Smoothies, Kale And Hot Shakes

My step-mom about to mix up a green smoothie for breakfast.

Over the past two years I have made more or less the same green smoothie for breakfast on average about 350 days a year. That's a lot of smoothies! My smoothie kick started because before I wasn't really eating more than a granola bar or yogurt for breakfast. This lack of protein in the morning resulted in afternoon and late night hunger pains and binging. A nutrient and protein packed shake is the easiest and most delicious way to jump start the day. I pretty much never have time to make a hot meal in the morning, but I always have enough time to throw a few ingredients in the blender and run out the door with my cup flowing over with green goodness. Which is what happens when I have to be anywhere before 9 A.M. I am also that girl who when I come to visit you for the weekend I bring my smoothie mixins. And I'll make you one too! In fact I love making smoothie converts. My family scoffed at my green breakfast concoction for months. I think they even gagged watching me enjoy every last sip of my kale and spinach blended to perfection. A few months later, guess what they are having for breakfast now! 

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This year winter rolled in to Jerusalem with a huge snow storm. Our meager space heaters in only the bedrooms and living room where not doing the trick. The thought of an ice laden cold smoothie sounded more like torture than bliss. During this time Scott and I were still doing a detoxifying cleanse and had to have a "liquid breakfast." 

So instead I created this little beauty... Hot Chocolate Cinnamon Shake-Meal. I made mine with the meal instead of the protein powder because I really wanted it to thicken almost to the consistency of oatmeal. But if you just want to drink it like a shake you should use the protein powder and DO NOT blend the chia. I blended the chia for extra thickening power to replicate that oatmeal texture, without the oats of course. Try it out! Make it yours. 

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Hot Cinnamon Shake

• 1.5 Cups Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, warmed
• 1-2 Tbsp Chia seeds (depending on how thick you want it)
• 1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
• 1 Tbsp Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
• Hefty Dash of cinnamon
• 1 Cup steamed kale (you can't even taste it. I promise!)
• 1-2 scoops Onnit Hemp Force ChocoMaca or Vanilla Acai

Directions:

1. Steam kale over water for 5-7 minutes (I just steam several bunches at a time and then freeze them)
2. Meanwhile warm 1.5 cups almond milk on the stove
3. Add  Onnit Hemp Force Choco Maca or Vanilla Acai, milk, chia, flax, coco oil, cinnamon and kale to the blender and blend until smooth
4. Add and lightly blend until mixed.
5. Pour in cup or bowl and enjoy! 

Savory Hot Kale Shake 

• 1 head of Kale, steamed for 5-7 minutes and drained
  
• 2 tablespoons Organic Grass Fed Ghee
  
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil, Organic Cold Pressed
  
• 1 tsp Himalayan Salt
  
• 2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds (Collagen or Organic Pastured Eggs work well too)
  
• 2 Tbsp Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
  
• Fresh Herbs to taste: parsley, oregano, or cilantro are all great
  

Directions:

1. Steam kale over water for 5-7 minutes 
   
2. Drain water. Add more fresh hot water or bone broth if you want a thinner consistency.
3. Blend drained kale with salt, herbs, vinegar, grass-fed butter and coconut oil until super creamy.
4. Last add your heat stable protein of choice: hemp seeds, collagen or even eggs to the mixture and lightly blend until the protein is mixed in. Be sure to add the protein last and only slightly blend so you don’t want to mechanically damage that expensive protein. You’ll ruin it!

Tried and True Daily Green Smoothie

This smoothie and I have made it through many a long day and hard workouts together. It's an oldie but a goodie and definitely deserves it's place here amongst these new fancy hot shakes. So here it is, my Tried and True Green Smoothie Recipe.

• 1 Handful of Ice
• 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond or Coconut Milk
• 1 Handful of frozen mixed berries: Strawberries & blueberries are my fav bc the seeds don't get lodged in your teeth
• 1 Handful of Spinach
• 1 Handful of Kale 
• 1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
• 1 Tbsp Chia Seeds  
• 2 Scoops Hemp Force Protein Powder 
• 1 Tbs Coconut or MCT oil
• Optional additions: Earth Grown Nutrients, Spirulina, Trilogy nut butter, hemp seeds, maca powder, cinnamon, other frozen fruit, avocado

Directions:

1. Add to Blend Tech Blender in this order: ice, milk, berries, spinach, kale, flax seeds, and other additions. 
2. Blend until smooth
3. Add protein powder and slowly blend just until mixed (The chia sends to get thick and slimy if you blend it too much and some protein powders get foamy, so add them at the end.)
4. Enjoy!