Blackberry-Fig-Avocado Smoothie-- Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Ambrosia

 You know that I don't like to boast about all the fruit we are harvesting in our yard... you do know that, right?  Well, please forgive me today... I just can't help it... and I can't take the credit either, of course... that belongs to God!

Last year our son, the veggie farmer, looked over the pathetic little fig tree, the one that seemed to be 'cursed' (read Mark 11:13-14) and went about laying down some necessary lime and other minerals.  He said, "Watch it-- it will take off for you!" and, behold, he was right on.. this year the fig tree that had never treated us to more than 1 or maybe 2 fruits in the previous 6 years, suddenly produced a minor boom crop this year.  These are Green Figs, so while they look less ripe than Brown Figs, they are soft, and sweetly delicious.  My husband adores figs-- you might say he is a Fig Pig-- so I am also very happy that he gets to harvest and eat them before he goes out onto the North Coast Trail hike with his friend Brian in a few days. (He would have been so disappointed had he missed the ripe figs while on the hike).

So juicy sweet!

Okay, on with the Smoothie Recipe: (for about 20 oz. of Smoothie)

Combine the following in a high-speed blender (or other blender, in two batches):

• 3 ripe, juicy Figs (minus the tough stems)
• 1 C. Blackberries (I used frozen ones for the ice appeal)(Regular Raspberries would also be delish!)
• 1/2 ripe, soft Avocado flesh
• 1 C. Nut Mylk (as you can see, I opted for ready-made Almond Breeze-- use what you like)
• Water as desired (I like to bulk mine up with water-- so hydrating)

Thoroughly enjoy this Smoothie by God*

Persons with Type 2 Diabetes who are trying to eat as healthy as possible from the Plant-based regimen will be happy to know that this is a body-friendly grouping of fruits, that, in season (do not eat the high glycemic dry figs and eat the fruit raw),  fresh and ripe, will just make you feel lovely in this smoothie!  Enjoy!
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Click HERE to scroll other luscious Smoothie recipes containing Avocado

"First Fruits" Blackberry-Apple-Chard Green Smoothie (Vegan, Dairy-Free, Thyroid-Friendly)

 I'm calling this "First Fruits" because it is the first picking of a sizable couple of smoothie servings of thornless blackberries from the overloaded bushes in my backyard.  There is a sizable fresh excitement to go along with this activity.  The flavour is delightful, although a little tart, so I added a little Xylitol to sweeten it up (and apparently to inhibit any nasties that are doing a number on my skin).  I also added a small Granny Smith Apple, cored, and 2 large leaves of Swiss Chard (one of the few big green leaves that is not goitrogenic, that is, not healthful for the thyroid gland). And of course I stuck in my usual Chia Seed Gel (homemade- learn how HERE along with some other yummy recipes using the gel).

So, here is the recipe.  You can vary the amounts to suit you:

2 C. Ripe Blackberries (or frozen)
2 Large Leaves of Swiss Chard
1 Granny Smith Apple, cored and chopped
1/4 C. Chia Seed Gel
1/2 tsp. XYLA Xylitol Sweetener (or ?)
2-3 C. Water (ice  cubes if desired)

Whirl until smooth and pour into a large glass or mason jar to enjoy while doing your morning computer tasks, or as breakfast, or maybe at the end of the day, or when you need a lift!

The Green Smoothie vs. Radiation Poisoning

COMBINE THE FOLLOWING IN THE VITAMIX CANISTER:
*2-6 Celery stalks, chopped
*1 Apple, cored, chopped
*1 C. Blackberries, frozen or fresh
*1 T. Cinnamon
*1/2 tsp. Turmeric
*Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt
*1 T. Raw Honey
*1/4 C. Raw Pumpkin Seed
*1/4 C. dried Coconut
*Water (1 - 1 1/2 Quarts)

Spin up. Drink by itself (i.e., don't eat it with your breakfast, etc. Give yourself about an hour before and an hour after eating to digest this. There are several kinds of radiation that will be protected against by drinking Green Smoothies every day.  (recipe adapted from David Wolfe)
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Smoothie of the Week: ABC Smoothie

I was with a group of people last week talking about refreshments we would serve after a presentation we were hosting. We wanted the said refreshments to reflect upon our support for healthy living, so out went coffee, Black Forest cheese cake, and the like.

 Someone suggested fruit trays. Another pointed out that people get as much of a glycemic surge with several pieces of fruit as they do with a cookie.

It got me thinking about fruity smoothies... and today's recipe is for a smoothie that is sweet, without being cloying, but made with blackberries and mostly greens. There is no banana-- just an apple and an avocado. It is smooth, flavourful, and creamy delicious... isn't that what one wants in a smoothie? Oh yes, and extrememly healthy!


Put the following in the carafe of a Vitamix and whirl up together until smooth and creamy:

• 2 C. frozen organic Blackberries (or other low glycemic berries)
• 1 handful fresh organic Cilantro
• 1 small, very ripe Avocado
• 1 4" piece of fresh Aloe Vera (if you have it- and peel off/discard the outer layer of skin)
• 1 small organic Apple, cored
• Stevia to taste (if desired)

Smoothie of the Week: Dates With A Sweetie

 Dates with a Sweetie:

I couldn't help being a little silly with today's smoothie title... this is by far the sweetest little smoothie I've ever made... sweet and smmmooooth!

Put the following in your Vitamix cannister:

• 1/2 Bunch (large handful) organic Cilantro
• 1-2 C. Fresh Pineapple Chunks
• 4 Medjool Dates, pitted
• 1 C. Frozen organic Berries (I used Blackberries)
• Water from a Young Thai Coconut
• 1/2 ripe Avocado flesh
• 2 T. ground organic Flaxseed
• Filtered Water to amount desired (I fill the cannister)

To your better and better health! 

--Cynthia

Smoothie of the Week: Cool Northern Front Green Smoothie

This morning I was looking for something that was clean and crisp, not sweet, but kind of like our West Coast climate, and using some of our high octane (read: antioxidant) berries-- especially some of the mass of frozen blackberries I have from picking last fall. lol

So, I combined the following, and it IS the best smoothie I have had all week... has a lovely fruity flavour, but not cloying, just West Coast (haha).  Put the following in your Vitamix canister:

*1 organic Apple, cored and chopped (skin intact)

*1 organic Lemon, peeled (leave the white) and seeded, chopped

*1 C. Frozen Cranberries

*1 C. organic Frozen Peaches (alas, farewell...all gone!)

*1 C. Frozen Blackberries (or other berries of choice)

*2 T. Organic Traditions organic Stevia powder (or similar-- no additives)

*1 narrow head organic Romaine Lettuce 

*Filtered Water to level 

Smoothie of the Week: Apple-Almond-Blackberry Green Smoothie

Here is another delicious Blackberry Smoothie-- using apple, almond milk and of course, blackberries.

Now, it is possible that the combining of the almond milk and the fruit might pose a bit of a digestion problem for some-- if so, just take a full-spectrum enzyme before, during or after the smoothie... enzymes help with digestion.

Combine the following in your Vitamix (or other) blender carafe:
*Frozen Blackberries
*Tender Greens (Kale, Baby Spinach, Romaine, etc.)
*2-3 Apples (cored, all seeds removed, skin on)
*1-2 C. Fresh Almond Milk (10 soaked almonds per Cup of Water spun up in Vitamix)
*1 tsp. Cinnamon
Whirl up until fully creamy smooth.  Add more water or almond milk if it is too thick.  Mmmm.