Cherries have some amazing health properties and taste great in smoothies. Since they are not available year-round, I often buy them frozen and use in different variations of this cherry smoothie recipe.
By many, they are considered a “super-fruit”, packed with antioxidants called anthocyanins which aid in the reduction of heart disease and cancer. They are rich in vitamins C, E, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate and fiber, and an excellent source of beta carotene (vitamin A). In fact they contain 19 times more beta carotene than blueberries and strawberries.
You may not know that (I didn’t), but cherries are one of the few food sources that contain melatonin, an antioxidant that helps regulate heart rhythms and the body’s sleep cycles. They are also often referred to as “brain food”, aiding in brain health and in the prevention of memory loss.
Because of their powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, cherries are said to reduce pain and joint soreness for runners and athletes after workouts.
Pomegranates add a delicious flavor and a big dose of antioxidants to smoothies.
Both pomegranates and cherries contain powerful cancer fighting antioxidants. Anthocyanins are the antioxidant that give them their red color. It is this antioxidant that studies have shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help with symptoms of arthritis.
I didn’t add any greens to the smoothie initially, because I just came back from a trip and didn’t have any fresh greens on hand. After I tried it (and took the picture), I added 2 cups kale to make it into a green smoothie. The cherry and pomegranate flavors blended with banana were sufficient enough to mask the greens, but you may have it without the greens, for a change, too.
Pomegranate & Cherry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate juice or 1/2 fresh pomegranate
- 2 cups frozen cherries
- 2 ripe bananas
- 3 cups chard or other leafy green (optional)
- 1 cup water (optional if needed) (you may substitute all or part of the water with some almond milk for more creamy texture)
Instructions
- Start by adding the liquid to your blender (I use a Vitamix), followed by the soft fruit. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy.
- You may juice the pomegranate, by emptying the seeds in a strainer and smashing them with a spoon. Pomegranate juice stains, so be careful!
- If you have a high powered blender, you don’t need to juice the pomegranate. Just cut it in half and scoop the seeds into the blender.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/cherry-smoothie-recipe/
Beautiful photo of cherries. I didn’t take it – I used frozen cherries that look very photogenic…
Cherry Pomegranate Smoothie – all gone!
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
Perfect basmati rice will have separate fluffy rice grains, without any rice that is undercooked or overcooked. Basmati rice is different from many other types of rice in that it is drier; for example, it is drier than sushi rice.
Use a Rice Cooker to Make the Perfect Basmati Rice
Fuzzy logic rice cookers are an excellent way to make perfect basmati rice almost every time. You need to be careful to put the right amount of water in the cooker for the amount of rice you are making. Before cooking the rice, don’t forget to rinse it. For truly fluffy rice, soak the rice in cool water for 20 minutes before putting it in the rice cooker. You can add dried spices to the rice before cooking it for a rich flavor.
For basmati rice, you will need at least one and a half cups of water per cup of rice. You also need to select the right cooking setting. For basmati rice of the Asian style, use the white rice setting. For crunchier basmati rice, soak the rice in salt water for 20 minutes with at least one tea spoon of rice per cup of water, and then cook it on a harder menu selection. However, for the best results when cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker, do not add lentils to the rice before cooking it. Instead, cook the lentils separately and add to the final dish.
Proper Technique on the Stovetop Cooking of Basmati Rice
If you are cooking rice on a stovetop, set a pot full of water a burner set to medium heat. Let the rice soak in cold water for about 20 minutes before draining the rice. Wait until the rice hits a full boil before acting. Then set the burner to a simmer temperature. Put the rice into the pot, then put a lid on top of it. Set a timer for twenty minutes. Then let the rice cook. When the rice is cooking, be careful not to open the lid. This lets the steam and heat out and causes the rice to come out undercooked. When the timer goes off, immediately take off the lid and start fluffing the rice with a large spoon. Don’t press the rice down or against the side of the bill. At this point, you can add any spices, oil, sauces or butter.
