Kefir/Yogurt Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Fiiinnalllyyy, I’m posting a pumpkin recipe.

I’ve been feeling pretty innovative with the Redwood Hill Farm and Green Valley Organics yogurts and Kefirs, but this recipe came straight from the PR people at Redwood Hill.

And I do not suggest you change it; it’s pretty perfect!

Sorry about the photo quality, they’re iPhone pictures.  Also, don’t forget to enter my giveaway!

Kefir/Yogurt Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
From: Green Valley Organics

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Green Valley Organics or Redwood Hill Farm Plain Kefir or plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice or cider
• 1/4 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1/2 medium fresh or frozen banana or 2 pitted dates
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 2 Tbs. sweetener of choice (we like maple syrup)
• 1/2 to 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (to taste)
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (optional)
• 1/2 cup ice cubes (adjust to reach desired consistency)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Top It Off: Add a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon granola (and a bit of candied ginger) to the top, grab a spoon, close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re enjoying Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

PER SERVING: 295 CAL; 8G PROT; 5G TOTAL FAT (2G SAT. FAT); 54G CARB; 5MG CHOL; 124MG SOD; 5G FIBER; 32G SUGARS*

 

Banana Oatmeal Green Monster- Sneaky way to get veggies in your diet

I like vegetables, I really do.  BUT, if it weren’t for these green monsters, I would definitely not be eating enough.

If you’ve got a child who doesn’t eat his/her veggies (or you don’t) this is the perfect way around it.

I promise you, you can’t even taste the spinach in this.  If it helps, you could always close your eyes while you drink it. 😉

Your kids will probably think it’s cool.  Remember when Heinz came out with green ketchup?  I remember when it first came out, I was so excited and I just had to get some.   I felt pretty cool eating it.

 

This is the same concept… only a smoothie, not ketchup.

Don’t be scared, it’s just spinach.

Banana Oatmeal Green Monster

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana, cut into pieces
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1 huge handful of spinach
• 1/2 cup oats
• Sweetener, to taste (I use Stevia)
• Ice cubes to desired consistency

Directions:

1.  Blend all ingredients in a blender.  Easy.

 

Fruity Banana Smoothie? Sorbet? Ice Cream?

Sometimes you just have to stop and relax.

It’s harder to do than you think.  Most of us are constantly on the go and never have any down time.

Think about the last time that you just sat down for 20 minutes doing absolutely nothing but relaxing.

Was it a long time ago?

If so, I’d advise you to do some relaxing.  Just sit down for 20 minutes and maybe even meditate.  Meditating isn’t some weird thing freaks do, I promise.  I do it all the time (not that that proves anything.)  Meditating is just controlling your breaths and releasing all thoughts.  It’s been proven to reduce Cortisol levels and Cortisol is what (apparently) causes stress and mindless eating.  So, there you have it.  Take some time for yourself just to relax.  You deserve it!

And before you head off to relax, make a banana mango smoothie.  Check out the title… I wasn’t quite sure what to call it because I couldn’t decide if it’s a smoothie, sorbet, or ice cream.  It’s just like the “1 ingredient banana ice cream” except it’s got 3 ingredients… so does that make it a smoothie?  Or a sorbet since one of the other ingredients is frozen fruit?!  Don’t ask me; I’m obviously confused!  Whatever it is, it’s so simple, delicious, and healthy.  I’ve made one almost every day for the past two weeks.  And if you make it, please tell me what you’d call it.  🙂

Fruity Mango Smoothie/Sorbet/Ice Cream


1 frozen banana, chopped up
1/2 large frozen mango, chopped up (or fruit of choice)
1/4 cup yogurt

1.  Chop your banana and mango.
2.  Put in freezer a couple of hours or until frozen.
3.  Blend all ingredients in a food processor.
4.  Enjoy!

I also made one with about a cup of frozen strawberries.  Delicious!

Thin Mint Green Monster

Man, it has just been one of those days.

You know those days where nothing goes right?  Where you just stop doing things because you know it’s pointless.

That’s my excuse for homework, at least.  I’m sure that would go over really well.  “I didn’t do my homework because I knew I was going to fail.”  But, I insist on making a blog post instead of doing it anyway.

This day is putting me in a bad mood and there’s only so many times you can claim it’s “that time of the month” before people start questioning you.  “Katie, didn’t you say “your time of the month” was last week?” Uh, what? No!

I just have a few quick requests….

Dear puddle, get away from my shoes.
Dear bobby pins, please restock yourself.
Dear teacher, please don’t get mad at me because I was having technical difficulties with my computer.  It’s not my fault.
Dear homework, if you aren’t “group work”, please don’t have “group work” written on you so I don’t wait to do it in class with a group when I was supposed to do it by myself.
Dear cat, please quit puking on all of my stuff.  SERIOUSLY!
Dear Verizon, please get the iPhone so I can finally have my birthday present.  (I’m in a bad mood, I can be greedy).
Dear Pretty Little Liars, please just tell me who “A” is. (Don’t make fun of me.  It’s an unhealthy habit that can’t be stopped.)
Dear Glee cast, please don’t ever sing Justin Bieber songs again, and if you do, please don’t make Sam sing it; you’re ruining him for me. (Again, don’t make fun of me.)
Dear Mom, who accidentally bought the wrong thing at the store today, it’s okay. It was probably my fault!!
Dear blogger, please don’t tell me an error occurred when I try to post this recipe!!!!!

