Hello, blog readers! I'm back after a month-long hiatus. Where was I, you ask? Transitioning from a sweltering, busy summer of work and work to a pleasant autumn of school and work. Now that the semester is really in the swing of things, I am compelled to get back on the blogwagon. Today I bring you: My Magical Smoothie.
I've been drinking a version of this same smoothie every single morning since I did my three-week cleanse way back in May. Since then, I haven't caught a single cold (even though recently scads of my compatriots have taken ill with the first onslaught of Welcome Back to School viruses), and my mood has been way up. Now that cold'n'flu season is decidedly here, I thought it a good time to share my secrets.
My basic recipe is:
Blend 1 cup frozen mixed berries
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup chilled tea
and 1 tablespoon flax seed.
If the smoothie is intended to be my whole and entire breakfast, or if I need a snack, I add:
1/2 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
and 1/2 of a banana, fresh or frozen.
My favorite greek yogurt is Fage--rich, creamy, and not too tart. It adds a filling amount of protein to the concoction.
My berry mix of choice includes blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. I find strawberry seeds too intrusive for this smoothie, but to each his own. If I want it extra frosty, I slice and freeze a bunch of ripe bananas.
Since my cleanse, I've gone through two bags of ground flaxseed. I keep it in the freezer and toss a spoonful in here and there, but always a tablespoon in my smoothie. Flaxseed has a ridiculously high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, and it's pretty cheap (especially compared to $20 a pound wild caught Alaskan salmon, which I in no way can afford to consume).
On the left, some pomegranate blueberry juice. On the right, white pomegranate hibiscus tea. The original recipe for this smoothie called for half a cup of water, but I decided a few more antioxidants couldn't hurt and substituted tea instead. I keep two jars of strongly brewed tea in the fridge at all times.
For the past five months I've started my morning with a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lime juice, followed by this smoothie. My immune system is working better than ever before. Plus, the smoothie happens to be delicious. Happy blending, and don't forget to swipe a couple bubble tea straws to consume the smoothie with from your favorite milk tea place!
This looks really yummy! I'm just wondering, when the smoothie isn't your whole and entire breakfast, what else do you eat? Also, do you have a cup of tea on the side, or is the tea just in the smoothie?
ReplyDeleteI usually eat it with a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with honey and walnuts, or scrambled eggs and whole wheat sourdough toast! I often have my tea in the afternoon, iced in the summer and hot in the winter, with a snack.
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