You Are Such A Smoothie

Smoothies are like healthy milkshakes (well, I think they are better than the ice cream version).  Here is one of my favorites from Dr. Oz.

Ingredients
1/2 cup soymilk, regular milk, or almond milk
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 banana
1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed or chia seeds
1/2 cup ice

Blend the ingredients until smooth.

Sometimes I blend frozen strawberries, milk, and sugar together too. Another great combination.

Eat Your Greens! They Are Yummy...

Kale is one of the most nutritious foods. It is good for you, and tastes good too. I like to saute the kale in garlic and coconut oil. Once it cools I toss the kale with diced steamed beets, pumpkin seeds, sauerkraut, and vinegar. This is a great dish on those nights when you want to clean out your fridge. You can add vegetables, such as fava beans, and different types of protein including chicken, tuna, cheese or tofu.

Creamy Polenta

Polenta is one of my favorite go-to foods. It is quick, easy, and comforting. Plus, it is so versatile.

I start by putting polenta grains into boiling water, at a ratio of 1:2, and wait for the combination to boil. Then, I put it on low, and start adding different ingredients. There are so many different combinations, the final dish usually depends on what I have in my kitchen. I either use milk and butter, chicken broth, and/or miso and water to make the polenta creamy. Then I add it cheese, herbs, and other flavors (like tomato paste, soy sauce, garlic, etc.).

Next I place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and ladle out the creamy polenta so it starts to make a sheet. I bend the paper over to contain the mixture. You can adjust the paper to make the polenta thiner or thicker.

Now it is time to get creative. Once the polenta is cool, you can use your favorite cookie cutters to make it into shapes (see hearts below). You can fry these up, or use them as a base for other dishes.

For example, I make polenta pizza! I put tomato sauce, cheese, and baked black beans on top and put all in the oven until the cheese melts and the polenta is warm. Enjoy!