Green Smoothies, A Wonderful Way To Get Our Greens!

Tonight I made my very first "savory green smoothie". It has vegetables and not fruit, and tastes a lot like a V-8, a spicy V-8. I added about 1/4 tsp cayenne, so it was good and spicy.
I think that I am going to learn more about the savory smoothies. The fruit ones are fine, but all of that fruit added a lot of carbs that I do not need, and this one has low-carb veggies like cucumber, carrots and tomatoes, plus the good greens, of course. I can have more of these and not add carbs, or at least not as many.
Here is the recipe for anyone who wants to try it.
http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_vegan_spicy_vegetable_green_smoothie

 

I didn't even look for a nutrition guide, @Chrissy Cross ; but all of the veggies in this one are low-carb and low-calories except for maybe the carrot, and it has a lot of good vitamins and minerals in it, so it is worth it.
I had sliced up my last cucumber yesterday and some onion and put them in a jar with ACV to make vinegar pickles; so I added all of that instead of the fresh cucumbers.
I really like the taste of the vinegar along with the veggie flavor, and I think that gave it even more of a punch and the V-8 taste.

 

Yes, I did add the avocado, and that really makes the whole thing taste rich, plus it adds all of that good oil from the avocado. I was not sure how I would like it in a smoothie; but I really do !
Once you start with the basic recipe, then you can modify whatever so that it tastes the way you like it best.
When I used my other blender, I started with the greens and the water, and blended those first. Once they are smooth, then I added the other ingredients, pulsed it a few time to chunk them up smaller, and then turn it up on high until everything is smooth.
With the Vitamix, I add it all at once; but I start out with the low speed to chop it, and then gradually speed it up to full blast until it is all blended. That is what the directions said to do, and that works great.

 

I totally agree with the idea of putting an avocado in the blender. I have seen it as an ingredient in some of the sweeter smoothies, and even in low-carb homemade ice cream; but I just couldn't resolve the idea in my mind of having the avocado in the smoothie.
Plus, it seemed like a waste of a delicious avocado that I could have enjoyed eating, since I also love avocados and they are one of my most favorite foods to eat.
But is actually turned out a whole lot better than I expected it would.
Once it is in the smoothie, you really do not taste an avocado-taste though. It does thicken the smoothie, but not even a lot of that; but what it really does is make it SO creamy, it is almost like you adding thick cream to the smoothie.

 

I tried a new experiment today, and made spinach lemonade. The smoothies are really rich, and usually thick, and I just wanted something that was easy to drink like lemonade, but with greens in it.
I used a whole lime, most of the peel was off, a handful of greens, some crystal light lemonade flavor and water and ice cubes. It actually tastes pretty much like lemonade, since the greens do not have a strong flavor.
I also added some fresh mint leaves, since mine are growing prolifically this year, and blended it until it was smooth. I think that this will make me a good summer drink, light and refreshing, but not so filling as the smoothies are.

 

I have been making Vitamix lemonade just about every day now and adding different things in to see how I like it. I have discovered that I really like the flavor of lemon and ginger together, so I am adding a small piece of ginger to the lemonade each time. When I peel the lemon, I always leave a little bit of the lemon peel on for even more lemon flavor, and instead of sugar, I use a bit of the sugar-free lemonade mix.
Today, I found a recipe for basil lemonade, and made that with the ginger added. It has to chill overnight; but I tasted it fresh, and it is a very dynamic flavor with the mixture of basil, ginger and lemons.
I make a quart at a time, and then pour it over a glass of ice, so that thins it down some.
You can make this in any blender, and it is a very healthful drink.

https://www.vitamix.com/recipes/frosty-basil-lemonade

 

I definitely could have used less basil in my lemonade ! I had about two good handfuls of basil leaves in there and next time, I will not use over one handful, and maybe even less.
Both lemon and ginger are pretty strong flavors, and the basil is outdoing both of those. I have it over lots of ice; so it will thin out; but it is definitely pretty strong otherwise.
I was reading about basil and it is pretty heathy and besides working when some antibiotic don't work, it is also inflammatory and will help stop pain. It is supposed to be especially good for arthritis, too; so it is good that @Ina I. Wonder is also growing some in her hydroponic tower garden.

http://foodfacts.mercola.com/basil.html

 

I have been reading about how good cabbage is supposed to be as a health food. Usually, if I eat cabbage raw, I make it into Cole slaw; but today I dedicate to try cabbage in a smoothie. I didnt’ put a lot in because I wanted to see how noticeable it was in the smoothie, and you actually can’t even taste that there is any cabbage in there.
A while back, Robin gave me her yogurt maker because she got a different one for herself, so I decided to try making a quart of yogurt. It makes great yogurt, but the fresh yogurt is not as think as the Greek yogurt that I buy at the store. It was not runny, just not quite as think; but I decided to try using it in a smoothie. I added some fresh cranberries, a half apple, and a nice sized wedge of cabbage (chopped up) and a packet of sweetened drink mix that has vitamins in it, and the whole quart of yogurt, and blended it in the Vitamix.
It tastes delicious, and you can’t even tell that there is any cabbage in it, and it is a pretty pink and not green like when you add spinach or kale.

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-cabbage.html