2 Smoothies using Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion is one of the healthiest greens you can consume

, especially if it is plucked fresh from your back lot where you've been carefully growing food organically for a few years. Dandelions are said to help dissolve gallstones, detoxify the liver, clean out impurities in our bloodstream, dissolve kidney stones, help heal gastro-intestinal disorders, diabetes, and indigestion.  Today I will provide a couple of juice recipes -- use only organic, unsprayed leaves.  (ideas: you try your own ingredients):

Bitter-Sweet Love Juice
~Watermelon (organic with seeds, ideal)
~4 Dandelion Leaves (to start)
~small finger size fresh Ginger, peeled

• Wash and peel 1/4 medium-sized Watermelon leaving as much of the white inner layer as possible.  Cut into segments that will fit in your hopper
• Put all of the above through the hopper and drink!  You might want to repeat the process throughout the day using the same recipe above.  For me this made a 12 oz. glass, but it will depend on how much watermelon juice you get from the 1/4 Watermelon-- this is a good juice to make for 2.
• Watermelon and Dandelion are both natural diuretics.  Please talk to your physician or other trusted health care provider if you have a health issue that may flare up as a result of this.

Dandy Blended Salad
This is a fantastic detoxing and refreshing juice to help knock out the 'yeasty' infections and provide some relief from the itch.  

  Add enough organic stevia (1/2 teaspoon and up) to sweeten this salad without adding to the problem):

Put the following in a Vitamix (or other high power blender):

• 4 tender, large fresh Dandelion Leaves and fresh Nettle Leaves, if available
• Small bunch of Arugula Leaves
• Big Handful of Romaine or other mild Lettuce
• Juice of a Lemon
• Peeled and chopped Cucumber
• Sweet Red Pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 Cloves, peeled Garlic, chopped
• Small peeled nub of fresh Garlic root, chopped
• Turmeric, Salt, Pepper to personal taste
• 1/2 teaspoon organic Stevia powder (not the kind with alcohol or corn)
• Filtered Water to blend easily

 

                                              

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)