Print

[Letha]

I've got a recipe for green smoothies on my recipe blog that I really like.  I thought I'd also share this video showing how to make a basic green smoothie.  What's your favorite green smoothie recipe?

 

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[fulenn]

Very cool!  I wish the cost of the vita-mix was lower, but I can see that you get your moneys worth with it.  Maybe down the road a bit.  Right now I use my Cuisinart blender--strong enough to crush ice so I really like it.
 
Fulenn

[ivy]

I use an ordinary cheap blender.  I use frozen bananas instead of ice.

[fulenn]

What I am wondering is about the color you get with the higher-end blender, like on the video.  I have made green smoothies with fresh spinach leaves and with kale leaves, but it does not turn green and the leaves stay in small pieces, about the size of half of an eraser end.  I don't think the other mixer leaves small hunks like that.  Or does it?  If it does, why doesn't mine turn green?
 
Fulenn

[Daffodil]

Here are 2 of my favorite green smoothies, both from Victoria Boutenko's book "Green for life."

Strawberry Fields
--------------------
1 cup strawberries
2 bananas
1/2 bunch romaine
2 cups water

Apple Kale Lemon
--------------------
4 Apples
Juice of 1/2 lemon
4-5 leaves Kale
2 cups water

I experiment and create new GS's all the time. I also make really nice and thick homemade veggie juice. Still saving for a BlendTec blender and for the time being I juice what I cannot blend in my blender,then add the juice from the juicer into the blender to blend the remaining ingredients.

Fulenn, try blending it longer if the pieces are still all in there from the greens. Do you tear up the leaves before putting them in the blender? Or use scissors to cut them.
My smoothies always turn a rich dark or bright  green or purple when I use blueberries or blackberries. Once a pretty good maroon color from using raspberries.
I find it helps to put the greens on the bottom first, then add the fruit,etc on top if you have a blender that isn't as powerful as the Vitamix or BlendTec.
[/b]