Blog / green smoothie

mother's day

I want to write about this before the bliss of the day's events completely leave... :-)

I woke up yesterday morning and did a little meditation first thing. I got out of bed around 8 and made myself a big huge green smoothie:

(I actually made enough for 4 people)

3 medium bananas
local frozen blueberries
kale
1 orange
rice protein powder
vitamineral green

I added quite a lot of kale so it was very dark green. It was pretty yummy, though and I felt pimped out for the day. I got dressed and met a friend for our mother's day treat to ourselves.

We went to Stowe, VT to a place called Stoweflake. There's a spa and resort there. It's a beautiful spot. My friend Linda and I drove there and got caught up on a slew of things that are good, bad, stressful and otherwise in our lives and when we opened the doors for the spa, there was an almost immediate sense of dropping everything and taking a big luxurious pause. Linda treated me to this day, which was very surprising. I didn't plan on that at all and I started to cry. For years and years now, if I want to celebrate and honor anything for myself and my family, I have to do it myself. I have for years bought my own gifts and planned things for various holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. It's just rote now. So Linda and I planned on getting a massage and she told me about this thing at Stoweflake where you can do a spa day for about the same money and have access to the whole spa and have lunch, etc. Her treating me to this was so unexpected and sweet and I just welled up and thanked her with a BIG BIG hug.

We selected our lunch and then went to the back room where we were given plush robes and slippers. Linda showed me around to the place where the cushy lounge chairs are, the pools, saunas and locker room and showers are. We got dressed into bathing suits and then went to the mineral pool. It is 101 degrees of sheer pleasure. We sat in there and floated around until we got good and warm and then went to the waterfall pool. It was awesome to have the waterfall beating down on my head, neck, shoulders and back for I don't know how many minutes. Then it was time to go back to the mineral pool until all tension and stiffness went away.

We sat in the lounge for a minute and drank the cucumber water that was delicious. Why don't I drink this all the time?! Then we went into the steam sauna for a few minutes. That was interesting. I had never been in a hot steamy humid sauna before - only dry ones. It took some getting used to and I couldn't stay in there longer than about 5 minutes. Afterwards, a shower with beautiful smelling products and then back in our plush robes to meander about. We walked down the hall in slippers and robes and ate lunch at their cafe. (We actually sat outside near the closed pool but wanted to get some fresh air.)

Linda remarked how nice it would be if this was more standard for our culture: things like turkish baths and the custom of communally caring for ourselves. It was great to see people of all shapes and sizes just taking care of themselves. It was wonderful to see the standard uniform of women walking around our private sanctuary in robes and slippers languishing in a few hours of peace. Even better to see was when the women came back from their massages with their complimentary bottle of water and the blissed out, relaxed facial expressions. Just wonderful.

After lunch, we laid out on the lounge chairs and waited peacefully for our massages. My body felt weighty in a very good way. I had no plan for these hours other than to nourish myself in this peaceful way. We talked sometimes and other times just closed our eyes and got ourselves into a deeper place of peace. My body was very very happy for this experience and it caused a deep sense of peace in my mind, too. AHHH, I really needed this and I shouldn't wait another year to do it again. With any luck, I won't.

It was a magical 5 hours at the spa. I had a glorious massage and then we rested for another hour and a half on that lounge chair, drinking cucumber water. I brought a piece of chocolate to share with Linda. It was very difficult to get up. Who would want to leave this paradise?!

We drove home on a beautiful VT country rode during beautiful weather. The magic never ends sometimes. We were remarking about how wonderful and good we feel when we get out of our heads and into our bodies. I think that's when we are open to real magic in our lives. It was great to see the difference in our speech and body language after the day of relaxation. We had so little to say in comparison that was processing and more of gratitude and sharing in all the beauty around us. We also did a bit of dreaming for future field trips here and there. :-)

The evening was spent with my children. We went to montpelier for dinner - there was only like 1 restaurant open on mother's day! What a crazy town! It was nice. Afterwards, I took the kids to get some shorts and things for upcoming trips and just because they are growing so tall now that they need the stuff.

