39th smoothie

An ok but not super good smoothie:  1 banana, 1 can pineapple and juice, coconut water, ice.

It was very frothy which was nice; but too much pineapple made it too acidic.

24th smoothie

Made a banana, coconut milk, pineapple, 10 spinach leaf, and ice smoothie.

21st smoothie

Today's smoothie is sorbet, not a smoothie per say.  1 part sweetened aloe vera juice flavored with mango, 3 parts frozen mango and frozen mixed fruit.  It was good, but very cold.

20th smoothie

Today is the two/thirds completion mark of this first 30-day challenge.  When completed I may start a new 30-day green smoothie challenge.  We'll see.

Made up my own recipe using:  1/2 c. thawed strawberries, 1/2 c dates rehydrated for a day in 1 c water, 1 c loose spinach, 1 c frozen strawberries, 1 c sweetened aloe vera flavored with mango, and ice.

It's very good, a little too sweet for me, but family said it is very, very good.  The color is pink too, not green, even despite using so much spinach.

16th smoothie

If I were not doing the 30 day smoothie challenge there are at least 3 days I would not have made one. Today was one of those days.  I only made a smoothie to meet the challenge, and I didn't use a recipe, instead just threw in what I have.

1 banana, 1/4 c baby carrots, 1/2 pineapple, juice of 1 orange, 2 celery stalks, 2 c. coconut water.  No ice.

I forgot to add ice until I was done, and then I couldn't be bothered, so its more like a blended juice.  It's salty from the celery and otherwise a few too many flavors to have a very distinct taste.  It's ok but not terrific.

I'm in a real pissy mood though.   Was talking to family about the Ex and dating when you are older and the men I'm dating have children, and so they don't want to re-marry, don't want to put their children's inheiretence in any jeopardy, they just want a woman as a plaything and workhorse I guess, offering nothing but their playtime and work time in return.   I'm in such a pissy mood.

Where I work women who have been working for more than 20 years in secretarial positions earn less than men just entering new as custodians.  Women really have a hard time being able to support themselves without having a man's income to supplement their own.   It pisses me off so much.

I'm sick to death of feeling sorry for everyone else and no one seeming to see or understand what a financial disadvantage it is to be a woman in society, unless you have certain aggressive, male characteristics that allow you to compete with men.  If you are a feminine woman it is difficult.  Women who are single are more likely to be victims of unscrupulous men.  Women who are not very aggressive have a difficult time supporting themselves financially.  Its just pissing me off.

14th smoothie

Exciting news!!  I am pretty sure Nicest-Boyfriend-I've-Ever-Had found the real, original Orange Julius recipe!!

I have not tried this yet because I need to prepare the syrup and buy a vanilla bean, but here it is:  1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (it must be freshly squeezed), 1/2 cup simple syrup (1 part sugar to 2 parts water made on stove ahead of time), 1 tsp dried milk, 1 tsp dried egg white powder, 1/2 tsp vanilla powder, 2 cups crushed ice.  Blend.

Tried to make another smoothie the dog and family would like and it was good, and dog even liked it enough to have a couple licks.  2 big bananas, 2 Tbl peanut butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp allspice, 1-1/2 c almond milk, 1 c ice.  

12th smoothie

I did not like this smoothie, but my family did.  We all drank it together and patted ourselves on the back for being so healthy.

The recipe is very sour.  Yucky, to me.  I added sugar and a banana to the original recipe just to make it nicer, but I still didn't like it.

1 cucumber, 2 kiwis, 1 medjool date that has soaked, 2 kale leaves, coconut water, and ice.  Blend, taste, sour!  Add 1 Tbl sugar, blend, taste, still sour!  Add 1 banana, blend, taste, ok.

11th smoothie

Eleven represents a gateway to a new place.  Today I have finally resolved to keeping the Vitamix blender and just accept the expense of it.  Its new and it was a good value for the money.

It was built in Ohio on July 14, 2014.  So maybe we will celebrate it's birthday next year.

There are ways I could have purchased a used Vitamix for less money.  There are other blenders for less money, that would offer a good result.  The 3 blenders that I think could compete are the Waring mx1000, Oster Versa 1400-watt, or the Omega bl630. All are commercial blenders; all are louder than mine.

