Smoothies

A few months ago, my best friend (yes, I'm 27, and I still have a "best friend" - since we were 2, actually) gave me an amazing recipe for something she called 'Green Drink'. She claimed it had all these amazing benefits, and was so healthy, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Now, this was a pretty big deal for me. I basically hate trying new foods. Seriously. {I went to Greece once, on a mission trip, and ate McDonald's every single day. Disgusting, I know.} So the thought of tasting something called 'Green Drink' didn't sound too appetizing, but I pushed past it. {In other words, I drank it through a straw, so I'd taste the least possible amount before swallowing it.}

Surprisingly, it was good! Not only did it taste good, but ager drinking it for a few mornings in a row, I could tell a significant increase in my energy level, and felt great! Over the next few weeks, I changed up the recipe to make it suit my taste a bit more. Now, Allie Joy and I have smoothies at breakfast every morning! They're our fave!

So...since many of my Facebook friends have asked...here is the recipe:

{Base 'Green Drink' Recipe}

• 1 sliced, frozen banana {You don't have to freeze it, but it helps the texture of the smoothie a LOT if you do.}
• 1 cup of Orange Juice
• A "splash" of 100% Cranberry Juice
• A pinch of ground flaxseed
• Fill the remainder of the blender with spinach

Sounds yummy, yes? {Ha!}

Here's my tweaked, berry-filled recipe:

 

• {Ingredients}

• 1 sliced, frozen banana
• 4-5 frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
• 1/4 cup frozen blackberries
• 1 cup Orange Juice
• 1/2 cup 100% Cranberry/Pomegranate Juice
• Fresh Spinach

I add the frozen bananas first.

My little helper always wants to push the

buttons on the smoothie maker before we're done

adding the ingredients. Shocking, I know.

Allie sometimes helps me add the berries. One slow

berry at a time...

Then, I add the raspberries...

Then the blackberries...

Then the strawberries...

It looks like a lot of fruit, but it shrinks

down quite a bit when it's blended up.

{This is the reality of having a 19-month-old assistant. I was

pouring my cranberry juice into the measuring cup, and she

decided to "help" by lifting the bottom of the juice bottle

way up over her head. Thanks, Allie!}

This is what I have after I've blended the fruit

and juices.

Allie wanted to stir it, but she couldn't quite reach.

Lastly, I add the spinach. All the way to the top of the blender.

After adding the spinach, this is

the finished product. 

Sometimes, I still use a straw I always drink it through a straw, because I can't handle the texture the spinach adds, but the flavor with all of those berries is amazing!! I didn't add flax seed, because I don't do that every day, just a couple days a week.

I hope this inspires you to try it out! It's our favorite breakfast treat - especially today, when it's 110 degrees!