Knead to Cook

Food & fitness obsessed girl.

Green Oatmeal Smoothie. {that will actually fill you up and energize you}

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Fruit, Smoothies, Snacks, Vegetarian, Vitamix 8 Comments

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I love the concept of smoothies and juicing but the fact remains… they never EVER keep me filled more than an hour.  I have a huge appetite.  I’ve recently lost 27 lbs and really keep a watchful eye on what and how I eat.  It has greatly impacted my body.  After recently having a discussion with a dietician friend of mine, she suggested boosting up my green drink with some staying power. Ummmm okay?  I realize not all calories are made the same and I shouldn’t obsess about them.  So I asked her to make some suggestions… well that’s exactly what she did.  She told me to add oats, nuts and avoid milk or juices in it.  Well alrightyyyy then.  I shall give it a try!  And that I did.  The color is green, however not a gorgeous vibrant green, but I have to say that the taste, consistency – everything about it was different.  I actually felt more energized once I downed a glass.  Wait?!  I already have a ton of energy.  This was like hitting the pedal and flooring it!  It’s been one hour post drinking this concoction and I still feel very filled.  Hey, for me, that’s a great thing!

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
1.5 cups of spinach/kale mixture (substitutions:  cucumbers, carrots, beets)
1 cup of gluten free rolled oats
2 cups of chopped fruit (I used watermelon, strawberries, one frozen banana)
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds (almonds, walnuts, pecan – whatever you have on hand)
Add 4 ice cubes

Directions:

Into your Vitamix or blender, add the water first and then all of the subsequent ingredients.  Blend until smooth.  This recipe made about 2.5 large servings.

— Knead to Cook

Pumpkin Chobani Chocolate Chip Smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Smoothies, Snacks, Vegetarian 2 Comments

I found pumpkin ice cream at the grocery store and jumped for joy!  I knew my girls would LOVE it.  Turkey Hill is making a limited edition pumpkin pie flavor, which is what I used for these smoothies but other major ice cream companies are making seasonal pumpkin flavor ice cream as well.  I paired it up with some Chobani chocolate chunk yogurt for extra protein before swim practice tonight and these were devoured!  Okay, I guess that’s a winner!

Ingredients:

1 cup of ice cubes
2 cups of pumpkin ice cream
1.5 cups of vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup of Chobani (use vanilla, plain or chocolate chunk) yogurt
1 scoop of Whey vanilla protein powder
1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Into your Vitamix or blender, add all of the ingredients and blend until smooth.  Add additional almond milk if you the smoothie is too thick.   Serve in fun glasses and stand back… kids love this one!

— Knead to Cook

Guest Post by Blogger Cheri from The Watering Mouth.

by Filed Under: Beverages 2 Comments

 

If the video doesn’t work, please click this link below to view.  New at adding video to my blog and after many attempts I believe it will work but if not, wanted to give you a second option at viewing.

http://youtu.be/hwzfwr4N7Pk

Hiii there, you lovely Knead to Cook reader, you!! My name is Cheri and on my food blog, The Watering Mouth, I often post videos about recipes or other neat tricks I’ve found along the way. And I absolutely love Robin and her blog, so when she asked me to guest post, I literally jumped at the chance! I thought you guys might like to see a cool video I just made, which is a tutorial about How to Make Ice Shot Glasses, so here you go! It’s quick and easy and it’s a great party trick! Check out the video here:

I originally saw this idea online while searching through the CherylCharming.com website, and I tweaked it a bit because I couldn’t find snow cone cups and thought it should be easier to make these! So I used materials that probably everyone has at home, or if not, that you can easily find at any nearby grocery store. You do need to plan ahead for this one, obviously, because there is ICE CREATION involved. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it??

 

And here are the directions, in case you like written instructions:

 

How to Make Ice Shot Glasses

MATERIALS NEEDED

1 3 oz bathroom cup

1 5 oz bathroom cup

2 pieces of tape

water, hot and cold

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Fill the larger cup with cold water, just under 1/3 full.

Place the smaller cup inside the larger cup so it floats.

Tape over the tops of both cups, so they are flush and level with each other, in an x-formation.

Freeze the cups for several hours.

Remove the tape and discard.

Pour a small amount of hot water into the small cup, swish it around for 7 seconds, then quickly dump it out.

Carefully loosen and peel out the inner cup. Discard.

Peel open the larger cup and carefully peel it away, taking care not to smoosh your shot glass. Discard.

Refreeze the cup for 15 minutes to finish.