The reason I prefer Vitamix is that its made in America, Vitamix has spectacularly good customer service, to back up the very good warranty, its quieter than most high power blenders, and I suspect its partly magic in the way it blends food into a superior texture, color, and flavor. 

Id like to add that I've never purchased commercial-grade appliances before.  But I've gone through a lot of blenders, and learned they are one of the hardest appliances to design because they have to simultaneously pull ingredients down into the blades and then push the mixture back up to keep it all stirring around.

Now that I'm resolved to keep the new one, I can relax and enjoy it.  First smoothies made with the new blender. . .

Another unsuccessful orange frothy copycat.  1/2 c frozen orange concentrate, 1/2 c milk, 1/2 c. water, 1/4 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c ice.  Too bitter and not creamy enough, very frothy though --> but separated within a few minutes. Fail!

Then made banana, 1/2 can of pineapple, coconut milk and ice smoothie.  Perfect!!

8th smoothie

Wow!  Starting week 2 of the smoothie challenge!   Lots of smoothies today.

First I finished the still completely homogenous leftover green smoothie from last night.

Second, made a cola slushie because I was given a free cola, and I love cola slushies; cola and ice.

Third, had a request for a pineapple, carrot and orange smoothie made of 1 orange, 1/2 can pineapple, 1 carrot, orange juice, lemonade, and ice.

What about something even more healthy?  hmmm Maybe not today.

Told Nicest Boyfriend I've Ever Had the blender story today; bought refurbished blender with 5-year warranty from Vitamix directly, then QVC had almost same price for new blender with 7-year warranty, so I bought that and will return the refurbished blender.  He said "Oh I'm glad. I was worried about you not having a blender."  He was sincere.  I laughed, "You can't feel bad about me not having a $500 blender; that's like feeling bad I don't have a Ferrari."  "It's a little different." he objected.

7th smoothie

A soda manufacturer has a "ShareaSoda" campaign going with different words printed on the cans, such as buddy, friend, soulmate.

It made me start thinking who I'd give the different cans to, and realized I'd give several soulmates out to my family members.  

I remembered how First Boyfriend tried to convince me there is no such thing as one true love.  Not just one person meant for another.  That idea was a fairytale, he said.  Well he should know since he's on his fourth or fifth marriage.

But I wondered maybe he's right, maybe there is no such thing as one true love, maybe there are many true loves, and the number is based on your own ability to love.  I don't mean polyamory.  I don't mean successive marriages and divorces.  I mean true love is possible and sex does not have to be involved either.   I just mean maybe I can love deeply more than once.

Todays smoothie is a late night concoction of 4 kiwis, 1 cucumber, 1 kale leaf, 1 banana, coconut milk and ice.  It's tart, that's why we added the banana, but it's good.

6th smoothie

Big smoothie day!

Made an enormous banana, pineapple, coconut milk, ice and kale smoothie today.

Watched QVC, and saw todays special value for a new vitamix with 7-year warranty is almost the same price as my refurbished vitamix with 5-year warranty.  

5th smoothie

Today we shared a banana, pineapple, coconut milk and ice smoothie.  It is refreshing.

We needed a delicious, simple smoothie to restore our faith in my smoothie making skills.  Following a recipe is always a good thing to do after a couple of experiments go wrong.

Tonight begins the annual vitamix sale on qvc.   Hoping to get some very good deals!  And QVC offers payment in monthly installments. Yay!

4th smoothie

So tired today, just too much overtime and running around these past few weeks.  Want to sleep, but forced myself to make a smoothie for everyone to share just so that I meet the 30-day challenge.

Today it's apple, coconut milk, frozen blueberries, sugar.  Family demands sugar.  Tastes fresh, but not that great.

3rd smoothie

I am amazed!

I had the other half of the smoothie made yesterday.  Did not re-blend it, drank it straight from the refrigerator.  I fully expected it to be separated into liquid on the bottom with the thicker parts floating on top; but it was still a homogenous delicious thick, icy cold mixture exactly the same as yesterday.

I am almost embarrassed how much I love the Vitamix blender.  I never expected to love an appliance this much.

And again a few minutes after drinking it, I have that lovely scrubbing feeling in my mouth, throat and esophagus, as if the kale leaf is scrubbing my body clean.  Another big thank you to Ms curly kale.

