incredibly impressed with the mass and weight to this!  I was surprised at how well the ingredients stayed together while eating it yet it was still soft and chewy on the teeth!

I REALLY liked this!  It was fulling, flavorful, and walked-the-walk according to their product description and claims!  I have two others on hand.  I'm a little nervous about the one because it contains Banana and I have always HATED Banana...but...along this Blissful Journey of mine...I will give it a whirl!

Even tho the weather is going to be crappy - yet again - this weekend - I'm going to try and keep a smile on my face and some projects on tap!  What will you be doing this weekend!?

Participating: Healthy Vegan Friday's

Mango Chia Smoothie

This is Breakfast today!  YUM!!!!  I have to admit this is the very first time I have ever tried this but I LOVE it and will be trying it again very soon!  All I did was throw the following into a blender...Approx 2 Cups of Mango Chunks, 2 Cups of Water, 2 Tablespoons of soaked Chia Seeds, 2 Tablespoons of Agave Nectar.

It's darn tasty!