Sandee's Super Amazing Green Chocolate Smoothie

My friend Sandee in Florida sponsors healthy living challenges periodically, and she is a health guru.  She recently shared this recipe on a blog. I've tweaked it just a bit to better work with what my family normally has on hand.

A little backstory - I've been making smoothies for YEARS, and my kids hate it when I "nutritionalize" everything (their words not mine).  If you ever come to visit they will share their favorite story of when I tried to add arugula to a smoothie. Yes, the results were a disaster, and now we know... Anyways..

I didn't get a photo of this smoothie because they inhaled it - I present the empty glass as evidence. My husband even asked for seconds and took it with him to work, and asked me to make sure that I let Sandee know how much he loved it and thank her for the recipe. That never happens. EVER. My daughter finished all of hers - with no complaints. Needless to say - this one is a keeper.

Ingredients

Power Greens - kale, chard, and beet greens (can be found at Costco)

5 medjool dates (for natural sweetening), pitted

3 T. cocoa powder

1 T. chia seeds

1 T. flax seeds

1 T. hemp hearts

2 cups almond milk or coconut milk 

1 c. ice

Stuff blender full of greens. 

Add additional ingredients. 

Blend and serve.

Serves 4

There you go - super healthy greens, cocoa powder, and those awesome omega 3 super food seeds that are all the rave - and it tastes good! 

Kale Chips

I really love kale - I used to buy it and use it in crudites baskets, just for it's fluffy and frilly texture.  What was I thinking?  

I guess I've officially joined the kale craze.  While I can't substantiate it, the recipe show I was watching while at the dentist's waiting room the other day stated that it has the most calcium of any of the vegetables.  

Really, I don't care. 

I just love it. 

So, my kids decided to they wanted to make kale chips. 

Then they ate them all. 

After they oohhed and aaahhhhed about the water reduction that takes place during this process. 

Grab a bunch of kale - frilly leaved is my favorite

Wash and pat it dry

Tear into bite sized pieces discarding  stalks (or save for soup stalk)

Toss in a bowl with just enough olive oil to coat (1 T)

Sprinkle with coarse sea salt (1 t.)

Add garlic powder (1/4 t.) (or minced fresh garlic) (optional if you are a vampire) 

Spread out on cookie sheet (line with parchment paper or use silpat)

Place in preheated oven and bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes

 

Check it every now and then because it won't look too different when it is done. 

It will look like this when it is done...really, it doesn't reduce THAT much - but my kids couldn't keep their hands off of it before I could get the picture taken.