The other day I made myself a fresh juice which I haven’t done for a while now and decided to warm the juice up slightly as it was such a cold day. I love having a warmed juice and I then decided that I’d try the recipe again but this time I’d add some spices and see if that worked well and it does!
Most mornings I have a smoothie after working out when I need something quick before I head out the door. However, on days when I have a bit more time I love a smoothie bowl.
The flavour combinations are endless, just use whatever is your favourite smoothie combo but the trick is to use frozen fruit and less liquid so you get a thicker consistency. If you think the smoothie isn’t very thick you can pop it in the freezer for a few minutes until it firms up, this also helps the toppings not to sink!
I normally add some vegetables to smoothies, however, when I made this without any vegetables it tasted too good to try to sneak some in and I didn’t want to ruin the great flavour.
I love using cashew nuts to make sauces creamy and they work great in smoothies too, if you’re not a fan of cashews, almonds would work just as well. I also leave the skin on the peaches but if you’d like a ‘smoother’ consistency, peel the peaches beforehand.
Serves 1-2
Ingredients
-1 banana, peeled
-2 peaches, stones removed
-1 cup almond or coconut milk
-small handful or cashew nuts
How To Make
Throw everything in a blender and blend until smooth.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy 🙂
This post is very short as I’m super busy with my studies but I wanted to share this smoothie recipe with you.
I’ve just discovered an amazing coconut milk by Rude Health (I’m already a fan of their rice and almond milk) and it is amazing, just reminds me of being somewhere exotic…not a rainy Scotland!
Serves 1
Ingredients
-1 cup mixed berries (I used strawberries, blueberries & blackberries)
-1 cup coconut milk or almond milk
-2 cups baby spinach
-1 Tbsp. chia seeds
-1 small banana or half an avocado
-handful of ice
How To Make
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Enjoy 🙂
My Dad got me a fab gadget when he was over visiting last year that makes slicing up a pineapple so easy! The best bit too is you’re left with the shell of the pineapple and some of the delicious juice to drink.
As pineapples always remind me of hot Summer days I was waiting for a hot spell before I stocked up on them and created some recipes. However, I think the two days of sunshine we had here in Scotland was Summer this year, eager as I was to use my new gadget I’ve stocked up on pineapples – sliced them up with said gadget and filled the fridge and freezer!
I made this smoothie the other morning after my workout and it is delicious with the heat of the ginger coming through. It is a thick smoothie so if you prefer a thinner consistency add more milk.
Serves 1
Ingredients
-2 large handfuls of kale, cleaned and tough stalks removed
-1 heaped cup chopped pineapple
-1″ piece of ginger, peeled
-1 stick of celery
-1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
-3/4 cup brown rice milk, or your preferred milk
How To Make
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and serve.
Enjoy 🙂
I was going to post a different recipe this week but when I posted a picture of this smoothie on Instagram and Facebook I received lots of enquiries about it that I thought I would share it with you this week.
I’m not a huge chocolate lover but every so often I do have a craving for some. This smoothie satisfied my craving instantly and is filling too so a great snack.
I don’t add any sweeteners to this smoothie but if you prefer something a little sweeter you could add some honey or maple syrup. If you don’t have any bananas in your freezer just use a regular banana and a handful of ice cubes.
Some people may not be familiar with maca which I have included – although this is totally optional. Maca is native to the Andes and is a very hardy plant. Amongst other benefits it is great for helping with energy levels and reducing tiredness. It has a slight caramel taste which I love.
Serves 1 – easily doubled
Ingredients
-1 frozen banana, peeled
-1 handful baby spinach
-3 or 4 large fresh mint leaves
-2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
-1 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
-1/2 tsp. maca powder (optional)
-cacao nibs for sprinkling on top (optional)
How To Make
Place all the ingredients except for the cacao nibs in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and top with the cacao nibs, if using.
Enjoy 🙂
I have only recently discovered matcha tea and at first I wasn’t too sure but now I love it. I do enjoy a good cup of tea any time of the day whether it be breakfast tea, fruit, green or herbal, I cannot start my day without a good cup of tea.
I normally have a matcha latte with almond milk and some ground cinnamon but the other day I was making a smoothie and decided to add some matcha powder to see what it was like and I liked it! I now want to try and incorporate it with baking but that’s only because I love the intense green colour of the powder and think it would look great in a cake or biscuits.
I’ve given the option of using honey in this recipe, I personally don’t use it but I know some people prefer their smoothies to be sweet. Also, if you don’t have any mangoes this smoothie works well with bananas too.
Serves 1
Ingredients
-handful of ice
-2 mangoes, peeled and stone removed
-2 handfuls of raw kale, tough stems removed
-1 tsp. matcha powder
-1 cup non-dairy milk (I use almond milk)
-1 tsp. honey (optional)
How To Make
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy 🙂
I am totally loving this juice right now. I’m making loads of it and storing it in the fridge, it keeps well for a couple of days due to the addition of the lemon. I’ve called it good morning green juice as the combination of the lemon and ginger give it a certain ‘zing’ ideal for waking up your taste buds first thing in the morning. However, I drink this juice anytime of the day!
This past week I have been fighting a head cold and the amount of ginger I have been putting in this juice has been increasing daily due to lack of sense of taste! Luckily I had tested this recipe a while back so I know how much ginger works but feel free to add more or less to your taste.
I love a good cup of tea, especially in the morning. My morning brew has to be regular black tea with some almond milk but during the day I’ll drink fruit tea, green tea and right now my favourite is matcha tea with almond milk and ground cinnamon – it sounds a very random combination but give it a try it’s really good.
Four Candles Kitchen 