Hello 2015!
How did you sneak up on me like that? Last I knew it was still Christmas.
Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s? I sure hope so.
We had a fun time visiting with family and playing with kids, and we overindulged in lots of food and yummy sweets. I come from a long line of exceptionally great cooks; it’s kind of our thing. Naturally people who love to cook delicious food love to eat delicious food, and we sure did eat. A lot.
Which is what the holidays are for, am I right?
If you are like me and overindulged during the holidays you are in desperate need of some lighter meal choices for the next month or so.
Before I dive into this amazing, uber healthy Beet and Raspberry Smoothie, I must fill you in on our latest home improvement work.
I know, I know. This isn’t a fashion or home improvement blog, although I do enjoy reading those blogs. I just have to share this one transformation with you.
Paul and I had planned to F-I-N-A-L-L-Y paint our guest room (which was an awful Barbie pink with purple and green and zebra duct tape-trimmed doorways) as soon as we returned from our Christmas vacation.
What we planned as a 2 day project turned into a full 3 day project! We knew we were doomed once we peeled off the duct tape from the doors and it took big splotches of paint with it, creating a very uneven surface to paint on.
We tried sanding the splotches of paint down to create a smooth surface; no dice. The best solution we found was to use a razor blade to peel the paint off. The only issue was that the paint would keep peeling!
It took forever to get that paint off.
Long story short, we ended up having to paint over almost the entire surface of both doors.
Moral of this story, kids, DO NOT decorate your house with duct tape!
Comprende?!
In the end it was all worth the effort. I absolutely love the nice subtle light sage green with the white trim. Such a refreshing and sophisticated change from the electric bubble gum pink it was before.
What does painting my room have to do with a smoothie, you ask?
Because when you are trying to eat healthy right after the holidays, and your project schedule leaves you with no time to make a salad, or heck, to eat it, what do you do?
Make a smoothie!
It requires minimal chopping, minimal handling. You simply throw the ingredients into a blender and whiz it up.
Even the consuming part is easy: no chewing required.
I have gotten into the habit of keeping cooked beets on hand for topping salads or eating them as a side dish. Paul isn’t too fond of them, but I am in love.
They are tender, earthy, and sweet. Beets are the perfect food to eat a ton of when you are in need of a healthy cleanse after the holidays. They are full of antioxidants, they fight off inflammation, and help to detox the liver. Just what we need after New Year’s Eve, right?
The raspberries are also bursting with antioxidants. Ginger aids in digestion. Chia seeds pack some fiber, protein, and more antioxidants. And the coconut water offers electrolytes, potassium, and magnesium.
Oh yeah, and we throw in some dark leafy greens because we are always supposed to have more greens in our diet. Besides, you won’t even notice them in the smoothie!
Despite the cold weather I find this smoothie to be very satisfying. The ginger lends a slight spiciness. The tangy raspberries remind me of summer, and the beets are earthy and sweet.
Every time I drink this Beet and Raspberry Smoothie I get a burst of energy. This smoothie is perfect in place of a side salad or vegetable as part of your meal.
The stunning magenta color of this smoothie is reason enough to make it. Bottoms up, friends!
Beet and Raspberry Smoothie
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 1 to 2 1x
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: Vegan, Glutenfree
Description
This smoothie is detoxifying, energizing and tasty!
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut water (sub milk of choice or juice for slightly varying results)
- 1 cup cooked and cooled beets, roughly chopped*
- 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
- 1/2 banana previously frozen
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 cup kale, spinach, or washed beet greens
- 1/2 inch of fresh ginger, peeled (optional)
- Handful of ice cubes, if needed
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Taste and adjust flavors. Add a few ice cubes if needed. Blend until smooth.
- Divide into two small glasses or 1 large glass for a large serving. Best enjoyed immediately.
Notes
*If you need to cook the beets wrap the washed beets tightly in tin foil. Roast at 400 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the beets are fork-tender. Allow the beets to cool to the touch. Use a paper towel to remove the tender skin from the beets. Slice or roughly chop. Use the beets in the smoothie and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Any beets you don’t use for smoothies are delicious in salads.
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