Saturday, August 2, 2014

Vitamix!

Since I can't get a puppy, or a baby, or a hedgehog, or take a vacation, or go to the lake, I am left with the very dangerous habit of buying kitchen appliances.  The newest addition to my kitchen?  The prettiest blender you ever did see. 


Notice how tall it is compared to the Kitchen Aid.  It's not just perspective, the thing is giant.  This is the crazy blender you see on Iron Chef and Chopped, and with the hulking motor comes a slightly different way of using a blender.  You don't choose a number of what you want and go from there, that messes up the motor.  Instead, you turn it on a 1 variable speed, turn it up to 10, and then turn it up to high.  With that 10 second sequence comes an astounding amount of noise.


But with that kind of power comes the ability to turn lots of leafy things into a green smoothie. 

Green Pineapple Surprise**
**the surprise is that it tastes very, very green.  And minty.  But mostly green.  This isn't a smoothie that hides the greens, not at all.

226 grams whole fat yogurt (8 ounces; 1 cup)
25 grams mint leaves (about 15 large stems, leaves removed)
250 grams melon
250 grams pineapple
75 grams kale leaves (about half of a large bunch without stems)
60 grams parsley leaves and stems (about one bunch)
14 grams honey (2 teaspoons)

Layer in a blender and blend until greens are incorporated.  This will not be an ultra smooth drink; but neither are the green smoothies that you buy in the store.  With that texture comes nutrition.  

I would make a plug for using whole herb leaves in smoothies, as well as spices.  They just make things so much more interesting!  Who says you can't put cinnamon in your smoothie?  Or a couple of beautiful sage leaves?  Or curry?  Or sliced up ginger root?  Or Chinese five spice?  No one.   Turmeric is also so good for you, but it stains all the things, so I hardly ever use it. 

This recipe makes three servings, the perfect size for my jars (originally coconut oil jars from Trader Joe's; they don't leak with liquid in them!)

Nutrition facts for one serving: 144 calories, 2.6 grams of fat, 25 grams carbohydrates, and 5 grams protein



I tried doing this for breakfast, and it was an utter failure.  But for an afternoon snack, absolutely.  These smoothies will keep in the fridge for a couple days, and they will separate out a little bit...but just shake to resuspend and enjoy!

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