Friday, April 1, 2011

Still Waiting for the Out Like a Lamb Part...

*Looks outside* 

Well here we are in April (already?) and for all you faithful readers I regret to inform you I'm still waiting for my monthly prank call from my mother - she didn't even leave me any instant messenger bombs!- if nothing happens in the next couple of hours I'll have to file a missing persons report. 

I figure today's as good as any to share a couple of recipes.  Yay you!  Ok, so you're looking at the picture and asking, "Girl, do you really drink your breakfast from a champagne flute with a heart shaped fun-straw, and eat strawberries from a crystal bowl all served on a little silver platter?"  Not every breakfast.  Thing is, my 7/11 big gulp cup with a female wrestler on it didn't exactly visually translate.  I do, however, make a fruit smoothie most days for my breakfast, and not one of those icky ones with wacky junk that tastes like it should be served in a feed bag.  No dear, mine taste like they could be served at a beach resort, and if you close your eyes you can almost make out the faint tinkling of a friendly little steel drum.  The point, while it may not be drink your breakfast from a champagne flute, is most definitely to take a moment to spoil yourself, and do special things to make your day a little more magical.  Besides, who doesn't want an excuse to sing about putting limes in coconuts?  So, get out your blender - here we go!


Stormy's Super Awesome Morning Beverage Extravaganza!
(Title subject to change)
Serves 2
(or one very thirsty girl!)

8 - Ice cubes
2 - Large bananas (or 3 small)
3 oz- Blackberries (enough to fit in your palm)
4 - Strawberries quartered
1 - Orange juiced
1- tsp Lime juice
1 inch piece - Ginger root grated
1 pinch - Stevia or any natural sweetener
depending on how sweet you like it.
1/4 cup - Coconut milk

Fill the rest of the blender pitcher with water almost to the top of the fruit, pulse a few times, and liquefy, and that's it!  This exact recipe makes almost 5 cups, or 1.25 litres. 

Once you get comfy making these, play around with what's in your fridge!  Switch out the berries, try more water, less water, more ice ... customize it to fit your morning needs.  Another great addition is 1 Tbs Aloe Vera juice to aide in digestion.  The combos, and possibilities are really endless, but I've found after much trial and error that this recipe really is a simple and tasty jumping off point, and is perfect for anyone with dairy allergies, or not interested in using yogurt. 

This next recipe is even simpler, and excellent for relieving cold and flu symptoms.  So get out your favorite mug, and get your water heating!

1 - Orange juiced
1 inch piece - Ginger root, grated
1 tap of cinnamon

Put your water on to heat just below a boil, while it's doing its thing juice your orange into your favorite mug for a vitamin C blast, and mild sweetener (let's face it, we all turn into big babies when we're sick, and don't want to drink anything "icky"), add just a tap of ground cinnamon (not a full shake on your shaker, but just tip it and give it a little tap with your finger - just a sprinkle), next grate your ginger root into the mug.  If grated ginger bits are going to bug you, grate it into a small strainer, and once your water is hot pour it into your mug through the strainer filling your cup the rest of the way. 

Now here's what you need to know about this recipe, downing this concoction is like having Chuck Norris kicking the stuffing out of your congestion, and you'll be coughing things out as if you're waking out of an exorcism in no time!  Which is excellent for getting well, but something you want to be ready for. 

Bottoms up!