Sweet Green Smoothie

This might be the most refreshing drink you have ever had in the morning :)  I love the way it makes me feel when I have one.  It is so refreshing and delicious.  You have to try it at least once!  Your kids might not go for it, but when you taste how sweet it is with Kearn's Nectar, anybody can drink it.  We sell this one down at our restaurant, Sandy's Fine Food.  The recipe is a little different though.  I can't give away all my secrets :)

Sweet Green Smoothie

1 can Kearn's Nectar (any flavor, or any juice)

2 c. water

2 large carrots, peeled

1/2 cucumber

2 bananas

1/4 lemon (with peel if you have a high powered blender)

2-3 large handfuls of organic spinach

ice

Put ingredients in your blender in the order listed, except the ice.  Blend until smooth.  Then add 1 c. or more of ice to get it real cold.  Enjoy :) 

You can always add a little agave if you need it.  I don't use it but it would help if you're just getting use to green smoothies.

This does make a large batch so if your family won't drink it with you, just half the recipe and it should be perfect!!  If your family does decide to join you, hopefully it will look like these happy boys!!

Sprouted Wheat Berry Salad

This is a yummy unexpected side dish for a party or a lunch.  Just soak your wheat overnight.  Drain in the morning & let sit on your counter in a jar with a sprouting lid.  Rinse it twice daily & let it sit tilted on it's side or upside down so the water can drain out.  After a day or two, your wheat is ready for the salad.  It is now a live food that is super duper nutritious :)  Sprouting has so many health benefits. (see below)

2 c. sprouted wheat

2-3 apples, cored & diced

                                                                         3/4 c. Craisins

1 c. celery, diced

½ c. sliced or chopped raw almonds

Sweet Apple Cider Vinaigrette (recipe below-You only need about ½ the recipe)

Sweet Apple Cider Dressing:

                                                                        1 large shallot   

1/3 c. apple cider vinegar    

2 T. fresh lemon juice 

3/4 t. pepper

1/2 c. agave

1/2 t. salt

3/4 c. canola oil (preferably expeller pressed Canola Oil) 

Put all the ingredients for the salad dressing in a blender and blend for at least 30 seconds.  This dressing will stay good in your refrigerator for at least a couple weeks.  

Sprouting Advantages

•    Enzymes are activated.

•    Proteins convert to free amino acids.

•    Starches change to simple sugars.

•    Minerals combine to increase assimilation. (Easier to digest)

•    Vitamin content increases from 3 to 12 or more times.

Coconut Oil

As all of my blog followers know, I am a MAJOR coconut oil fan.  There are so many health benefits of eating coconut oil.  I was so happy today because my Mom sent me this link to an amazing story done on a man with Alzheimer's and how coconut oil has helped him.  If you are interested, please watch this video and be amazed.  It was very touching.
I have started using it as a face and body moisturizer as well and I love it.  I rub it on my face every morning and night and it feels wonderful.  As you apply, it feels oily but within minutes it has soaked in and your skin looks beautiful.  Try it out and see what you think!  Everything we put on our skin, we soak into our body, so it might as well be something good for us, right :)

YOU MIGHT KNOW SOMEBODY THAT THIS MIGHT HELP

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

If you want an easy way to get coconut oil into your diet, start with adding it to oatmeal.  It's delicious!!  I bake with it all the time.  My Mom loves it on her toast.  Or like I said earlier, start applying it on your skin!!

Some benefits are:

• Promoting your heart health
• Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
• Supporting your immune system health
• Supporting a healthy metabolism
• Providing you with an immediate energy source
• Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking
• Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

Quinoa & Sprouted Bean Dip

Here is a delicious dip that I made for my food nutrition class today and everyone loved it!  It's a great way to get protein in your diet because it has Quinoa (which is a complete protein itself) but it also has sprouted beans as well.  Sprouting your beans & grains increases the nutrition exponentially!  I love that Costco sells a sprouted bean mix as well as an organic quinoa.  This is what they look like:

Another thing to consider when eating dips like this is your chip.  We all know that tortilla chips are not the healthiest thing to eat, but there are better ones than others.  These are my two favorite but there are other great baked chips as well.  They are made with organic ingredients and better oils.

Quinoa & Sprouted Bean Dip
2 tomatoes, diced
2 avocados, diced
1 c. corn

1 c. quinoa, cooked

1 c. sprouted beans, cooked

5 green onions, chopped
1 c. cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
salt & pepper, to taste

Just toss all the ingredients together and salt & pepper to taste.  Be sure not to use too much salt because your chips will have salt on them too.

This is a great party dip or even as a meal inside of a spinach tortilla :)  Yummy!

Bon Appetit