Okay, so it was nothing significant, but it just added up today and I was not having any of it.

Anyway, on a more positive note, I’ve been obsessed with these Green Monster smoothies lately.  There’s a whole site dedicated to recipes for them, so I think I’m set for life.

They have spinach in them.  They’re green.  They taste delicious.  If you’re like me, you’re really hesitant about the green/spinach thing.  Ew.  When I take these to work with me, I put them in a non-see-through (that’s a word right?) cup because they’re so nasty looking.

But please trust me when I tell you that you can’t even taste the spinach.  It’s a really good way to get vegetables into your diet if you’re anti-veggies.  The one I’ve been making lately tastes exactly like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie.  I swear!  Don’t believe me?  Try it for yourself!

Also, if anyone has any tips on making one of these look appetizing, please let me in on your secret.

P.S. Happy late Valentine’s Day.  I hope you all enjoyed it.  I did!  Post on that coming soon 🙂

Thin Mint Green Monster

1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I used vanilla and added two tablespoons of cocoa powder)
1 cup milk
1 HUGE handful of spinach
1/8 tsp mint extract (or to taste)
Sweetener, to taste.  I add a bunch of agave nectar.
Ice cubes to desired consistency.  I like mine super thick so I add a bunch

Blend all ingredients in a blender.  Easy as pie. 

P.S. I’m trying to win a free box of Clif Bars and I’m also trying to win a package from Fitting It All In of her favorite things.  You should all check out her blog, it’s very cute!

Thin Mint Green Monster

Man, it has just been one of those days.

You know those days where nothing goes right?  Where you just stop doing things because you know it’s pointless.

That’s my excuse for homework, at least.  I’m sure that would go over really well.  “I didn’t do my homework because I knew I was going to fail.”  But, I insist on making a blog post instead of doing it anyway.

This day is putting me in a bad mood and there’s only so many times you can claim it’s “that time of the month” before people start questioning you.  “Katie, didn’t you say “your time of the month” was last week?” Uh, what? No!

I just have a few quick requests….

Dear puddle, get away from my shoes.
Dear bobby pins, please restock yourself.
Dear teacher, please don’t get mad at me because I was having technical difficulties with my computer.  It’s not my fault.
Dear homework, if you aren’t “group work”, please don’t have “group work” written on you so I don’t wait to do it in class with a group when I was supposed to do it by myself.
Dear cat, please quit puking on all of my stuff.  SERIOUSLY!
Dear Verizon, please get the iPhone so I can finally have my birthday present.  (I’m in a bad mood, I can be greedy).
Dear Pretty Little Liars, please just tell me who “A” is. (Don’t make fun of me.  It’s an unhealthy habit that can’t be stopped.)
Dear Glee cast, please don’t ever sing Justin Bieber songs again, and if you do, please don’t make Sam sing it; you’re ruining him for me. (Again, don’t make fun of me.)
Dear Mom, who accidentally bought the wrong thing at the store today, it’s okay. It was probably my fault!!
Dear blogger, please don’t tell me an error occurred when I try to post this recipe!!!!!

Okay, so it was nothing significant, but it just added up today and I was not having any of it.

Anyway, on a more positive note, I’ve been obsessed with these Green Monster smoothies lately.  There’s a whole site dedicated to recipes for them, so I think I’m set for life.

They have spinach in them.  They’re green.  They taste delicious.  If you’re like me, you’re really hesitant about the green/spinach thing.  Ew.  When I take these to work with me, I put them in a non-see-through (that’s a word right?) cup because they’re so nasty looking.

But please trust me when I tell you that you can’t even taste the spinach.  It’s a really good way to get vegetables into your diet if you’re anti-veggies.  The one I’ve been making lately tastes exactly like a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie.  I swear!  Don’t believe me?  Try it for yourself!

Also, if anyone has any tips on making one of these look appetizing, please let me in on your secret.

P.S. Happy late Valentine’s Day.  I hope you all enjoyed it.  I did!  Post on that coming soon 🙂

Thin Mint Green Monster

1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I used vanilla and added two tablespoons of cocoa powder)
1 cup milk
1 HUGE handful of spinach
1/8 tsp mint extract (or to taste)
Sweetener, to taste.  I add a bunch of agave nectar.
Ice cubes to desired consistency.  I like mine super thick so I add a bunch

Blend all ingredients in a blender.  Easy as pie. 

P.S. I’m trying to win a free box of Clif Bars and I’m also trying to win a package from Fitting It All In of her favorite things.  You should all check out her blog, it’s very cute!