Category Archives: Vitamix

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie. (Tastes like pudding!)

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I know you’re thinking I must be crazy, right?!  I was hesitant when I ran across this recipe in one of my mags that I had.  I thought why not try it, my youngest daughter is so underweight that the calories (all good) would be a great start to the day.  Protein, good fats… it’s all good.  Both of my girls loved it!  I snuck a taste and it tasted like pudding – even had that consistency to be honest.  I put them on table, started making my breakfast and the next thing I heard was slurping sounds coming from their straws. Enough said!

Ingredients:

Makes 2 – 2 cup servings

1 ripe avocado, halved and pitted
2 cups of vanilla almond milk
3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
2 tablespoons of dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
14 ice cubes

Directions:

Into your blender or Vitamix, add all of the ingredients.  Blend until creamy.  This will have a thick, pudding like appearance.  Pour slowly into  your glasses.  Top with a few chocolate chips.  Enjoy!

Eeek!  Chocolate for breakfast and it is oh so good!

*Adapted from Eating Well.

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Gluten-Free Baked Chobani Fonuts {doughnuts}.

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Fonuts are fake donuts AKA “not fried”, healthy dare I say?  I’m not a huge donut fan but these little guys… I’ve eaten 3 today!  They are minis after-all, so I don’t have the guilt that I normally would have partaking in such a treat.  Gluten-free as well!  I didn’t want to use any “junky” ingredients and guess what – they’re pretty good!!  My kids came home and downed like 8 of them already.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup of almond flour (spooned into your measuring cups – not packed down)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (you can also use pumpkin or apple spice seasoning instead)
3 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup (heaping) of vanilla Chobani yogurt
2 heaping tablespoons of raw honey (use regular if you don’t have it)
Extra honey, cinnamon, sugar for topping which is optional

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray your donut pan with baking spray.  Set aside.

You can use a food processor, blender or Vitamix to make the batter creamy and fabulous.  Add all of the dry ingredients and blend (if using a food processor – 4-6 pulses). Then add all of the wet ingredients and blend until smooth.  Stop and scrape down the sides if necessary.  Blend again.  This process took about 1 minute or so.  Then with a spoon, fill each well with about 1/2 or so of batter.  Then bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden.

While baking, I took about two heaping tablespoons of the raw honey (you can also use maple syrup too) and melted it in the microwave until it was watery.  I dipped each donut (fonut) into the liquified honey and then sprinkled some cinnamon and sugar on top.  This is optional.

Enjoy!

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Classic Hummus.

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If you’ve never made hummus, you don’t know what you’re missing.  Store bought hummus pales in comparison.  This took me about 3 minutes to make.  It tastes unbelievably good and can be used as a dip, sandwich spread… whatever!  So healthy and even the kids love it!  I made it for a party that we’re having tonight to serve with some fresh veggies.  Chips, pretzels, crackers… they all work as a delivery vehicle :)

Ingredients:

2 15 ounce cans of low sodium chickpeas (One drained and rinsed, one with liquid)
1/4 cup of toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/4 cup of water
4 garlic cloves, smashed (skin removed)
1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Add everything to your Vitamix or blender.  If you using a Vitamix, set to Puree and let it run.  If using a blender or food processor, blend until smooth and creamy.  Remove and store in a container with a lid.

*Recipe loosely adapted from Vitamix cookbook.

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Birthday Funfetti Chobani Protein Smoothie.

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Today is my oldest daughter’s 14th birthday!  I figured what better way to come home from school than to a funfetti smoothie that’s actually packed with protein (thanks Chobani) and is good for you.  After all, we do have swim practice to go to.  She gobbled this down, along with my husband and my other daughter.  Rave reviews are a good thing :)

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup of vanilla almond milk
3 tablespoons of Funfetti cake mix (the powder only)
1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder
6 ice cubes
1/4 cup of vanilla Chobani yogurt
6 strawberries (fresh or frozen) to give it a fun pink color
Sprinkles (garnish)

Directions:

Into your Vitamix or blender add all of the ingredients.  Blend until smooth.  Makes 3 smoothies.  Top with sprinkles and add a fun straw.  Watch it disappear.

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Chocolate–Peanut Butter Chobani Smoothie. Wheat-free.

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I made another fantastic recipe from Lauren’s book!  The giveaway is tomorrow night (check my Facebook page for how to enter).  My daughter and father guzzled this one down faster than I blink.  Glad I snapped some pics first!

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This smoothie is so delicious, you won’t even believe that it is healthy!

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy. Serve immediately.

Looking to Add More Protein to Your Smoothie?
Protein powder is an easy way to increase your protein, especially in smoothies. There are many varieties of protein powders. Read your labels carefully to make sure the protein powders have no ingredients containing wheat.

INGREDIENTS | SERVES 2

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
1⁄2 banana, frozen
1⁄2 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
1⁄2 cup vanilla Chobani yogurt
1⁄2 teaspoon wheat-free vanilla extract 4–5 ice cubes

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy. Serve immediately.

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Healthier Pumpkin Chobani Muffins.

