My Green Challenge

Happy Monday, friends! Can you believe it is already March?

For whatever reason, March seems to be a month I like to challenge myself. The past two years this challenge had to do with sweets. More specifically, eliminating them for the entire month. But these past few weeks I'm realizing what I really need is more diversity when it comes to the produce I eat regularly and I would really love to shake it up a bit! After all, Spring and Summer have so many wonderful offerings when it comes to great produce!

This month I have decided to increase my green smoothies from one to two a day. I am hoping to inspire some great new combinations and also to make the second smoothie of the day include more veggies than fruit. I technically started this morning after a rather lovely trip to Whole Foods yesterday, where I filled up on tasty fruits and greens!

I'm really excited to discover new flavors and I am hoping that some of you could pass on some delicious smoothie combos you have tried and loved!

Here's what I enjoyed this morning:

1 Bunch Green Grapes
1 Banana
1/3 Cucumber
1 Blood Orange
3 Stalks Kale
1 Pouch Sol Bliss Papaya Puree

The result: unbelievably tasty! I think I could have even doubled the kale and hardly noticed. I'm deeply looking forward to what tasty offerings this month will bring!

Going Green

Ever since I started this blog (almost 2 years ago!) I've wanted to post about green smoothies. For some reason or another this post just never came to be. How I have never shared my love for something like this is beyond me, but this week I decided that needed to change! Allow me to pass on the stealthy trick that is a green smoothie.

Basically, it's a super simple way to incorporate more leafy greens into your diet. I actually love them, especially spinach, but I could always be eating more. How about you?

The first time I saw a list of ideas on the Vita-mix website I was curious. Mostly because I couldn't imagine a smoothie, which is typically a breakfast item, tasting at all decent with vegetables in the mix. But I was so wrong! Amazingly enough, their flavor is masked by the sweetness of the added fruit and actually gives it a cool, refreshing aftertaste.

Believe me on this one. I have turned many people to the green side with recipes such as this:

Going Green Smoothie
recipe adapted from Vita-mix

1/2 apple

1/2 cup (78 g) pineapple

2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach

1/2 ripe banana, peeled 1/2 orange small sliver lemon and lime

1/2 cup (120 ml) water

1 cup (240 ml) ice cubes

Next time you whip up a smoothie, throw in a large handful of one of the following:

spinach
kale
collard greens
lettuce
parsley

and start reaping the benefits of more greens in your diet!

Some Kind of Crazy

Hello there! This week has been some kind of crazy, so my apologies for the sparse posts. It just occurred to me as I had a minute to sit still that it's almost Thursday! My oh my, where has this week gone?!

Hope it's been a good one so far! Here at Casa de Hansen we've been enjoying the magnificent summertime-y weather, eating lots of homemade strawberry sorbet via our wonderful Vita-mix, trying to get in a habit of enough sleep (since that's my goal for the month!) and of course, working a whole lot.

I'm definitely looking forward to a new week and a more regular posting schedule!

In the meantime, we're about to savor a delicious pasta dinner and take our Abby girl for a walk!

I'll leave you with the lovely farmers market blooms we've been enjoying all week!

Trying Something New

I know, I have previously expressed, in great detail here and here and here, how much I love our Vita-Mix! But hear me out as I explain my little project.

For the past couple weeks, I have had the idea to incorporate at least one Vita-Mix recipe into our day for a whole week. While we use it quite a bit now, I want to take full advantage of all the amazing recipes included in the cookbook that comes with the machine. We have tended to stick to smoothies, juices, soups and the peanut butter/hummus/sauces arena. I want to explore the other recipes I mark and haven't actually gotten around to making.

So this afternoon as I was sitting down making our meal plan for the week, I added at least one new Vita-Mix recipe each day through Friday! I really can't wait to try things like Curried Carrot Soup, Fresh Pizza Sauce, and the Strawberry Ice Cream! Delicious and healthy!

Well, I better get my excited little self to Whole Foods so I can make my yoga class later this afternoon!

Here's to good health!

Homemade Applesauce

Last night I experimented with my own applesauce and to my delight, it was a success! To do so, I used the Vita-Mix, which took a total of about 25 seconds! I heart my Vita-Mix!

All I did was quarter the apples and toss them in the carafe (skin, core and all) with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and blend on variable 6 for 20-30 seconds. And of course, top with a few teaspoons cinnamon to spice it up. Delicious!



Doing things like this makes me really excited to make my own baby food! That is not a hint, I'm juts sayin' when that time comes, you know what I'll be doing.

I realize I refer to my Vita-Mix a lot, but you just don't understand how amazing this machine really is! The past year we've had ours, we have made countless smoothies, hot soups, cold sorbet, applesauce, peanut butter, other nut butters, hummus, pesto, salsa, batter, sauces and marinades, fresh orange juice, honey butter and with the dry carafe you can even grind your own flours! Not only does it help to create healthy, simple meals and snacks, but it is a cinch to clean up! It really is the appliance of all appliances! Check it out. It would make a fantastic Christmas present:)

Happy Hump Day!

Simplicity

I am a firm believer in the idea that, when it comes to food, simplicity is the best policy. If I could have it my way, I would have a whole garden of fresh fruits and vegetables that we could feast on and know exactly where they came from. Unfortunately, living in an apartment does not accomodate these desires. So, I go to the next best thing-shopping at a store who shares my ideals of fresh, wholesome and whenever possible, local ingredients. I am reffering to Whole Foods. I know that I might pay more for certain ingredients, but I feel that the few extra dollars are worth me having a clear conscience. Plus, it makes me aware of the things I buy so I only purchasing what we really need to sustain our bodies. After all, food is meant to be just that, fuel for these ever working machines.

I think this state of mind is catching on in our house:) Last night is a perfect example. I came home from the gym to a delicious, healthy and amazingly fresh tasting meal (prepared by my darling husband!). Chris had prepared a very simple dinner but it was exactly what I needed to recover from my workout. He made a Vita-Mix soup (a staple in our house) and grilled chicken with some spicy seasonings. I know it sounds silly, but I couldn't help but rave over this amazing meal! The soup was one we hadn't tried yet. It was a simple vegetable soup with fresh carrot, tomato, celery, pepper etc. Yum!

I was reminded last night (and again at lunch as I licked my bowl clean) how satisfying "real" food is and and wondered why more people don't realize this. I honestly believe our nation would be a much better and healthier place if we got back to the basics of food.

Wishing you good health always!