Making Perfect Basmati Rice in the Microwave
Rinse the rice for 20 to 30 minutes in cold water. Pour the rinse water down a drain. Place the rice in one and a half cups of water for each cup of rice in a microwave safe bowl. Put the dish in the microwave, but leave the rice uncovered. Run the microwave on high for 15 minutes. You can stop the microwave before the fifteen minute mark if steam escaping from the rice is leaving holes in the rice. Then put a cover on the dish and run the microwave for another five minutes on high power. When the microwave is done, take the rice dish out. Set in on the counter with the lid still in place. Let the rice sit for five more minutes with the lid on, essentially simmering. Now take the lid off and fluff the rice with a spoon or fork. At this point, you can add spices, seasoning or sauces.
Most people stick to the same old boring white or brown rice, but you can add new types of any food to your menus without much fuss. Don’t be afraid to try basmati rice.
How to cook basmati rice (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookbookman/6121427720/sizes/l/in/photostream/)
About the Author
Jennifer Bachman has been making gluten free foods for her family for over 3 years now. She uses her rice cooker almost daily for all sorts of easy one-pot healthy meals.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
If you are struggling with weight loss and chronic health conditions, and you think that a healthier diet might help, but you are not sure how to implement that diet into your lifestyle, here is an inspiring story for you.
I have found Katherine’s website when browsing the web looking at other healthy eating/green smoothie websites.
I was intrigued by the name “Green Thickies” and wanted to know more about what they were and what’s so good about them. When I read that Katherine lost 56 pounds without going on a diet, as well as healed herself of chronic fatigue syndrome in 6 months – I definitely wanted to know more.
Still, when I read that she uses oats in her smoothies, I was skeptical. I prefer my smoothies to be just lots of greens and fruits, without any other ingredients. However, since lately I’ve been experimenting a lot with other ingredients in smoothies, such as root vegetables (beets, carrots), nuts, non-dairy milks, etc., I thought, “Why not? I’m going to try one of these “thickie” recipes!”
The first time I tried it I did not love it – I think I added too much oats, so the taste and texture were overpowering. But I tried again, adjusting the amount a bit, and adding some more liquid (non-dairy milk) – and I was sold. Right now I make green smoothies with oats for my son almost every day in the morning before he goes to school. I want him to get more calories than just in a green-fruit smoothie. He doesn’t like oatmeal or other healthy cereals that I try to offer to him, and he always asks for those highly processed ones, with lots of artificial colorings and sugar. He also doesn’t particularly like eating nuts, seeds or drinking non-dairy milks. So right now, he eats all of these without even knowing it. Problem solved.
So, I’m using the thickies to increase calories consumed in smoothies by my 8-year-old son (who is very tall for his age, and very thin), and my intention is for him to gain some weight in a healthy way; but the surprising aspect of Katherine’s story that is that is completely counter-intuitive is that these thick smoothies can actually help you lose weight.
Read the full interview with Katherine Natalia, the founder of GreenThickies.com.
Q &A
(Joanna) Can you tell us a little bit of your story: how did you come up with the idea of green thickies. What lead you to creating your first recipe?
(Katherine) While I was pregnant I had lots of time for making and eating healthy food. I used to have a green smoothie every morning followed by a bowl of oatmeal to fill me up. When my baby was born, not only did I not have the time for 2 breakfasts, but eating a bowl of hot porridge while looking after a baby just wasn’t practical. So one day I thought ‘Why not just add the oats to my green smoothie’. I had seen oats being added to fruit smoothies and being called ‘Thickies’ so this was my new invention, the Green Thickie. It worked perfectly, I could drink my healthy smoothie when I had time in the morning, not have to worry about it going cold and knowing that I was getting all the nutrients I needed for nursing my baby.
What diets did you tried before green smoothies? What were you eating? and what were the results?
Before green smoothies I had tried so many different types of diets to lose weight ranging from Weight Watchers, to Atkins and I never felt good on any of them. I had the wrong motivations as I was just trying to lose weight. When I became a vegan and started drinking green smoothies, my motivation was to become healthier, and that led to a long lasting change of my diet that is now just a way of life for me. A side benefit has been losing 56 pounds but if that had been my only motivation, I’m not sure I would have had the same success.
