Super Green Smoothie

Green smoothies? Yuck.

That is my general response to most green smoothies I have tasted.

This however, this I like.

Now that I am a nursing Momma I snack ALL THE TIME!  I'm not kidding folks...ALL THE TIME!

I usually have a smoothie at least once a day and usually in the afternoons around 4 to hold me over until dinner.  My go to smoothie is my banana chocolate almond smoothie, but this one is definitely going to be made a few times a week now.  Plus, its green, so that means it extra okay to eat it right? : )

I found this smoothie recipe on the barre3 website...which is my favorite go to for most of my workouts.  If you are looking for a great exercise program this one is pretty great, not too expensive (they usually have groupon or living social promos every once in a while - my subscription ends up being about $6/month), and no jumping : )  I always feel great when I stick to their workouts on a regular basis, great for toning!

Now that summer is here you need to make this recipe and help cool down on these hot summer days!

Super Green Smoothie

adapted from the Barre3 website, serves 2

1 frozen banana (you can also use non-frozen)

1 pink lady apple, cored and chopped, skin on

1 cup kale, raw, stems removed

1 Tbs. flaxseeds, ground

2 Tbs. sunflower butter (or almond or peanut butter)

1 Tbs. pure maple syrup

1 cup almond milk, unsweetened, or your favorite milk or milk alternative

ice

Blend all ingredients until smooth, add ice and blend until desired texture is achieved.  

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Pie

Are you ready for summer?  I'm not.  It is looking like it is going to be a wicked hot summer here in Texas...and I have never been a fan of the extreme heat. : )  Summer looses its allure when you are no longer a student and you don't get the long break filled with summer camps, swimming all day, sleepovers, and adventures.  Sooner then later we will be having adventurous summers with our Charlie boo. : )

Now that I am a stay at home Mommy I find myself wanting to try new recipes for dinner all the time.  This one was a winner!  I have long loved spaghetti squash and was happy to find a new way to cook with it.  I plan on adding this one to our regular rotation of dinner options.

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Pie
Adapted from the Paleo OMG blog

1 large spaghetti squash
1 pound ground Italian sausage
1 yellow onion, diced
3 large handfuls of fresh spinach
1 cup red spaghetti sauce of choice (I like Newman's sauce)
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper, to taste
3 eggs, whisked
(optional: add anything you like with pizza: pepperoni, veggies, basil, even cheese if you want)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Place spaghetti squash cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the skin of the squash gives when you press on it. Then reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.

Once squash is done cooking, remove threads and place in an 9x13 greased baking dish.

Place a large pan over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and onion. Cook until pink no longer remains in the sausage and it is broken up into pieces.

Add red sauce, spinach, dried basil and salt and pepper to the pan and mix well.

Add sausage mixture to the dish and mix well with spaghetti squash threads.

Lastly, add whisked eggs to the baking dish and mix everything together until you can no longer see the eggs.

Place in oven and bake for 50 minutes or until the top of the mixture forms a slight crust that doesn't give when you press on it in the middle of the dish. Top with pepperoni and bake another 10 minutes.

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.  Makes great leftovers!