Here's a wish for more mindful times spent in our bodies, in our lives and an openness for magical moments.

lots of love,

Linda

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Linda's Ode the Green Smoothie

Ode to the Green Smoothie by Linda Wooliever Oh how there never shall be a green smoothie tastier than thee (except, of course, until the next one.) Today's first Green Smoothie after the fast
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 container of fresh strawberries
  • 2 TBSP bee pollen
  • 1 TBSP coconut oil
  • 1 head green leaf lettuce
  • coconut water
Blend in the VitaMix and serve. This made 2 massively delicious green smoothies (2 quarts). ENJOY!
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this week's ASK LINDA - about green smoothies

This week's question: Would you be willing to share your fav greens smoothie recipe? I'm trying to do better :) —M This week's answer: Hello there M! First here's a basic green smoothie recipe is: (serving one) a good couple handfuls of greens (lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, edible weeds in the summer, green sprouts, etc - stay away from the more bitter greens for green smoothies like arugula as they dominate the flavor.) so it would be about 1 cup packed or 2 loose cups. 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen berries (can substitute with pears, peaches, apples, oranges, pineapple, mango or any fruit you like) - feel free to add more if you want. 1 banana 1 1/2 cups water Blend up and drink. This is the basic green smoothie and can be added to and varied. To make it my favorite (and particularly as it gets colder out), I like adding a heaping TBSP green powder like Vitamineral Green to get a whole lot of green nutrition added. I'll sometimes add a TBSP maca. I'll typically add some coconut oil to mine, some vegan protein powder during colder months, hemp or nut milk instead of water sometimes to make it really creamy. Sometimes I'll add a sweetener if the fruit isn't sweet enough (particularly when kids and husbands are sharing with me. Sometimes we can tolerate new things better when they are sweet. So that would be a tsp of agave or honey or maybe a date or two.) Also, I add some chia for those lovely omegas! And last but not least, every couple/few days, I'll add a little sprinkle of cacao nibs to the smoothie too. But that's the basics. They are yummy! Also good to note that lettuces like romaine won't turn the smoothie totally green so it is a good "starter" smoothie for people who get weird about the color. Also note: REMEMBER TO CHEW YOUR SMOOTHIES! (Chew your drink and drink your food!) Have fun! I also just have to say that my favorite smoothie is the one that I'm drinking! They all taste great. This morning's smoothie had: banana, local org blueberries, local greens, Vitamineral Green, coconut oil, chia and some medicinal mushrooms like reishi. OH and I put in a bit of sunflower seed butter this morning because I was hungry!! I drink about 32 ounces of green smoothie throughout the morning. Take care, Linda +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ask Linda! Please feel free to submit your questions to linda AT vt-fiddle.com. Questions don’t have to be completely raw food related but please bring questions on health, recipes, diet, weight issues, nutrition, parenting, nursing, pregnancy, spirituality or whatever it is you’d like to ask. I’ll do my best to answer and will most certainly learn from this as much as I can give.
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goji pink smoothie with sprouts recipe

Made a lovely smoothie today. Was in the mood for goji berries today which is wild because I'm hardly ever in the mood for goji berries.
Goji Pink Smoothie
Here's the smoothie recipe - it's quite delicious - this made about 48 oz of smoothie goodness and served 2 • 2 bananas • 1/2 cup goji berries • 3/4 cup strawberries • 1 heaping cup clover sprouts • 2 Tbsp raw tahini • filtered water • Raw agavewarrior protein powder Blend in the VitaMix until smooth. Pour in your favorite glasses and enjoy.
looking into the VitaMix pitcher
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today's herbal concoctions

Been having a fun dialogue with a lovely someone about all things raw/living food. I really love these kinds of conversations particularly because these peeps are as into it as I am. That makes it fun and me not coming across so much of a "pusher." LOL! It's quite an interesting place to be in when you are into something more than other people around you. It helps, I guess, to be in a bigger population of people - the % is greater than you'll find actual people into what you are. So, my population of excited raw peeps comes to me virtually. But I don't mind being the neighborhood health food freak. LOL So today's herbal concoctions and food so far: this AM had hot cacao with medicinal mushrooms, vitamin C, and non-GMO soy lecithin just for some added creaminess. Had some Immune Builder Tincture by Sandra Lory, Healthy Woman Elixir by Sandra Lory (Mandala Botanicals), Dragon something-er-other drops to build my shen. For my lunch I am having a green smoothie: bananas, kale, vitamineral green, E3Live, chlorella tabs, vitamineral Earth, spirulina, chia, tahini, coconut water. It's quite heavy but for the cold weather, it feels right. Hey, I'd like to give a shout out to Jensey at GoRawMe. She is doing her first workshop tomorrow! She's ordered some of my god & goddess butters and some of our nut milk bags: v-shape nylon and 9 x 12 nylon. I want to wish her luck and thank her for her first order with us!
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another green smoothie recipe for yas