Before-After-Weight-Loss with Green Thickies
How was your health back then? You talk on your website how you healed yourself of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 6 months. Can you talk a bit about that… Did you have any other health issues?
Before I became a vegan my health had been getting slowly worse for a few years to the point where I could barely get out of bed. I had chronic fatigue syndrome and a whole range of other symptoms that led to debilitating health problems. I would collapse with stomach aches and be in pain every evening. I also spent all day long scratching my face non stop due to chronic allergies. I wrote a list of all my health problems and had over 50 symptoms. Whenever I went to the doctor they didn’t take me seriously as they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong with me. I had to give up my job and felt utterly useless.
I realized I had a dairy intolerance so I became a vegan and straight away I did notice a massive improvement in my health, but I still didn’t feel 100% as I was in need of a serious detox to clean out my system completely. So I went on a raw food diet where I ate nothing but fruit, veg, and some nuts and seeds for 6 months. I drank green smoothies for my breakfast and lunch every day. After a horrible detox period I started to feel amazing and within 6 months I had never felt healthier and stronger in my entire life. I was over the moon that I’d finally found something that had turned my life around.
Did you (do you) count calories in your smoothies or calculate nutrients that you consumed during the day?
When I first started the raw food diet I would log all my food to make sure that I was getting all the nutrients that my body needed and that I was actually consuming enough calories. My intention was never to lose weight, but just to get healthy so I ate enough calories to sustain my weight, however the weight still fell off and in 4 months I had lost 56 pounds. That proved to me that you don’t need to restrict your calories if you are eating healthily, your body will reach it’s ideal weight easily. After that I never counted calories again. After my pregnancy I had gained some weight again and managed to lose it by cutting out processed food and drinking green thickies.
How are you feeling today? How is your health? How is your energy? How is your skin, etc? Are you able to maintain your ideal weight?
Today I am still feeling very healthy. I still don’t have any of the problems that I used to have. My allergies have never returned, my asthma and eczema are gone, so is my insomnia. My IBS stays away as long as my diet stays healthy. I have enough energy for all the jobs I need to do each day, my skin is clear. I don’t have any more acne and have only had a couple of colds since I changed my diet. I used to spend each winter ill with one bug after another and I feel so much better now. I don’t feel quite as good as I did when I was on the raw food diet, but that might be because my baby has caused me a lot of sleepless nights. But despite not getting a good night sleep, I cope just fine with very little sleep where as I used to feel extremely ill if I missed just one hour of my sleep. I used to have an extreme reaction to the sun, feeling dizzy within 5 minutes of being outside but now I love being out in the hot sun. I used to have extremely long and painful periods but now they are very light and I have no symptoms at all. I used to have very low blood sugar and would feel sick and dizzy if I didn’t eat straight away in the morning. Now I can go a lot longer without food when I’m hungry without feeling ill.
What does your typical day look like: How much smoothies smoothies/thickies do you drink on one sitting? How many times per day? Do you drink them all at once or do you prefer to sip them throughout the day?
During a typical day I would usually drink between 1-2 pints of green thickies for breakfast and 1-2 pints for lunch. It depends how hungry I am and how filling the smoothie is but I generally just sip them for about an hour in the morning and about an hour at lunch time. That way I can get on with other jobs and look after my baby while I’m drinking them.
Healthy nutrition is not just about the smoothies. What else do you eat during the day? (I know that you tried eating raw foods exclusively for a while, but that didn’t quite work for you.) How much of your food is raw food? What cooked dishes do you enjoy making?
Sometimes at the weekend I enjoy sitting down at lunch to a big salad or a big bowl of soup if I have more time. In the evening I make a healthy vegan cooked meal, but I have a small portion of it on top of a big green salad. I love getting as many greens as I can in my diet as they give me so much energy.
