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April 3, 2017This is about...
Susanna’s GREEN SMOOTHIE---YUM!
MY BIG ANNUAL CLEANSE at We Care Spa was a few weeks ago. This being
my sophomore visit, I had a little experience under my belt. So, I didn’t feel like I needed to lug my mandolin this year. But as a safety precaution, to keep my mind off of eating, as
I WAS SUBJECTING MYSELF TO what some people might construe as
ONE FULL WEEK OF TORTURE--
an all liquid fast-- I still brought along my knitting and my computer. No idle hands allowed here.
UNFORTUNATELY, it appears that
You can't teach an old dog nw tricks. And just like last year,
IN THOSE LAST CRITICAL MOMENTS OF FOOD FREEDOM, I just had to get any stubborn cravings out of my system. So, with complete abandon,
I dug into a hotdog, cookies and a chocolate bar. And
IN MY SUGARY, CARBED STUPOR, I vaguely recall
a few spoonfuls of ice cream in there
too.
As it turned out,
ONCE I GOT THERE I surprisingly fell right back into the fold.
I wasn’t hungry. And since all 17 of us there were all in the same boat, downing almost a gallon of different liquid concoctions every day, we all bobbed around together in the desert sun, the temptation pretty much non-existent.
SUSANNA BELEN, the matriarch of We Care,
IS IN HER 80'S!
But you wouldn’t know it.
I WANT TO BE HER WHEN I GROW UP-- nimble, sharp and healthy. She eats a diet packed with an abundance of live, organic foods. Sometimes she eats a little grass-fed meat, organic chicken, eggs and wild caught fish. But, the bulk of her diet incorporates vegetables, fresh herbs, beans and grains, fruits, nuts and seeds.
Her words?
"WHY EAT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SERVE AS THE RIGHT FUEL FOR YOUR BODY?"
This green smoothie is the right fuel. She drinks it almost every day. But if I do it twice a week, I’m happy. You just pack the blender with a variety of veggies, lemon juice, good olive oil and fresh herbs. It’s thick and creamy from the avocado, and tangy from the red bell pepper, kale and Swiss chard. Although you may be hesitant about the raw garlic, ginger and onion, it does add a pleasantly bright zing. And finally, the lemon juice and olive oil along with a little salty component smooth it all out. I must say, it’s quite satisfying.
IF YOU'RE GAME,
and ready to expand your healthy options,
I RECOMMEND GIVING IT A TRY.
LESSONS Learned:
1. A Vitamix or high speed blender
will make this smooth and creamy, even without chopping the vegetables. But if you don’t have one, take the time to cut everything up into smaller pieces.
2.
Organic is best. And if you can, take some time first to soak them in a lot of water in your sink, with a splash of white or apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse and use.
3. Now don’t worry if you can’t find all of the ingredients, there are a lot of them. Just double up on similar ones you have.
4. There are raw onion and garlic in this smoothie. If those flavors are too intense for you, feel free to lessen the amount, leave them out, or try this: Cut the onion and garlic up into small pieces and soak in cold water for 15 minutes. I’m not a fan of their sharp, raw bite, so I do this myself.
5. Even though this is drinkable, sometimes I like to eat it like a cold soup, with a spoon.
Susanna’s GREEN SMOOTHIE
If possible, try to get as much as you can organic. And if you can’t find all the vegetables, there are a lot of them, no problem. Just double up on similar ones that you have. And again, if possible, soak all the vegetables in a sink full of water with 2 Tablespoons of vinegar. Rinse, dry and use.
I like to saod the onions and garlic in cold water for 15 minutes to remove some of the bite.
If using a high-speed blender, no need to chop the vegetables. If not, chop them up into smaller pieces.
Ingredients:
1 one inch piece of fresh ginger, scrubbed but unpeeled
1 one inch piece of fresh turmeric, scrubbed but unpeeled (optional)
1 big handful of fresh spinach, about 2 cups
½ of a large red bell pepper with seeds and ribs, green stem removed
½ of a large cucumber, unpeeled
1-2 celery stalks
½ bunch cilantro with stems, you can sub parsley if preferred or a mixture of both
¼ of a small onion or less to taste, peeled
1 garlic clove. or less according to taste, peeled
½ avocado
1 kale leaf, tough stem removed
1 stem Swiss chard—leafy part removed, which is bitter raw.
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons wheat free tamari, or Coconut Aminos ( find it at the health food store)
¼ cup water or 3 ice cubes
Make the smoothie:
Place everything in a blender and blend until very smooth. You can add water, 2 Tablespoons at a time, to get a thinner consistency, if you like. Store the second serving in the fridge for the next day (no longer) or share with a friend.
Makes 2 servings: YUM!?!