I made this the other day and it was very yummy and delicious. It's full of good things for your body - it's thick and creamy and filling. Green Shake - Serves 2 or 3 hungry peeps * 2 bananas * 1 medium apple * 2 stalks celery * 2 Tbsps sesame seeds or raw tahini * 1/2 - 1 avocado (depending on how creamy you want it and how many peeps you are feeding) * 1 1/2 cups green sprouts like sunflower sprouts * filtered water or coconut water Put all ingredients into the VitaMix blender plus enough water to create a shake consistency. Drink and enjoy! This made about 64 ounces of creamy beautiful smoothie. YUM!
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lunch yesterday

Pat came by when I was making a smoothie for the kids (afternoon snack and my lunch) She's really good with the camera and took some nice pictures. I'm putting lovely kale into the pitcher along with some bananas and frozen blueberries. our eco-friendly packaging! 8-) So green it's almost black! YUM! Love this kind of green smoothie. Here's the recipe: 3 very ripe bananas 10 oz frozen blueberries 1 1/2 cups fresh kale 2 Tbsp chia seeds 1 handful whole cashews 2 rounded tsp Spirulina 2 rounded tsp VitaMineral Green fresh water drizzle of agave (optional) Blend in the VitaMix until smooth. This very large recipe makes almost a full pitcher in the VitaMix and serves 4. My kids, husband and I had this in the afternoon. It was delicious!
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breakfast the past few days

I've been out of greens at home so the past few days, this has been my breakfast: It's a very thick and filling shake: coconut water 1 banana ~2-3 Tbsp nut or seed butter ~ 30 or so chlorella tablets Blend in the VitaMix and drink and enjoy!.
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newsletter dated 3/5/09 - March comes in like a lion and goes out like mud... plus new dehydrators, books, workshops and more

