Awesome green smoothies!!

My kids beg for this. They call it "a green banana." Put these items in your Vita-mix (or regular blender, if it can hack it) in this order.

1/2 cup white grape or apple juice
2 medium ripe bananas
3 pitted dates OR 1 to 2 tsp. blue agave nectar (optional for extra sweetness)
1 good-sized grab of baby spinach leaves
1 cup of ice cubes

Blend until smooth, add extra ice or juice as needed to get the consistency you want.

This is a great way to get a healthy serving of both fruit and green veggies. Enjoy!

Freezing bananas

Frozen bananas are a staple in the fruit smoothie world. Simply peel ripe bananas, and place them whole on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet or piece of cardboard - then place them in the freezer. When they freeze, transfer them to a gallon ziplock back for storage in the freezer. Although frozen, they remain fairly easy to break into pieces.

I'm a pureeing goddess!

Yep - a Vita-Mix. You have no idea how thrilled I am. I can see my mom's reaction already - "You paid HOW MUCH for a BLENDER?"

We went to the Connecticut Home Show yesterday in Hartford. I made Glen swear we wouldn't enter to win any time share trips, or buy a mop or a super chamois. I felt confident to resist the allure of literature, business cards and candy being thrown in my direction. Then it happened. Dunkin' Donuts was giving out free mocha latte samples. I caved. I know it was all a ploy to soften me up for the all-natural jewelry cleaner. I don't even wear jewelry, but my engagement ring looked so beautiful afterwards, and no scrubbing! That one purchase broke down the last of my resistance, and I was drawn into the Vita-Mix demonstration. As soon as the rep made a fruit sorbet with cabbage and carrots in it, I was hooked. Then she made a southwestern tortilla soup that heated up during the prep time and was ready to serve in 4 minutes right from the blender. I began to search for my checkbook.

Being the level-headed one, Glen pulled me away by asking if I wanted another latte sample. We walked around for a bit more while I cooled off, and then he asked if I wanted the Vita-Mix. "YES!!!!" I pleaded for him to put me out of my misery. "Will you use it?" What a silly question, I use my regular blender to make fruit smoothies every day, but I can't put ice in it, and the motor will most likely burn out soon, and cleaning it is a pain..."YES, I'll use it every day! I promise you'll be eating vegetables you can't even pronounce and you won't even know they're there!" Done. It'll be on my doorstep in a week.

For the next 6 months, I'm sure I'll be torturing all my blog readers with my latest Vita-Mix creations.