I had a healthier dinner last night too, pasta with a big salad.  So I hope this is the case of when I take one step to be good to myself, then I naturally want to make more and more steps to feel good too.  It just happens.

2nd smoothie

Day 2 of the smoothie challenge, made an apple, banana, 1 kale leaf, almond milk, cinnamon and ice smoothie.

Wow!  The kale was pureed very well and still, it feels like little tiny brushes scrubbing down the inside of my mouth and throat.

Oddly, it brought back the taste of the super unhealthy dinner I had last night, Doritos!!! Like as if it made me re-taste them to remind me how naughty of a choice that was; or maybe it was pushing junk out of my body, giving it the ol' heave ho.

Thank you Mr. raw kale leaf.  You obviously take your job very seriously.

First smoothie

Today I started the 30 day smoothie challenge.  I made a mango, apple, 2 romaine leaves, coconut milk and ice smoothie.  It was a pretty light yellow green color, very filling, and refreshing, there was a slight bitter taste with a couple of swallows.  Overall it was nice.

I'm super impressed with the Vitamix, it made it look like something I would have bought at a store.  It was thick and gorgeous, beautiful, made in about 30 seconds of blending low to medium speed.

A friend tried it and scowled, "I can taste vegetables in it."

Made a second smoothie of kiwis, frozen peaches, frozen raspberries, orange juice, 2 baby carrots, water and ice; sweetened first with honey then with sugar.  Again it was thick and beautiful and my friends actually drank it  but this time without complaining.

So I have to say I really do love the way Vitamix makes wonderfully beautiful smoothies.  Perfect texture.

Arrival

The Vitamix blender arrived.  I have yet to use it.

Anxious to start a 30 day smoothie challenge.  Have lots of veg and fruit ready to be blended into delicious healthy drinks.  The idea of a 30 day challenge is to add one high nutrition smoothie in my daily diet, try out recipes and learn what I like.

The next step is to eat more raw food everyday.  Share with family.

I've read people claim they don't throw out fruit anymore since they got a Vitamix.  I think I will not throw out veg either.

I do have buyers remorse.  It's such an expensive item.  And its so big.  I want something less expensive so I don't have to feel so guilty.  Well as long as I have it I want to at least try it.  If its too loud or whatever I can return it.  Risk free trial.

Raw

In my quest to add more fruits and vegetables to my diet, I have been on the hunt for a good blender that will last longer than 1-3 years before breaking down, will chop ice to make delicious cold smoothies, as well as shred fibrous vegetables like celery and kale to make appetizing green smoothies that do not have the texture and look of swamp water.

I'm asking a lot from a blender nowdays.  My mom still has her working Osterizer from the 50s or 60s. She treated it so gently, never chopped ice with it. I would confiscate it except I worry I might blow out the motor with my use of a blender. 

I really like the Kitchenaid Diamond Vortex blender but  the motor coupling is plastic, and many reviews say something wears down, gets loose and the pitcher starts leaking all over the motor. The Breville Hemisphere Control is supposed to have more durability according to America's Test Kitchens, but I just don't want to waste my money on something that will have to be replaced in even 3 years.  I want a blender to last. So I'm resolved to get a new or gently used Vitamix variable speed blender for less than $400; been watching them on eBay.

Unexpectedly I discovered a little world of vibrant health-conscious slim people who rely on Vitamix as their favorite appliance.   The Raw Vegan 80:10:10 crowd.   They munch on huge quantities of raw fresh fruit and fruit juice from morning till 4pm.  Then they munch on raw fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains for their evening meal. 

The diet is 80% fruit and veg, 10% protein, and 10% fat.  I don't know much more than that, but they eat huge number of calories of raw, fresh food too.  From 2000 for a sedentary girl, 4000 calories for a more active girl, and I have no idea how many 1000s of calories for active men.  They all look very slim and healthy to me -- although, of course, some people comment on their YouTube videos that they look too slim.  They don't, they look like normal humans in most parts of the world. Some of us Americans have such a bloated dysmorphic idea of what healthy looks like.  With more than half of us overweight or obese it may have distorted our ideas of what healthy looks like.

So this is a new and exciting  path to explore the 80:10:10 Raw Vegan world.   The YouTube posters seem obsessed with nutrition, which is great, and are careful to figure out how to fill nutritional gaps.

I might be exploring this diet further.  At the very least, its a great detox diet to lose weight.