Although I don’t follow a 100% raw food diet anymore I do believe that raw fruit and veg is extremely good for us so I try to consume as much as I can. I have raw fruit and greens in my thickies and in my salad at night. I’m not sure what percentage of raw food I eat but I do eat a lot more in summer.
The cooked dishes I enjoy making are quinoa, stews, chili, gluten free pasta, risotto, baked potatoes etc.
What are the foods that you never or rarely eat?
Food that I try and stay away from are meat, dairy, eggs, most processed foods especially with long ingredients lists, white flour/ most flours, refined sugar, vegetable oils, gluten, wheat, anything too stimulating such as cacao, or powdered super foods and chocolate. I have a terrible chocolate addiction that I usually only indulge on special occasions but I do suffer for it so always end up regretting it.
I have a very weak body that can’t tolerate many ‘normal’ foods, but I’m just thankful that my body is letting me know so strongly which food is good for me so I can enjoy good health.
I noticed that you never use any animal products in your smoothies and you talk about being vegan on your website. While most weight-loss program recommend eating “lean animal protein” and low-fat cow’s milk is heavily promoted as “weight-loss food” – this is not a popular choice. What were the reasons for you to go vegan? How important being vegan is for you and your health?
I was pretty much a vegetarian when I realized that I was intolerant to dairy so I initially gave up dairy and continued eating eggs. However I was reading lots of vegan books at the time that convinced me to become a vegan. So my reasons are mainly health reasons for being a vegan, but after reading about the animal cruelty and sustainability, this has also become a strong motivator in my decision to stay a vegan. I do believe people can still be healthy with limited animal products from healthy sources in their diet as long as they ate a mainly unprocessed diet, but I’ve never liked meat so I can’t see this ever changing in my life.
What is your daughter eating? Does she like green thickies and green smoothies?
My baby loves green thickies and always starts the day with a one. She also eats a lot of fruit, and pretty much whatever I’m eating. She doesn’t like salad however. She is a vegan at the moment but as my husband isn’t a vegan, this may change in the future especially when she makes her own choices. So far she’s been extremely healthy with no health problems.
How important is physical activity for losing weight? Do you exercise regularly? Can one lose weight by drinking smoothies without having to exercise?
I think diet has a lot more to do with losing weight than exercise does and I do believe you can lose weight easily without doing any exercise. When I changed my diet I didn’t do any exercise to start with as I was going through a hard detox but as soon as I got my energy back I couldn’t help myself as I had so much energy to burn. I would do an hour of P90X and go out for an hour long run each day. Something I never thought would ever be a possibility for me. I felt so fit and so healthy. I think for ultimate health and state of mind, exercise is extremely important.
However since having my baby I’m afraid I don’t get to do as much exercise as I would like to. I do get out for long walks with her and go through periods of doing workouts on DVDs but my baby doesn’t need any more sleep than I do, so she’s up all evening which doesn’t leave me any time on my own. I’m accepting that at this point in my life I don’t get as much time for focusing on myself, but it won’t be this way forever and I’m just trying to enjoy playing with my baby which is a workout in itself.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with people who are struggling to lose weight and improve their health.
I would suggest just trying to change one thing at a time. If you try and change everything all at once it can lead to failure. So just start off replacing your breakfast with a smoothie, then try and eat one more piece of fruit a day. Then replace all your snacks with fruit and then have a look at your meals. If you make everything from scratch with healthy ingredients you know exactly what you are eating and will be more likely to lose weight. If you are concerned you are eating too many calories you can always track them online using something like cronometer.com but if you try and fill at least half of your plate (or glass) with leafy greens they you will crowd out other foods and your body will start to naturally lead you to healthier choices.
If you want a quick detox and to kickstart your weight loss, a good place to start would be to take the 7 Day Green Thickies Challenge. You can find the details here: http://www.greenthickies.com/7-day-green-smoothie-challenge.
Thank you!
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
What do oatmeal chocolate chip cookies have in common with the Hurricane Sandy and global climate change? Let me explain.
