Green 'Monster' Smoothies

I have a hard time eating the foods that I should eat when I'm pregnant.

I always have a hard time getting enough calcium.  

I don't drink anything other than water, coffee, and fresh pressed apple juice (when I'm not having problems with reflux).  

Which means no milk. Blach!

And I don't like cheese, unless it is melted.

I like yogurt, but only certain kinds...that usually have bad things in them that I steer clear of.

{Yoplait's Thick & Creamy Strawberry Banana Yogurt.  So good, but icky ingredients.}

I have been trying to get enough potassium & calcium, because they are both supposed to help with charley horses.

Which I get a lot.

And they hurt!

My Mom found this recipe, for Green 'Monster' Smoothies {peanut butter-banana-yogurt-almond milk-spinach}, on Pinterest this weekend, and stopped to pick up the ingredients.

It is GOOD!

And all its tastes like is peanut butter and bananas.

We have been making them every day after Karson's nap. 

Plus I make an extra one to freeze, for DJ to drink the next day at work.

It could be that I love it so much because I have been deprived of peanut butter for the last 7 1/2 months.

{peanut butter = horrid heartburn!!}

Or, it is just really that good!!

{for whatever reason, this smoothie doesn't bother my heartburn/reflux.  but I would never drink it close to bed time.}

Green 'Monster' Smoothie

1 T. Peanutbutter

1/2 C. Yogurt 

The original recipe calls for greek yogurt, but I don't like greek yogurt.   

We use Dannon's all natural vanilla yogurt.  

Stoneyfield Farm Organic Vanilla Yogurt would be ideal...but I don't like it. :)

1 C. Almond Milk

anyone know where you can buy this in bulk?  so expensive!

1 Banana Frozen & Sliced

peel, slice, and freeze the bananas the day before...or a few hours before...or use a fresh banana and add ice :) 4 C Spinach

I don't have a blender, just a little Cuisinart food processor (that I absolutely LOVE), so it doesn't completely liquify the spinach, but we don't mind.

I fill my food process or (a 4 cup) with Spinach, and blend it up.  Then fill it up again, and blend it up again.  

I pack in as much spinach as I can, because I know I am lacking vegetables in my diet. :)

Then I add the frozen banana slices and peanut butter, and blend it again.

I add the yogurt and almond milk last, and blend, blend, blend, blend, blend.

It is yummy...and tastes like your eating peanut butter & bananas.

ENJOY!

Beach Mix {recipe}

For the most part, I obsess over what food we have in our house.  If the ingredients have:  high fructose corn syrup, modified anything, or hydrogenated anything, in all likelihood, you will not find them in my kitchen.  With that said, I believe in all things in moderation.  To an extent.  Christmas?  Eat whatever you want.  Halloween?  Eat all the candy you can.  Easter?  Eat chocolate! Special occasions?  Ignore, and enjoy!  Heart attack in a bag Beach Mix?  A necessity at the beach!

Beach Mix can be made with any snacks you want.  I have never made it the same twice.  This is how I usually make it.

Ingredients:
3 Bags Bite Size Tostitos tortilla chips
1 Bag Pretzels
1 Bag Oyster Crackers
1 Bag Fritoes Scoops
2 Bags Bugles
1 Bag Gold Fish Crackers
1 Box Crispix



Pour all into a doubled garbage bag.
(make sure to double it or it makes a mess :-))


Mix together in a bowl:
2 1/2 Cups Vegetable Oil
1 pkg. Dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning
I have used both the dressing mix and the seasoning packet
1 tbl. Dill Weed
1 tbl. Lemon Pepper
I usually put in a little less lemon pepper

Pour over the crackers in the garbage bag. Shake the bag, well. Every time you walk past it for 24 hours, shake it more.

Bag into zip locks. I think the last batch I made, filled 6 or 7 gallon bags. This recipe only made 5.   I freeze the bags, until I use them. 

Why is it called beach mix??
Because when you take a bag to the beach, and it sits in the sun, and gets warm, it tastes even better!!