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I’ve always been healthy but lately I’ve become psychotic with my healthy mission.  My husband purchased a Jawbone UP bracelet for me (after I got him one for Christmas) and the information it has provided to me has enlightened me about how many calories I was taking in per day!  Wow snacking… NOT good!  My target/goal weight has always been 135 lbs. (who shares this, am I crazy?)  I’m very muscular, 5’6″ tall and work out 6 days a week.  I’m in good shape.  Well needless to say, after blogging for over a year and snacking here or there… my weight crept up into an area that I wasn’t happy with myself.  Hey, it happens to the best of us.  So now, I’m happily down 11 lbs and below my “goal or target” weight.  My next goal…. 126!  I’m on my way.

So yesterday I wanted to make muffins for my girls.  Today was kind of a special day for my youngest and I thought a healthy treat would be fitting (but it did include some dark chocolate).  I whipped up a batch and was lucky to save one to photograph!  So here it is… a bit healthier.  Protein-packed, courtesy of Chobani and quite tasty!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of butter, softened (I used a butter substitute)
1/3 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup of oat flour (if you don’t have it – grind up oats in your Vitamix or blender until powdery) Measure post blend :)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of pumpkin puree
1/2 cup of vanilla Chobani yogurt
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  I made this recipe with a regular size muffin pan.  It made 11 filling 3/4 the way filled.  Whatever you use – spray with nonstick baking spray and set aside.

In your stand mixer, blend sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.   Add to the butter mixture.  Then add the pumpkin puree, Chobani, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Blend well and scrape the sides down and mix again.

Now here is where you decide if you want chocolate chips or not.  I did add about 1/4 cup of mini chips and then sprinkled some on the top so my husband would know not to eat them (he’s allergic to cocoa).

Bake for 22-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Let cool completely.

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Almond honey butter.

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Nothing quite like making your own nut butter.  It’s super easy and very tasty.  Grab your nuts and get ready to be impressed!

Ingredients:

2 cups of raw almonds or toasted almonds
1 teaspoon of peanut oil
Sea Salt
3 tablespoons honey

Directions:

In your Vitamix add the almonds.  Blend the nuts on 10 speed for 1-2 minute.  Then add the oil and salt and blend for about 12 minutes.  Stop and scrape the sides down.  The nuts will yield their oil and get creamier.  Then add the honey and additional salt as needed.  Blend until you achieve the texture you desire.

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Green Ginger Smoothie.

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This is truly one of the best smoothies I’ve ever had – and I’ve had a lot of smoothies!  Sunday night my husband wanted to finally try out our new Vitamix machine and we had a late lunch so, the smoothie sounded light and delicious.  It was and I recreated it today for my girls and again, the lovefest continued!


Ingredients:

1 cup of orange juice
1 green apple, skin on yet cored
1 large handful of organic baby spinach (about 1 heaping cup of the leaves)
1/2 of a pineapple, peeled but not cored if using a Vitamix (if using a blender then core it)
1-2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1 scoop of protein powder (vanilla)
1/4 cup of vanilla Chobani yogurt
8 ice cubes

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients into your Vitamix or blender and blend on the smoothie setting.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!  The ginger puts this one over the top!  Fresh and ginger is so good for your stomach.  Vitamin and protein packed.  And, I swear, your kids won’t even suspect that there’s spinach in there!

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Cake batter yogurt. Celebrating Chobani’s Birthday!

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Chobani is hand’s down one of the BEST companies & I’ve been blessed to have them be such an incredible supporter of my blog/website.  Today they celebrate 5 years and to help I whipped up a cake batter themed yogurt that can be frozen as well, to help ring in this 5th birthday!  I was thrilled to use my little glass Chobani bowls and it was so appropriate to serve at their party.

Ingredients:

1 cup of vanilla Chobani yogurt
1/2 cup of vanilla almond milk
1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 banana
6 tablespoons of Funfetti cake batter mix (dry)
Sprinkles (optional topping)

Directions:

Into your blender or Vitamix, add all of the ingredients and blend until creamy.  Place in individual bowls and refrigerate for 1 hour or freeze for a nice frozen treat.  Top with sprinkles and enjoy!

 

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Spinach Cumin Hummus.

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I admit, I do love a good hummus and be to honest, I much prefer making it at home to purchasing the store-bought versions.  Homemade hummus is not only so easy, it is incredibly flavorful and you control the ingredients – so it’s healthier.

My oldest daughter and I are attending a party tonight and I wanted to bring an appetizer to share with our host.  This will be perfect to share although I may need to make another batch because I keep eating this one. Perks of styling food today.

Ingredients:

1 can of low sodium chickpeas, drained
2 cups of fresh baby spinach (I used organic)
1/4 cup of tahini
3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of low sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup of water
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of salt
ground pepper
Optional garnish ideas:  Drizzle olive oil, pine nuts or walnuts on top.
Directions:

Add all of the ingredients to your food processor or Vitamix.  Pulse until you have the consistency that you wish to have.  Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Serve with crackers, veggies or pita chips.

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