I live in Northern New Jersey, in an area that has been affected by the recent hurricane Sandy.
I’m grateful that my family has not been greatly affected by this disaster, even though our area got a lot of flooding and trees had been broken.
Our storage compartment and our parking area got completely flooded, but we had moved our cars to safe locations prior to the storm, so the only things we lost is our AC unit that is located in the storage is not functioning, and our Christmas tree decorations getting completely soaked – so we had to discard them.
These are not devastating losses, I know, many people were not as lucky, losing their homes to water and fire.
As we recover from the disaster, I hear that now over 60% of people in the New York City area now believe in human-caused climate change, so the number of climate-change deniers is going down.
But does it mean we are taking the actions that are needed to reverse the damage that has been done and prevent any further damage?
Hardly.
As the Eastern coast recovers from Sandy, I listen to the Democracy Now! broadcasting from the annual U.N. Climate Change Summit, as it convenes in Doha, Qatar.
A shocking new report commissioned by the World Bank is warning temperatures could rise by 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, causing devastating food shortages, rising sea levels, cyclones and drought — even if countries meet their current pledges to reduce emissions.
If these promises are not met, the increase could happen even sooner. Meanwhile, scientists say it is still not too late to minimize the devastating impact of climate change. A separate report by the Climate Action Tracker says global warming could be kept below 2 degrees.
“This is an imminent risk that will affect every living person on the planet if we push the ecosystems of the world into a major extinction crisis, says Bill Hare, a leading physicist and environmental scientist who helped produce both of these latest reports.
I believe we should all get educated about what is happening in the world today. We all seem to be living in a bubble, not realizing what is going on around us, or – as Mary Robinson said in her interview for Democracy Now! “We’re all in a kind of sinking ship together, going into a 4-degree-or-plus world. ”
Well, climate change is very real and it is an imminent risk that will affect all of us – every living being on the planet. It will push the ecosystems of the world into a major extinction crisis. It will cause massive problems for us humans.
Listen to the full interview here. You can also download it to your iPod or mp3 player and listen whenever you can. I also listen to it at Pacifica WBAI.
So we need to get educated, but education is just the first step. The second is start taking action. We all need to become activists in the modern world.
And, even though, there is no easy way out of this horrific situation, and it’s easy to feel powerless and overwhelmed, there are certain easy-to-implement things that each and everyone of us can do – beginning today – but more about this later.
Post Hurricane Sandy
As I took a walk around my neighborhood with my son Adam assessing the damage (I live in a condominium complex) – he was happy and running around excited (no school for the whole week!) – I couldn’t help but wonder what will the world be like for him in 20, 40, or 60 years.
What will the future bring?
What kind of world will it be when we have far more weather shocks, far more drought, far more food insecurity and water stress?
After Sandy – Taking a walk with my son around our neighborhood
After Sandy – despite the disasters – the moods are high
After Sandy – Fallen trees and broken branches
My son hiding under a fallen tree
After Sandy – Taking a walk in my neighborhood – flooded deck
After Sandy – flooded parking lots and destroyed marina (in the back)
In the Wake Of Hurricane Sandy
It easy to feel frightened and powerless in the face of such disaster.
But what can an individual do?
Do individual actions even matter?
Will individual actions be enough?
Of course, an individual cannot reverse the damage that has already happened. Individually, we can only do so much.
But, does it mean we should just give up?
There is still a lot each of us can do – without impacting our lives too dramatically or causing too much hardship.
“Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something. Anything.” says Colleen Patrick Goudreau on one of my favorite podcasts “Food For Thought” at CompassionateCooks.com
One thing we can do easily do is to change our diet.
So my action for the day following Sandy – after taking a stroll around my neighborhood – was to make vegan oatmeal chocolate cookies.
Why make vegan cookies? I wrote about the benefits of switching to vegan diet here. People do it for health or ethical reasons.
But you can also do it for the environment.
Did you know that our entire food production system – from growing crops and raising livestock, through distribution, and waste removal – is responsible for approximately one-third of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions?
