Recipe: Green Tropical Smoothie

This recipe is posted for my darling sis who has been bugging me non-stop for my Green Tropical Smoothie recipe. When she came to visit recently, I made this for us every morning since this smoothie is now part of my daily morning routine. When I want less sugar, I will omit the mango and only use 1/2 a lime instead of a whole one.

I've listed coconut as optional because I sometimes buy a muesli with coconut in it. When that's the case, I don't bother adding extra coconut. Enjoy! This tastes really good and is good for you!

Green Tropical Smoothie
- 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 ripe frozen banana
- 2 or more large handfuls of kale or spinach
- 1 ripe yellow mango, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup of plain yogurt or almond milk
- 1/2 cup of muesli
- 1 small lime, juice
- 1-2 Tbsp flax oil
- 1/2 cup of water (optional)
- 1 Tbsp desiccated coconut (optional)
- sweetener of choice (optional)

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: Mango Pineapple Smoothie

This mango pineapple smoothie was inspired by 2 things: the mango lassi drink and my recent interest in salsa dancing. You combine the two together and you get this!

I absolutely encourage you to use fresh mangoes. I find frozen ones lack flavor and have only a faint mango taste when you compare it to the fresh stuff.

As for the cinnamon, I recommend using Vietnamese cinnamon. It is regarded as the best cinnamon in the world and you will understand why once you taste it. It's high essential oil content is what gives it its awesome flavor.

Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- 2 fresh mangoes, cut into chunks
- 3/4 cups of pineapple chunks
- 1 frozen ripe banana
- 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
- 1/2 of small lime, juice
- 1 Tbsp flax oil
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 cardamom pod, seeds only, shell discarded (optional)
- choice of sweetener (optional)

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: The Elvis Shake (Rattle and Roll)

When a friend told me about combining peanut butter with banana in a shake, my body grew weak with excitement. Sweet ripe banana combined with a spoonful of thick creamy peanut butter is a killer combination. I was so excited about the shake idea that I stayed up all night trying to think of the best combination for a breakfast shake.

And, here you have it! I present you with the Elvis Shake. The dash of cayenne pepper in this recipe and playing Elvis' song in the background will surely make you want to get up and dance!

This recipe yields 1 cup.

The Elvis Shake (Rattle and Roll)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- 6 Tbsp rolled oats or your favorite muesli
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 large pinch of cayenne pepper

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: Spiced Breakfast Berry Shake

As you can see, I've been into my shakes lately. I find that it is the easiest way to get all the good stuff your body needs, all in one go. Eating healthy meals takes planning, and sometimes, my brain just gets tired of doing it. With the right shakes, you can substitute your meals with shakes or have it on the side to complement your meal.

This is not your regular berry fruit drink. But then again, I don't think any recipe on this site is regular. This berry shake has added spices like turmeric, cinnamon and ginger that contain added health benefits. You may be skeptical about it tasting good, but trust me, it is! Another great thing about shakes is that it's a great way to sneak in ingredients that you may not necessarily have on a regular basis. This is a great tactic for your the little kids in the family...and big kids too! The ginger may be a bit too much for some so I have listed that as optional.

Turmeric and cinnamon are considered superfoods, which simply means that it has a high nutrient content and disease-fighting agents. Turmeric, cinnamon and ginger have all been identified as cancer-fighting ingredients, along with a long list of other health benefits like its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune-enhancing properties.

This recipe yields 1 1/4 cups.

Spiced Berry Breakfast Shake
- 1 cup of frozen mixed berries, slightly thawed
- 1 ripe banana, frozen and peeled
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- 4-6 Tbsp of rolled oats or your favourite muesli (less will give a smoother consistency)
- 4 Brazil nuts
- 2 Tbsp of flax oil
- 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp of turmeric
- 1 small nob of peeled ginger, approx 1 inch x 1 inch (optional)

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Recipe: The Ultimate Green Shake

When one hears green shake or green drink, a scrunched up face usually follows. It never sounds tasty and what usually comes to mind is a cup full of bitter vegetables blended together. I can assure you that it is NOT the case with this green shake. It is delicious and packed with a whole lot of goodness such as leafy greens, fresh fruit, omega-3 and anti-oxidants.

When life gets hectic, I usually forget to eat my fruits and veggies regularly. This is a great shake to get all the essential nutrients and fats you need. The fresh fruit, sweet dates, and cacao nibs make this shake great tasting, and I don't even notice the broccoli in this drink! I have to warn you, it is pretty filling. One or two servings of this shake is usually enough for one complete meal.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

The Ultimate Green Shake
(Adapted from Sue Riedl)
- 1 green apple, cored and chopped with skin
- 1 ripe frozen banana, peeled
- 1 cup of frozen broccoli
- 3/4 cups of leafy greens (I use watercress, kale, or spinach)
- 3 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups of almond milk
- 1 Tbsp of flax oil
- 2 Tbsp of cacao nibs
- 5 Brazil nuts

Method
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour shake into a cup and enjoy.

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Banana Pumpkin Pancakes

I had a few people over for breakfast, and made these awesome banana pumpkin pancakes. My friend E is obsessed with pancakes, and with a nickname like 'The Pancake King', you know he is a man who likes his pancakes.

And, when 'The Pancake King' tells you that your pancakes are the best pancakes he has ever had, you can't help but feel proud.

These pancakes are very filling, and the bananas add a nice touch of sweetness. I made some candied pecans to go with the pancakes, and it was a winning combo.

Although the spices seem more than plenty when reading the recipe, the spice taste is in fact very mild and not overpowering. Just try them, they seriously rock.

This recipe yields 6-10 pancakes (depending on size of pancakes).

Banana Pumpkin Pancakes
- 1/2 cup of all purpose flour, sifted
- 1/2 cup of whole wheat pastry flour, sifted
- 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground or freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 large pinch of ground cloves
- 1 large pinch of all spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree
- 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 medium banana, cut into slices or small pieces

Method
1. In a bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and mix well. In another bowl, combine the olive oil, pumpkin puree, ginger, egg, and milk and mix well.

2. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients, and mix until smooth. Add the bananas, and mix with a spoon until the bananas are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

3. Heat a lightly greased skillet on medium heat. With a small ladle or large spoon, scoop the batter onto the pan (about 4 inches diameter), and heat until the top begins to bubble or until you can flip the pancake without making a mess. Heat the other side until golden brown. Repeat Step 3 until the batter is used up.

Pancakes

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Healthy Banana Bread

This is a super healthy banana bread recipe that my mom-in-law shared with me. As mentioned, she is the Queen of making healthy desserts that taste amazing. This is no exception. Every time I make this, my banana bread doesn't even last a day. It smells awesome when it first comes out of the oven, and tastes great when served warm. I love peeling off and eating the crunchy top of the loaf when it is still hot.

This recipe yields 1 loaf.

Healthy Banana Bread
- 1 cup of mashed ripe bananas
- 1 cup of sifted all purpose flour
- 1 cup of 9 grain flour (or whole wheat flour)
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 350F/175C

2. Sift the all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Add in the whole grain flour and sugar.

3. Add in the oil, bananas, and eggs. Mix well.

4. Combine the milk and lemon juice, and stir until a uniform batter is formed. Stir in the walnuts.

5. Grease a loaf pan (9x5x3 inches). Pour the batter into the loaf pan.

6. Bake for 60 - 70 minutes. Note that the top of your loaf will brown before it is fully cooked. Remove banana bread from pan, let it cool on a cooling rack, and serve.

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