Glowing Green Smoothie by Kimberly Snyder

I've been drinking this smoothie every day, for breakfast and/or a snack the last 2 months. It's from one of my favorite Nutritionists 'Kimberly Snyder'. It's called the 'Glowing Green Smoothie' and it claims to do the very thing that it's named after, Glow. It's jam PACKED with veggies and fruit. Every time I make it in the presence of guests they are in awe that one blender can fit that many veggies.

Drink 16-32 oz every morning for breakfast, if you are still hungry after the smoothie have half of an avocado or piece of fruit. You'll enjoy the energy boost!

Without any further ado... the Glowing Green Smoothie. I seriously suggest you try it. If I can get my 'S.O' to drink it it must seriously be good. You can also use the same ratios for 'Glowing Green Juice' minus the Banana. Cheers to fat burning, weight loss, vitamins and minerals, and glowing from the inside out.

Glowing Green Smoothie

Kimberly Snyder
printable recipe

12-16 oz Filtered Water
1 head of Romaine Lettuce
1 cup Spinach
3 Celery Sticks
1/2 cucumber (optional)
1 Green Apple (cored)
1 pear (ripe)
1 banana (riper the better)
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
(Optional: add head of parsley or cilantro)

Prepare all the veggies by washing and chopping them before placing them into the blender in the order they are written. This is very important as the veggies take longer to break down the fruit. I like to add the romaine and spinach and blend a bit before adding the remaining veggies and blending a bit again. You can generally add the fruit all at once. 

If you don't have enough room in your blender do not push it... pour some into a container and blend that before adding the rest of it. You'll have a mess otherwise. 

If you have a Blendtec press the 'whole juice' or 'soup' button. 
If you have a Vitamix, select 'Variable, speed 1'. Turn on and quickly increase speed to 10. Blend for 1 1/2 minutes until very smooth. Serve cold, enjoy.

Makes 2-4 servings, lasts 2-3 days in the fridge

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seeds are one of my favorite 'super-foods'. By adding them to oatmeal, water, smoothies, stir fries, or eating them raw, I can eat  4-5 tablespoons a day. Chia Seeds are little, black, grey, and white seeds that absorb 12 times their weight in water. They are good for weight loss, feeling full, hydration, and controlling blood sugar.

This is my favorite way to eat chia seeds. The Chia seed forms a gel when mixed with water and when left alone forms a 'pudding' like consistency that makes for a dessert you feel good about. I will have this for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

Basic Chia Seed Pudding

3 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds
1 Cup of Homemade Almond Milk
Stevia, Honey, or Maple Syrup (I don't recommend Agave)

Combine all ingredients into a bowl and whisk. Let the mixture sit for 1 minute and then whisk again. At this point you can add any ingredients you would like for flavoring. Some can include:

• Nuts
• 1/4 tsp of Vanilla Extract (Vanilla Pudding)
• Coconut
• Bananas
• Craisins, Raisins, Dried Fruit
• Bee Pollen. 
• cacao/cocoa powder

Whisk again and pour into a mug or jar and refrigerate for an hour/overnight.

Bridal Shower #1

Let me just say, Bridal Showers are the greatest. I have yet to have a wedding but if the shower is that much fun I can't wait. I didn't have many expectations since I haven't been to that many  but brides-to-be, get excited. 

I came home from Canada to a package left from 'the girls' as a hint for the following day's shower. I definitely had my ideas. This is the cutest rolling pin I have ever seen and you can get your own at Anthropologie.

Clearly, we cooked!

 Among many things, we made Gluten Free Spring Rolls-delicious. However, those delicious Rice Wrappers contain around 150 calories each. That's not a lot but I originally thought they had ... idk... zero? ten? fifty? boo.

 Chocolate covered strawberries infused with Grand Marnier

 Sara would look so good cooking on tv. 

I have never felt so much excitement and love.  I am so grateful for my amazing friends that put together an extremely thoughtful shower. Their hard work made three 'brides-to-be' very happy.

xoxo 

Canada

I have been cooking a lot but before I start on that blogging journey I thought I'd recap the past month. 

1. I went 'home' to Canada to see my grandmother, uncles, and cousins. In an Indian family one has a lot of cousins. This is my beautiful grandmother at 40. #stunner

 I found this old picture of my cousin Jai and I. He's basically my brother. 

My mother had never had a 'shot' in her life (probably where I get it from) so my sister thought it was best she give it a try. Complete with Nachos and two pitchers of Sangria. I had tea!

 My sister and my cousin aria and I out and about. I was in pj's. Super fashionable.

 The next day my cousin Samir, 17,  took Maya and I to the Hindu temple. Maya is my sister and equal in height to me at 5'9. It's safe to say we were the whitest and tallest in the building.

The night before I left I had the most delicious Indian feast. If only my family wanted to cook for the wedding. (No, this is not Indian.)

 At the airport on the way back to the U.S. Maya gave me her signature 'dramatic hug'. Love her.

FYI. for any Tim Hortons fans out there... they do not offer gluten free donuts. I checked. :(

xoxo