Seriously.
If you're not familiar with green drinks, do a google search. You'll find tons of recipes, articles and news tidbits, with lots of celebrity chefs and TV personalities touting them. I'll admit that I first heard of them from my mom, who started drinking them because she saw it on Dr. Oz. Once it registered, I found that many of my own friends are drinking these things too. The nice thing is that you don't need a special juicer or high-powered blender to make them. I only use an ordinary old blender with 2 speeds, and it works fine on the foods I've used so far. Also, you don't have to feel limited to an actual recipe -- use whatever you like! And experiment with flavor combinations. It's a lot of fun! I have a standard true-green drink that I like to make. I happen to like the pure green color, which is why I don't add other colors to this one. I also have a favorite red drink too (I will share this one later). If you mix all kinds of fruit and vegetables, you may end up with a brown drink -- which isn't bad, but it won't have the beautiful vibrant color that you see here. This is my recipe:
Sheri's Green Drink
1C almond milk
handful of spinach (maybe 1/2C packed)
handful of dandelion greens (or any other greens that you prefer, like chard, kale, lettuce, choy)
[blend these ingredients first, to get better liquification]
1 celery stalk
1/2 cucumber, peeled
1 apple, peeled
1 small orange, peeled
1/2 lime, peeled
1/2 avocado
1 inch ginger, grated
1T wheat germ (or flaxmeal)
Blend the remaining ingredients, in batches, so your blender won't blow its motor. If you have a high-powered blender, then just throw everything in at once.
This recipe makes about 4 cups. I drink about 2 and a half cups at midday, and save the rest in the fridge to share with my kids later. It tastes.. well, green, but with a sharp, tangy, fresh bite. If you prefer it sweeter, you can add fruit. Even a couple of strawberries will sweeten it up quite a bit, but then the color will change. I really like it to stay greeeeeen. And it might be too soon to tell, but my usual winter allergies seem to be less pronounced. This drink will give you energy, fortify you for the day ahead, fill you up, and make you invincible! Okay, I made up that last part. Maybe.
Wow, that's a lot of green! Have your eyeballs turned green yet? ;) I'll have to try this out as I want to get motivated to lose some weight and get fit again. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteVibrant colour. I'm already looking forward to seeing your favourite red one. It's the first time I ever hear about green drinks though, I'll have to google it up. Question about the dandelion greens: Is that something you can buy or do you go "hunting" for it in a garden?
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds soooo fresh :D
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! ^^ I think that you can't juice most bitters without lightly heating them first, though. My green drinks always come out creamy and look more kale or avocado green.
ReplyDeleteOh, looks totally good! So green... I miss that vivid color. (hah! Only white here...). Tell me Sheri, do you use homemade almond milk too or buy it ready?
ReplyDeletehmm... made me remember my MIL´s wheatgrass juice... she tends to give me every Easter when we are at their place >_<.
Sonoma Bento, nothing has turned green yet as far as I can tell! But I have been alternating with red drinks so maybe the colors have been cancelling out. Hope you can try it!
ReplyDeleteCeinwyn, dandelion greens are indeed the same ones that grow as weeds in the yard. If I were so lucky as to have organic dandelions growing in my yard I might "harvest" them :)
Thanks tatabonita!
AikoVenus, is that true? I haven't tried kale and choy because they are so thick that I'm afraid my blender won't be much help. I have used lightly steamed kale in my food processor and it chops fine but doesn't liquify. I can imagine that steaming more fully might help. Do you use dairy in yours? Banana also helps the creaminess in mine.
Thanks Aarthi!
karaimame, I lazily use purchased almond milk, although I understand that it's not difficult to make one's own? I also am interested in trying coconut water; have you tried that? I haven't drunk wheatgrass juice, but it usually is offered in a small shot glass, right? Must be very grassy-tasting :)
oooohhh..
ReplyDeleteso green! i like it.
I tried to make homemade almond milk once. It is not that difficult, just requires some time :). I tend to buy it ready too...
ReplyDeleteCoconut water was my favorite drink at the beach when I was younger. I just drank it plain, was a good thirst quencher. Difficult to find here but I believe it might be awesome mixed up in a power-juice ^^!
You are right about the wheatgrass! Strong taste of "green"... >.<.
Thanks OPC!
ReplyDeletekaraimame, Thanks for the tip. I am also interested in finding coconut water; you're right it's very trendy right now in power drinks! I bet your inlaws are very healthy :D