Greetings good people! Happy March! I don't know what March is like for you but it's the most intense month here in VT. Usually by March, people are pretty antsy for the snow and cold to end. We get more bright sunny days which further make us wait with anticipation warmer temperatures. And then things turn to mud so we'll get mud season soon and then it will be black fly time, etc. VTers are cute to have celebrations for such things. The seasons are serious business here! :-) Today I'm working on sorting out the archived recipes so be on the look out to more easily look up the recipes on my site. We are also adding more products as well. Please be sure to check the new products page regularly as we are trying like the dickens to get things up: http://vt-fiddle.com/shop/index.php?main_page=products_new - (As per usual, I have way more products in house than what is listed on the website. We are working to make the two more synchronous.) We also made deliveries to Hunger Mountain and Sweet Clover TODAY so please get your raw treats while the gettin is good! I'll be making a delivery to Healthy Living on Monday. Please check out our Facebook page! Become a fan and check out photos, events and notes. MM-kay? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++ RAW FOOD HAPS THIS WEEK AND BEYOND • Tuesday, March 10th from 5:30 - 7:30 - Healing Cancer From Inside Out, Part Two. This is part two of an award-winning two-hour film (part one shown previously). Part 2, Healing Cancer, shows how cancer can be successfully healed with dietary treatments and natural supplementation. It explains common misconceptions about cancer, shows how diets designed to fight cancer are more successful than conventional treatments, discusses startling cancer research findings with T. Colin Campbell (The China Study) and has interviews with people who have reversed cancers using diet. It also discusses supplementation and why attitude is important in reversing not only cancer, but any disease.We'll have some raw treats to eat while we watch this important film. Please pre-register with Krystal or Robin at info@hungermountain.com or call them at 802-223-8004 x 204. Cost is $5 for members and $7 for non-members. I'm going to be serving green smoothies to drink while we watch Part 2. • Raw food deliveries have been made to Hunger Mountain Coop, Sweet Clover Market today and will be made to Healthy Living this coming Monday. So get your VT Fiddle Head raw food goodies while the gettin' is good. • Different varieties of my raw food has been a part of the local food order since January. This is a local group so if you are in the Montpelier area and are interested in local food, herbal remedies and crafts, please check with Montpelier Commonshare to be a part of this wonderful group. I'm having fun with some MYSTERY BOXES! Yes, i do mystery boxes - didn't you know? I LOVE them. Ask me how to get a box for yourself! • Tuesday, March 24th from 6:30 - 7:30 - Raw Food Quiche Workshop. Several of you have asked for it, so here it is. Join me for a fun hour as we learn how to make a delicious live food quiche which can be eaten any time of the day. Please pre-register with Krystal or Robin at info@hungermountain.com or call them at 802-223-8004 x 204. Cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. • Fiddle Heads House Kim Chi is available and is delicious - made with local & organic: cabbages, turnips, shallots, leeks, carrots, radishes, garlic, fresh ginger and lots of love. This is hella good kim chi and it's pretty too - it's pink! (which is why it is the house blend) Comes in quart sizes and larger. $9.00/quart. Please contact me if you are interested in getting some. I'm also taking orders for Dill and Caraway Sauerkraut. This takes a month to make but worth the wait! Here's what someone has recently said about my kim chi: "Just so you know, I have been trying the different kim-chi month by month and by far prefer yours, so I am already ordering some! And yes, it is pretty - that is red cabbage, yes? As opposed to beets?" Thank you! And no, no beets were harmed in the making of this kim chi! hahaha (see the other great feedback on the kim chi ABOVE!) go on, read it again. It'll make you smile like it does me! :-) • gRAWnola available and is delicious - made with all organic ingredients: apples, hazelnuts, sprouted buckwheat, soaked pumpkin seeds, dates, cranberries, dry coconut, agave, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, and Celtic sea salt. Can purchase in 8 oz and 1 lb bags. Please contact me if you are interested in getting some. • savory dill & fennel sauerkraut crackers available and are delicious - made with all organic ingredients: golden flax seeds and local cabbage turned into sauerkraut, dill seeds, fennel seeds, celery seeds, Celtic sea salt. Can purchase in 4 and 8 oz bags. Please contact me if you are interested in getting some. • our downloadable recipe book: over 70 smoothie, juices and soup recipes: http://vt-fiddle.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=52 - I've already started another in the series. Be on the look out for the breakfast recipes e-book! • NEW IN STOCK: Books and audio books by Dr. Joel Furhman as well as heavy duty 9-tray dehydrators in white. I have been reading up on Dr. Furhman's work and while he doesn't advocate 100% raw, he's a BIG proponent of majority raw food and vegan food. I am really liking what he has to say and it is helping me to really understand my own eating patterns better. My friend Gina gave me his book to read and I instantly felt a big YES about it so I am now going to carry some of his products. I also have some heavy-duty 9 tray dehydrators for sale as well as the kind that we have been used to. I always think it's good to have some options! Please contact me if you are interested in getting any of these items. With everything we sell, items can be picked up or I can mail them to you. ALSO IN STOCK: Fruits of the Earth superfood powder, Maca Force Vanilla Spice, really raw oats, raw nori sheets, chia seeds, turkish mulberries, dandy blend, wasabi powder, kelp noodles, dandelion leek miso by south river, garlic red pepper miso by south river, Eating for Beauty by David Wolfe, Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe and Shazzie, Sun Warrior Biofermented Rice Protein powder (in natural and chocolate flavors), marine phytoplankton, lucuma powder, yacon slices, really raw cashews, artisana coconut butter, tibetan goji berries and Vitamix pitcher replacements. If you have an old vitamix blender, you might want to consider a new plastic pitcher to replace the one that was made with bpa plastic - it also comes with a new lid that stays on so your hand doesn't have to rest on top when you blend. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INTERESTING THINGS TO READ • http://www.naturalnews.com/025767.html - "A new report released by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement reveals that Americans' exposure to radiation has increased more than 600 percent over the last three decades. Most of that increase has come from patients' exposure to radiation through medical imaging scans such as CT scans and mammograms." (click on the link to read more.) • http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/alice-waters-and-obamas-kitchen-cabinet/ - "Alice Waters and Obama's 'Kitchen' Cabinet" (thanks Pat for sending fun stuff to read! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AND NOW FOR THAT RECIPE My breakfast So it's March and it feels like I want some oranges. Who knows, maybe the orange color makes me think I'm getting some sunshine somehow. YAY for sunshiney oranges! 1 head romaine 1 orange 1 cup blueberries 1 cup strawberries 2 Tbsp chia seeds lots of filtered water Blend with lots of filtered water. This fills the whole pitcher. Matt and I each had a quart of smoothie which is filling and DEEE-I-LICIOUS! Feel free to substitute your favorite greens in place of the romaine. Feel free to add a stalk of celery to the mix. YUM! I'm going to do that for lunch! :-) For many people new to green smoothies, using romaine gets them used to the "green taste." Remember that having smoothies gives you wonderful FIBER! Yay for FIBER! Hint for parents: Give a green smoothie to your kids to sneak in more greens. My daughter grows tired of having to have salads all the time. So I make her fruit and green leafie smoothies and she's very happy. She's also drinking WAY more greens than she could eat. ____________________ My lunch 1 head red leaf lettuce 2 stalks celery 1 1/2 cups strawberries 1 orange drizzle agave filtered water Blend with lots of filtered water. This again filled the pitcher. I am using the greens that I have in the fridge however I want you to remember to rotate the kinds of greens you have. I'm basically filling up on these and having small portions of other things that are not as power packed with fiber, water, vitamins and minerals. Believe me, you can really fill up on these smoothies! I'm totally loving having oranges with my greens. YUM YUM! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Have a great week and please contact me for information or other raw goodies (both bulk and prepared.) in joy and in health, Linda Vermont Fiddle Heads 18 Worcester Village Road Worcester, VT 05682 802-223-2111 802-408-1000 (fax) http://www.vt-fiddle.com
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my green smoothie tonight