While most people are well aware that meat and dairy consumption are associated with heart disease, cancer and diabetes; few of us realize that raising animals for food is one of the top contributors to the worst environmental problems around the planet at every level – from local to global.
Here are a few more facts for you it’s worth to know about:
– Livestock production alone is responsible for as much as 18 percent of the global climate change.
– Animal agriculture is a greater contributor to global warming than transportation, according to the United Nations. And due to their high methane output, cattle are one of the worst offenders of all farmed animals.
– The livestock sector is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, about 40 percent more than the entire transport sector – cars, trucks, planes, trains and ships – combined (according to the UN).
– Nearly 10.2 billion land animals were raised and killed for food in the US in 2010. Globally, the number of land animals killed each year for food has exceeded 65 billion. Approximately 53 billion aquatic animals were killed for food in the U.S. in 2010.
– Animal agriculture uses enormous quantities of water, monopolizes land that could be more productive for crops, and contributes to deforestation of critical rainforest and other habitats.
– It takes over 5,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat.
– 55% of our fresh water is being given to livestock.
– Over 70 percent of the grain in the US is fed to livestock.
– 70% of rainforests have been slashed and burned in order to raise livestock.
– One acre of land, if used for vegetables, grain, and/or legumes, yields 10-20 times the amount of food in pounds than if devoted to meat production.
– Omnivores contribute seven times the volume of greenhouse gases that vegans do.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe For the Changing World
So here is a vegan oatmeal chocolate cookies recipe for you.
I’m making the cookies dairy and egg-free. Making egg free and dairy-free cookies is actually very easy and fast once you learn about some good egg substitutes for baking and cooking (check out this easy pancake recipe too!).
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup nondairy milk
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 cup chopped pecan pieces
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips (or more 🙂
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- Additional nuts and chocolate chips for decorating tops of cookies (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line tow baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium size bowl mix oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together oil, nondairy milk, sugar, flax seeds, and vanilla. Fold in the flour mixture, and add chocolate chunks, and pecans. Don't overmix. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto cookie sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes, until edges begin to brown. Let the cookies rest for 5 minutes. Enjoy!
- Yield: 2 to 3 dozen.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/making-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/
As I’m making cookies with my son, I find it hard not to think about what will future bring for him in the next 20, 40, 60 years…
Making faces – mostly happy, smiling, but some sad and angry, too.
Tasting Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (my son, Adam)
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
I love cranberries in my smoothies!
Most people have cranberries as cranberry sauce, usually a highly sweetened, over-cooked concoction. I used to always prepare it as a side dish to a roasted turkey meat on Thanksgiving dinner. I went vegan earlier this year (it’s been almost 6 months now as I am mostly vegan, sometimes vegetarian – usually during trips), so that combination is no longer acceptable for me, but I still love my cranberries in sauces, dressings and smoothies.
I love making a raw cranberry sauce or cranberry dressing, with oranges and other fruits – I will post a recipe for a delicious cranberry sauce soon.
For now, why not have some raw cranberries in your green smoothie?
Cranberries add a delicious, tart flavor to green smoothie recipes. You can add them to most berry smoothies to boost the tartness and antioxidants. Begin with 1/2 cup, then adding more to taste.
Health Benefits of Cranberries
These tasty little berries are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. They also contain small amounts of magnesium, vitamin K, manganese, calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus.
Cranberries have powerful antiviral properties and are famous for their ability to protect against urinary tract infections. They are well known for their powerful, disease-fighting antioxidant properties – just what the doctor ordered for the fall-winter season! What’s more, eating cranberries on a regular basis may promote cardiovascular health, boost the immune system and protect against certain cancers. They may also help lower bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol.
Adding greens to your cranberry smoothie (such as, kale, spinach, or parsley), will boost the nutrition (and potential health benefits) practically off the charts!
Cranberry Basics
In Season: In the U.S., fresh cranberries are available from October through December. Some markets also carry frozen cranberries year-round.
