Breakfast made delicious: Make a smoothie

I'm on a smoothie kick.  Yes I hate the blender cleanup that follows but the reward is well worth it.  Here are two of my favourite easy-to-make, tasty, and healthy smoothie recipes. 

Spinach & Banana

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk

• 1 cup cleaned and destemmed kale or spinach leaves

• 1 banana, chopped

• 2 tbsp whey protein powder, vanilla and naturally sweetened or unflavoured and unsweetened*

• 1 tbsp almond butter or natural peanut butter

• 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flaxseed (optional)

• 1 tsp honey* (optional)

• 3-4 ice cubes

Method:

Mix and enjoy!  Easy-peasy. 

Pumpkin & Vanilla

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk

• 1/3 cup pumpkin puree from a can

• 2 tbsp whey protein powder, vanilla and naturally sweetened or unflavoured and unsweetened*

• pinch of ground cinnamon

• 1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flaxseed (optional)

• 1 tsp maple syrup or honey* (optional)

• 3-4 ice cubes

Method:

Blend and drink! 

Tip:

A good amateur chef is like a good yogi: they learn the basics then discover for themselves.  Admittedly I don't usually measure my ingredients.  A friend chef of mine, Pat Dunn, taught me that lesson at a cooking class at one of my retreats: don't get too hung up on perfectly measuring everything.   The point is to mix ingredients that work well together and that make something tasty.  Missing an ingredient?  No stress.  Substitute or take it out of the smoothie recipe based on what's in your pantry or on what you like.*A note about sweetener and protein powder:  The combo is simple: is you use a sweetened protein powder you don't usually need to add honey or maple syrup as a sweetener unless you have a sweet tooth.  I prefer to sweeten my smoothies myself.  I use an unsweetened and unflavoured whey protein powder which I'll admit is hard to find.  If you can't find unsweetened choose one that is sweetened naturally.  Vega has some tasty, healthy options.  No, they didn't pay me to say that.   Admittedly protein powder is expensive but worth the investment.  Wait for a sale at your local supermarket, join GNC's membership club, or use the coupon that Vega gives you when you sign up for their newsletter - win!  If you have to go with a flavour, chose vanilla for these shakes. Here's to happy eating,Kim P.S. Prefer cookies?  Try this delicious Martha Stewart chewy chocolate ginger cookie recipe I butchered the other day.  Lesson learned: don't use old flour when baking for a serious cookie bake-off.  You won't win.