My Green Smoothie Dinner Tonight
this is what I had for dinner two nights ago. I used what I had and that is GOOD! Use what you have and what works for you. I wasn't really in the mood for anything so I thought a filling smoothie would be great. And it was!

2 bananas
1 head of romaine
1/2 avocado
1/2 cup hazelnut milk
filtered water

Blend until thick and creamy, and drink. I shared this with my son who smacked his lips and said YUM! The kids like the creamy green drinks.

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a green smoothie that BOTH the kids love

We've been doing green smoothies again since we got back from our trip. My kids are begging for these which is SOOOO wonderful. I'm including the best one yet. I make it and they suck it down, smacking their lips and saying YUM the whole time. a green smoothie that both kids like! by Linda Wooliever Now you have to do a bit of pre-planning here. You have to make the hazelnut ice cream and have it ready to make this smoothie. Thankfully making raw ice creams are SUPER easy and they make a big quantity so you'll have this for lots of good eatin' times. I wanted to make a green smoothie that was creamy and smooth so that the kids would feel as if they were having a milk shake instead of a healthy drink. TA-DAAA! Here it is! • 4 small red bananas • 1 clementine (use a 1/2 cup of berries if you don't have a clementine) • 1 heaping TBSP vitamineral green • 1 head red leaf lettuce, washed • 1/2 cup hazelnut ice cream (raw version) • 1 scoop Sun Warrior natural protein powder • 1 drizzle agave (optional) • lots and lots of water blend and serve - this makes a full pitcher so a family of 4-6 can have this and feel very satisfied from it. ++++++++++++++++++ hazelnut ice cream recipe: (makes 1 quart) • 1 1/2 cup hazelnuts • 4 cups filtered water • 1/2 cup packed pitted dates • 2 Tbsp non-GMO lecithin • good pinch Celtic sea salt • 1 tsp vanilla extract Put the hazelnuts and 4 cups of water in the pitcher of the blender. Blend for 30-60 seconds. Strain milk through one of our handy-dandy nut milk bags. Put milk back in the blender along with the dates, lecithin, vanilla and salt to the blender. Blend well, pour into a glass or plastic container and freeze in your freezer. Now isn't that easy?
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