Berries & Spinach

In my last post I talked about green shakes and trying out new shake recipes.  Today I experimented with a flavor combination.  The shake consisted of coconut water, 1 cup of frozen berries, about 5 bite size carrots, spinach, a handful of mandarin oranges, and a splash of juice.  Originally the juice was not part of the recipe, but after tasting the shake once it was blended I decided it needed a little more flavor.  Well my husband decided so I added the juice.  This particular combination of flavors leaved a little something to be desired.  Since neither one of us really cares for coconut water I believe that is what threw it off for us.  There are some who may like this flavor combination so I do not want to discourage you from putting the ingredients in a blender and trying it first; it just wasn't for me.  But, you cannot say that you don't like something until you try it first.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

(Top Image Credit: http://www.thankgodimnatural.com/green-smoothie-recipe-spinach-coco-berry-smoothie/)

Green Shakes

Recently my husband has been on this kick to drink green shakes.  He got the idea from some college friends who were drinking them and each had their own recipes.  The original recipe that I made for my other half included spinach, broccoli, avocado, pineapple, and a splash of juice.  It was thick but somewhat tasty.

Since the first recipe (shown in the picture above) we have modified what goes in the shake.  Now the shake includes spinach, broccoli, mandarin oranges, and on occasion some pineapple.  This recipe is much more palatable and since it includes two vegetables, is healthy as well.  My husband has been after me to try the recipes because we are in the process of attempting to convert to a more healthy lifestyle; starting with what we cook and eat.  I am adamant about the fact that you can get the same nutritional value from eating these veggies cooked or in a salad.  However, in an effort to be more acceptable and accommodating I did a little Internet research and found some healthy shake recipes in different varieties that include spinach and some that do not.  Not all of them are green, but they all have good nutritional value and should be fun to try.  Once we start trying some of these new recipes I will update the readers with how they taste.

If you are a person who is looking to change up your diet and add something a little different then try a green shake.  If the concept or look of a green shake does not sit well with your psyche then do your own research and find a combination of ingredients that your taste buds are sure to enjoy.  Remember, in this case it is not just about the flavor that it brings to your mouth but it is about the nutrition it can give your body.

Spinach Experiment

There are many flavors and foods in the world.  Some of them you may like and some of them you may not.  But, it is always good to try something first before saying that you don't like it.  For example, I used to always say that I did not like spinach, but the kicker is that I never tried it.  That is something that went against everything my grandfather Willie Bryant taught me.

I am pleased to say that I have tried spinach and for the past year have been loving it.  I try to think of creative ways to fix it and include it with my dishes.  Pictured above is one of the dishes I recently fixed for myself and my husband.  There is a bed of white rice lightly seasoned with sea salt and Parmesan cheese.  Then it is topped off with Italian herb & cheese seasoned spinach surrounded by backed chicken tenders.  To top off the dish I added sliced tomatoes with real mozzarella cheese (it just happened to be on sale at Publix that week) and drizzled it with a little extra virgin olive oil.

To some this may not sound good, but I can assure you it was quite good and tasty.  The rice was seasoned just right and not too salty.  The chicken tenders were just what the name implied, tender.  The spinach was heavenly, and the tomatoes with mozzarella added a little more color and excitement to this dish.  Overall I would rate this dish a 4 out of 5 stars.  For me it was something that just gave my mouth a burst of flavor; which was nice because I had never fixed it before.  This was one of my many food experiments.  Some of my experiments do not turn out quite right, but this one was fantastic and I encourage you all to try it.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.