Vanilla Chai (Optionally Green) Breakfast Smoothie

March 10th, 2014 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (11 Comments)

Perhaps you’re a regular smoothie drinker, or perhaps you’re on a smoothie hiatus for the winter.  Either way, I was recently amazed at the way the right combo of spices can turn an otherwise ordinary banana and milk smoothie into a Chai masterpiece.

If you like chai and you like smoothies, this is your drink.

Vanilla Chia Breakfast Smoothie

Actually, this was my drink.  You are going to have to make your own.

I recently happened upon this chai latte coconut almond smoothie through my Internet (err, Pinterest) travels.  My version is definitely “inspired by” that recipe, but the beauty of this chai smoothie concept is that you can take cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper to chai-ify (new word!) any smoothie you might already make.  Read more...

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Spinach: Keeping the Green in Your Wallet

January 22nd, 2014 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (2 Comments)

This is the container of spinach I typically buy from Wegmans.

Spinach Container

For $3.99 you get 3.5 (2 cup) servings.  $3.99 divided by 7 cups of spinach works out to be $0.53 cents per cup.  This is in line with the spinach price listed in the 44 Healthy Food Items Under $1.

Spinach and kale are among the dirty dozen – I rarely make an exception when it comes to buying leafy greens, I feel strongly about sticking with organic when it comes to spinach, lettuce, kale and the like.  Conventional greens are said to be highly sprayed, spinach alone is covered with 48 different pesticides and chemicals.  (ACK!)  Read more...

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A Few Juicy Details

March 25th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (8 Comments)

I am definitely on a green juice kick right now.  Let’s chat a little bit about juicing today.

We’ll start with a quick primer on the differences between fresh juice and smoothies because this is a question that many people have.

Fresh Juice

(This was Carrot Apple Ginger Juice – it’s one of my favorite non-green juice combos!)

Carrot Juice

Juicing extracts the liquid from fruits and vegetables, bringing much of the plant’s nutrients, vitamins and minerals along with it, while leaving the pulp behind.  Read more...

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A Beet Broccoli Cottage Cheese Orange Juice and Strawberry Smoothie

February 15th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Morning Craziness - (1 Comments)

Yes, Really.

Crazy Smoothie Concoction

I’m not exactly sure where to begin with this one.

I guess I’ll just tell you that a reader named James has left a couple of comments on the Mama’s Weeds Facebook page about smoothies/health shakes he’s made. The first one was with sweet potato, banana, orange juice and cinnamon.

Sweet potato in a smoothie? I’d totally make that.

(But I haven’t yet.)

Then a couple days ago, he left another list of smoothie ingredients.

Beets. Broccoli. Cottage Cheese. Orange juice. Strawberries.

You’re kidding me, right?  Read more...

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Banana Honey Milk

March 27th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Short or Sweet - (10 Comments)

I went out to lunch over the weekend with a good friend who came in from out of town for a visit. We hit up a local Mediterranean restaurant, and as we were browsing the menu, she suggested the “Banana Honey Milk” for a beverage that she’d had before and enjoyed.

Bananas, honey and milk?  I am so there!

Our drinks were brought to the table by a friendly, older gentleman who proudly told us that he’d made them himself, and then asked us to let him know how we liked them.  This drink was frothy, sweet and thin like milk, as opposed to being thick like a smoothie or milkshake.  Read more...

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So What Are We Putting in the Blender Today?

January 31st, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (11 Comments)

Avocado!

avocado

That’s right. We’re putting avocado in the blender this morning ’cause we’re making a chocolate avocado smoothie for breakfast.

Avocado Smoothie

Aren’t you excited?! I’m excited too.

See, I’ve never used avocado in a smoothie before because avocados usually don’t make it past salads, bean burritos or stay-at-home burrito bowls around here.

But today, half an avocado is going into the blender with one banana, a good pour of almond milk and a couple teaspoons of cocoa powder. Maybe some spinach too if you feel like it.  Read more...

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Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

December 15th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Short or Sweet - (8 Comments)

I’ve been using my blender a lot recently, due mostly to the fact that I broke a very small, yet very crucial piece off the top of my food processor bowl the other day.

Broken Piece

Here’s hoping that Santa’s got Cuisinart part #DFP-14WBC in stock.

The food processor won’t even turn on without that little hunk of plastic, so this is why I’ve been hanging with my pal The Blender for a week or so now.

Blender

The blender, as well as my second giant box of oranges in less than a month here. We’re all becoming great friends.  Read more...

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Plain for the Insane

November 11th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Short or Sweet - (7 Comments)

Kefir: a weird fermented dairy yogurt drink that is sour in taste and has lots of good bacteria for your guts.

Plain Kefir

There’s all sorts of helpful info about kefir here and here, it does wonders for your immune system too.

(Vegans, there’s also a coconut version!)

The benefits of kefir are fabulous, but being high in protein was the main benefit I was after today. Something with a decent amount of protein and doesn’t make me want to hurl?

Kefir and Strawberries Kefir Nutritional Stats

I call that a winner.  Read more...

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Berry Simple

October 25th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (5 Comments)

I’m trying to make peace with the fact that early morning outdoor exercise is soon to be a relegated to the weekends.

Pink Knit Hat and Gloves

For the first time since early spring I busted out the pink hat (you know, the hat I knit myself) and gloves for a morning walk/run today. More walking than running this morning, sometimes it nice to simply walk.

It’s also nice (and necessary) to remember that no matter how freezing it is out there, you DO warm up once you get moving! If anything, the cold is motivation to pick up the pace in the beginning. Knowing how good that early morning air and sunshine will feel on your skin is enough to make it worth it to drag myself out from under the covers.  Read more...

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What to Do With a Pumpkin

October 16th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (8 Comments)

(Alternate – and perhaps more catchy? – Title: The One Where I Show You My Underwear)

(Took me a minute to decide.)

So!

White bean blondies aren’t the only thing you can bake to heat up your kitchen. Pumpkins are good for that too, especially first thing in the morning.

Bake a Pumpkin, Heat up your Kitchen

This pumpkin showed up in this week’s CSA share, and I swear, my first thought was “A pumpkin?? How on earth do you cook THAT?”

And then I reminded me that a pumpkin is just a squash.

Pumpkin is just a Squash

Oh yeah.  Read more...

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