What to Look For: Look for bright-colored, firm cranberries in the produce section. Avoid bags that have brown or shriveled berries at the bottom.
How to Store: Store in the original packaging for up to two weeks in the refrigerator, or up to one year in the freezer. To prep, rinse and discard any discolored or soft berries; if frozen, there’s no need to thaw before use.
Green Cranberry Smoothie Recipe
Smoothie With Cranberries
Green Smoothie With Cranberries
Ingredients
- 4 cups leafy greens (spinach, kale, collars, or whatever you have. I used escarole and chard)
- 1 cup cranberries
- 1/2 cup strawberries or other berries (optional)
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 ripe pear (optional)
- 1/2 small avocado
- a small piece of fresh ginger root
- 1 cup water (or more, depending on how thick you want your smoothie to be)
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients in your power blender until creamy.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/green-smoothie-with-cranberries/
Green Smoothie With Cranberries
Ingredients for my cranberry smoothie
For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.
I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!
If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.
Green Smoothie Ingredients in Vitamix
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!
I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!
Although green smoothies and salads are fantastic, most people cannot live on them alone 🙂
So, today I have a vegetable soup recipe for you.
Vegetable soups are a great healthy standby and are easy to prepare, digest and absorb. They are great comfort food, and are a great dish to warm us up in the middle of cold weather.
I recommend that you make a big pot that will last you a couple of days, or even longer (keep several portions in your freezer for “emergencies”).
The following recipes are just an inspiration. Don’t feel you cannot prepare the soup if you are missing one (or more) ingredients. Just as when making the green smoothies, experiment with your recipes, using what’s available in your kitchen, garden or grocery store.
Keep in mind that:
- You may add any vegetables of your choice, including leafy greens.
- Add beans, chickpeas, or lentils for more protein and “staying power.”
- Add some mushrooms.
- Add some whole grains, such as fine barley or quinoa.
- Use vegetable stock to add even more flavor.
- Add fresh herbs right before serving, such as parsley, dill or cilantro.
- Serve alone or with a side-dish of raw leafy green salad.
Vegetable Quinoa Soup: Easy to Prepare, Versatile and Simply Delicious!
Ingredients
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 5 clove garlic, minced
- 2 large leeks, washed well and chopped (white and green parts)
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks of celery (with the tops) chopped
- 2 red skin potatoes, chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper chopped (optional)
- 1/2 medium butternut squash, remove skin and seeds, dice same as potatoes
- 1/2 head small cabbage, coarsely chopped
- a few white button mushrooms or other mushrooms of choice, cleansed and chopped
- 1 cup fresh parsley or dill, chopped
- 1 tsp. cumin (optional)
- 1 cup quinoa
- 8 cups water or vegetable broth
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, saute in the oil the garlic, onions, leeks and celery in a few tablespoons of water or vegetable broth for several minutes - until onions are translucent.
- Add other ingredients, water or broth and simmer till all ingredients are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Add fresh parsley or dill. Season with pepper and salt (if using) to taste. Time permitting, let the soup sit for 30 minutes to fully develop the flavor. Heath through and pour into individual bowls and serve.
- Serve alone, with a side salad or bread.
3.1
https://greenreset.com/vegetable-soups/
*This recipe uses quinoa, a gluten-free grain, that can be found in health food stores and some supermarkets. If you cannot find it, you may try substituting with millet, amaranth, fine barley, or other grain.
This recipes comes from my recently released ebook:
“Comfort Soup Recipes For Body and Soul”
Easy Soup Recipes Bursting With Flavor and Compassion! Your Guide To Cooking Rich and Decadently Creamy Soups With No Added Saturated Fat, No Cholesterol, and Low in Sodium Using Simple, Healthy & Inexpensive Ingredients”
For less than the price of a few cans of processed organic soup, you can have my collection of the best comfort soup recipes you’ll ever taste. And they’re easy to make, too!
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You will find many more recipes there, as well as lots of invaluable tips and strategies to make delicious soups that are also good for your body.
Find out more about the book here.
To your health,
Joanna
