Green Smoothie Recipe

"Try it, you'll like it," my sister Laura urged. She handed me a little plastic container with thick green liquid in it. I opened the lid and sniffed. I've had green drinks before and they all tasted like dirt. I've also subjected myself to about every herbal elixir out there and every single one made me gag. Now if I need some herbs I take them in capsule form. Or I smoke them. (Just kidding on that last part.)  

But Laura's concoction actually smelled good. "It's a green smoothie," Laura said. She took a bendy straw from her purse and handed it to me. (That is so like my sister to think of everything, even the straw.) I took a timid sip. Then another. And I have to say that it was very yummy. Kind of green in a sweet way, with a bit of fruitiness that lingers on the tongue. It tasted more like a treat than a health food drink. And you know how I feel about treats.

"Hey, this is actually good," I told Laura. 

Laura smiled. "I told you so," she said. 

BEHOLD, THE RECIPE.  Note that this is a black and white photograph so as not to scare you too much. This is not the prettiest drink (although as Kayla pointed out, it is a perfect St. Patty's Day beverage--thank you Kayla!), but trust me, you can hardly taste the greens. 

I buy many of the ingredients for my smoothies at All Seasons Market on 700 East and 8800 South. The vegetables at All Seasons are tastier than what you get at a big chain store. The prices are great (99¢ each for a head of spinach, kale or collards), and the customer service is wonderful. Check out my post on February 12, 2009 for more about this amazing local market. 

Here goes:

1. Pour about 1/2 cup water into your blender jar. 

2. Wash some spinach, about two big handfuls of the stuff. Make sure your spinach is brilliant green,not dark and slimy. (Slimy stuff will make your smoothie taste like pond sludge.)

 

Take note: You can buy huge bags of prewashed spinach at Costco, but I have found that the spinach from All Seasons tastes much better. I used to think washing bundled spinach was a chore. However, if you fill a bowl with water and throw the spinach (ends chopped off) into it, the dirt sinks to the bottom. Drain and refill the bowl a couple of times, swishing the spinach a little. Voila! You have clean spinach. 

3. Wash a few leaves of collard greens. Rip off the lettuce-y part from the center rib and stuff the lettuce-y stuff into the blender with the spinach.

4. By now your blender might look really full. That's ok. It will all get chopped to bits and shrink soon. If you are worried about it, give the blender a couple of whirls. I have to stop my blender (from my Universal Bosch machine) and push down the ingredients with a big wooden spoon every so often.

5. Get your kale out. Wash a leaf or two and rip out the rib, keeping the frilly leaves to stuff in the blender. Beware that kale will absorb the toxins from your body and spit them out with nary a thought for your weekend plans. So go easy on it. 

6. Blenderize, baby. Mix it up until all of those greens look like a freaky juice for aliens. Do not drink it yet. You are not done. Now you have to make it taste good. 

7. Chop an apple in half, removing the seeds and stem. Leave the peel on. That's a good source of fiber. Throw all or some of the apple in the blender.

8. Chop a pear in half, removing the seeds and stem. Again, leave the peel on. Throw half or whole of that in the blender.

9. Throw in a banana (or half) if you want. A frozen banana will make it more creamy.

10. Add a handful of frozen or fresh blueberries.

11. Blend, blend, blend. 

12. Drink with a straw so you don't end up with a green mustache, which would be hard to explain.

13. Marvel that something so very good for you can be so delicious. You have just eaten more greens in one drink than most people eat in a week. Pat yourself on the back!

NOTE: This is a lot of fruit, I know. When I feel like my blood sugar is too spikey, I cut down on the fruit, sometimes to just the blueberries. Fiddle around with it until you find a combination that works for you. 

ANOTHER NOTE: This will make a Big Gulp sized smoothie. Some people drink the whole thing for breakfast. Some people drink it through the day in 8 oz. portions. You can also drink a little today and save the rest for tomorrow. It will still taste good.

ONE MORE THING: Don't add peanut butter. I tried that once and it was a big mistake. Yech. And don't try to make it into a soup by omitting the fruit, adding chicken, and warming it on the stove. That was an even bigger mistake.        

When I drink green smoothies my complexion clears and I feel healthier. They will do the same for you! Cheers!

 

Comments

[Susan Hayward]

Rachel, I'm so glad your kids like the green smoothie. I love what you have named it!

[Rachel]

Hey, I just tried your green smoothie recipe, and you are right... it's really yummy! I made it as my kids were coming home from school, and told them it was 'freaky alien juice'. I gave them some and they all liked it too. My 7-year-old daughter who normally doesn't eat anything green gulped it down, even after I told her what was really in it.
Thanks for the recipe!

[Emma Black]

Wow, those pictures actually made my mom's gross looking drink look good!!

[Susan Hayward]

Jessawhy,

Stay tuned. There is another use for collards that is way easy and very diet friendly! I'll post that on Wednesday next week, which is "Wow, I Love Food" day.

[Jessawhy]

This is a great recipe. I've always wondered what to do with collard greens!

[Susan Hayward]

Shannon,
Diet coke would not taste very good in this. Try Laverne's recipe of Pepsi and milk!

[Shannon]

So I'm guessing leaving out the greens and adding my morning Diet Coke would be a mistake, right?

[Susan Hayward]

Mary,
Laura and I have regular sized blenders. My Bosch blender is pretty powerful, though. Mom makes them too, and i don't think she has a vita mix or anything like that. You might have to add the ingredients in smaller increments or stop and push down on them more frequently. So you don't need to go out and drop 300 bucks on something fancy!

[MaryBeth]

Can I make this in a regular sized, cheapy Wal-Mart blender? Or does it require a big, fancy one?

[Susan Hayward]

Sorry everyone who looked at this before it was done! I didn't realize I was in "publish now" mode when I was working on it.

[Susan Hayward]

Kaylynne, this is a variation on Laura's recipe. Just play Fear Factor and try it!

[Kaylynne]

Normally I'd look at something like that and run away, but after watching hours and hours of Bizarre Foods on the Travel channel - I think I'd be willing to try a green smoothie, hey - at least it's not like fried bugs or something just as frightening! :p

Was that a recipe Laura had or was it a smoothie from a smoothie place?

[Kayla Rawle]

YUMMY perfect treat for St. patty's DAY!!!

[Hillary]

It does not look very tasty, but I am always for trying something once. Do you have the recipe for it?

Thanks for the invite to your blog. I love reading friends blogs. It is so fun to get to know each other a little better this way. You are a great writer. I loved the Princess Di post.

[Shelby]

How cute are you!?! Of course I want to be a frequent reader of your blogozine! Sounds like you will have interesting stories and posts to check out. Blog away, girl!