Saturday, February 26, 2011

Kale Smoothie Revisited


When we got back from Hawaii I was inspired by the kale smoothie that I got at Sweet Home Waimanalo.  I had always been afraid of the green smoothie.  But after I tried it there, I was an instant convert.  As soon as I got home, I decided to make my own.  The woman at Sweet Home Waimanalo was gracious enough to tell me that she used about 2 handfuls of cut up kale so I had a pretty good idea of how much kale to use when I made my own.  Now that I have been making these for over 2 months now, I have just modified a thing or two and have learned some do's and don'ts of the kale smoothie.  Here's my original kale smoothie post.


I have started adding a bit of vanilla extract to the smoothie for a little added flavor.  I use the original unsweetened almond milk in it but if I used the unsweetened vanilla flavor, I probably wouldn't add the vanilla extract.  I also use a packet of Truvia to give it a little more sweetness although it's really not completely necessary.  It would be fine just as it is, I just like a little more sweetness.  All kinds of lighter color fruits are perfect for the smoothie: bananas, strawberries, pineapple, peaches, mango, etc.  Also, I continue to blend up the kale with 1/2 of the almond milk first.  You want to make sure the kale is completely blended up so you don't end of with chunks of it in the final product.  That would be kind of off putting!  


The main thing I have discovered NOT to do is add dark fruit like blueberries.  It makes the smoothie look  completely unappealing (I have not taken a picture of it with blueberries).  It looks like toxic sludge with darker fruits added in.  If you want your food to be pretty and aesthetically appealing, DON'T add blueberries!  :)  I will add them sometimes but I haven't recently because I realized the smoothie wasn't as enjoyable when it's not appealing.  

I think it's beautiful in the pictures above!  I love the bright, vibrant green color!  I know some people might be grossed out by this.  (I posted a picture on my Facebook page and within one minute someone already posted how it looked like green paint and looked gross!)  But that's not how I feel, which I guess, is all that matters!  


7 comments:

  1. The green smoothie looks good to me (I did not even once think of green paint!).
    Question: when you bake using Truvia, how much do you use to represent 1 c. sugar (I have the 9.8 oz jar of Truvia)?
    Great job and thanks for the inspiration!
    Pat

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  2. Thanks! When I bake using Truvia (not individual packets but the container) I rarely use more than 1/2 cup of it because it's very expensive! I probably use about 1/4-1/2 cup and then I sweeten it to taste with stevia, agave nectar, etc. The Wholesome Organics bags of Organic Zero are also expensive but I buy them with the "Subscribe and Save" option on Amazon. They are still about $10 a bag....yikes! I hope this answers your question! :)

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  3. Green smoothies always freak me out as well, but I would always as blueberries to cover up the green color. Will have to try your version as it looks so much prettier than mine!

    Also wanted to let you know that I awarded you the "Stylish Bloggers Award" on my blog. Bloggers so need an accolade such as this once in a while to encourage them to keep on keeping on. Your willingness to pass this gift on to others is not only a kindness but an inspiration. Hope you will pass on the award to other bloggers as well and Congrats! Thanks for having a great blog!

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  4. I just love this smoothie! I make it every day... well, except the past 3 since I broke my blender :*( . New one to be delivered this week. I found I have to use sliced strawberries, the whole strawberries are what broke the blender! I have not tried mangoes or pineapple yet, but I love this smoothie so much! I've talked about it at my ww meeting 3 weeks in a row. They are going to start calling me Krazy Kale Kris! Thanks again for sharing, Katy!

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  5. Kris-I am glad you are as excited about green smoothies as me! :) Let them call you crazy at your WW meeting! You know where it's at! :)

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