Pour alcohol and take a shot!

 

 

NOTE: Make sure the shot liquids you are using are at least fridge-cold before you pour them in, otherwise they will crack your ice shot glasses. Drink responsibly!

 

Feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel to get more fun videos as I post them! Thanks so much for letting me in on your Knead to Cook fun and I hope to chat with you all again sometime! Thanks again Robin!!

— Knead to Cook

Kiwi Mojito.

by Filed Under: Beverages Leave a Comment

Kiwi mojito… so refreshing, so good!  Perfect for a summer evening.  Not much else to say on the subject but yum.

Ingredients:

2 kiwis, peeled
1 teaspoon of agave syrup
3 ounces of rum
6 mint leaves
4 ice cubes

Directions:

In a small food processor or with a hand immersion blender, blend the kiwi and agave syrup.  In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves.  Then add the rum and ice cubes along with the kiwi mixture.  Shake vigorously.  Pour into your glass.  Enjoy!

 

— Knead to Cook

Tangerine, pink grapefruit & lemon martini.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Vegetarian 1 Comment

Refreshing & low cal.  I’m not a fan of all of these sweet flavored vodkas but I did give this Skinny Girl tangerine a whirl.  It’s very smooth and quite good.

Ingredients:

1 shot of Skinny Girl tangerine vodka (chilled)
3 shots of Pink Grapefruit Juice
1/2 of a lemon juiced
Ice

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Give it a good shake.  Pour into a martini glass and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook

Hershey Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Smoothies 4 Comments

 

 

Okay even a chocolate peanut butter smoothie can be healthy, well relatively healthy.  I thought I would surprise my hard working swimmers with a sweet treat this morning for breakfast.  This will give them all the protein & energy they need to get through a rigorous swim practice this morning all while tasting like a wonderful sweet treat.

Ingredients:

3 cups of chocolate almond milk (very cold)
1/4 cup of a nut butter (whatever you have on hand)
1/2 Hershey bar frozen (c’mon I couldn’t resist)
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 tsp of cocoa powder
1/3 cup of Chobani vanilla yogurt
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup of frozen low fat vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal (ground)
1 teaspoon of chia seeds

Directions:

Add everything to your blender and let it run on high or the smoothie setting.  If it’s too thick, add additional milk.  Too thin?  Add another banana or some extra frozen yogurt.

Serve and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook

Pineapple smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Ice cream, Smoothies, Vegetarian, Yogurt Leave a Comment

Oh the heat of summer has certainly arrived.  Nearing 100 degrees today & tomorrow have prompted me to make a cool & refreshing beverage that we can enjoy. Pineapple, Chobani… it’s all so good!

Ingredients:

1 pineapple, skin & core removed, chopped into large pieces
1/2 cup of Chobani vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup of almond milk
6 ice cubes
1 tablespoon flax seed meal
1/2 cup of vanilla frozen yogurt

Directions:

Add all of the ingredients to your blender and blend until blended completely.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook

Bill’s homemade cereal.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, No bake/cooking required!, Nuts, Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Comments

My husband, Bill, has been making this cereal for about 10 years.  Within that timeframe, he has pursued a very focused healthy lifestyle.  Working out 6 days a week, lifting, running and eating very clean.  He slimmed down, losing about 15 lbs and dropped his cholesterol.  Now I could never insinuate or claim that this cereal will lower your cholesterol because I cannot substantiate the claim with medical studies or trials but in our house… we have all lowered our levels and have seen the benefits.  Now, with all of the fiber you need to be well aware… this is also quite good for your colon health.

Ingredients:

3 cups of wheat bran
2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of oat bran
3/4 cup of wheat germ
3/4 cup of flax seed meal
1/2 cup of sliced or slivered almonds
1/2 cup of chopped pecans or almonds
1 cup of dried tart cherries (or raisins)
1/2 cup of apricots, chopped
1 cup of dried blueberries
1 scoop of protein powder or Arbonne essentials Vanilla Protein Shake Mix (3 packages of 1.48 ozs)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and then store in a gallon ziploc baggie or tupperware container.  You can keep in your pantry or in your refrigerator (although not necessary).  Serve with milk or atop of your yogurt.

— Knead to Cook

Mango Banana Chobani Flaxseed Smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Vegetarian Leave a Comment

This is one of those fabulously flexible recipes that you get to use what you have on hand.  Into my blender, this morning post-workout, went…

2 over-ripe bananas
12 ounces of Chobani yogurt (either 2 small individual containers or 12 ounces of vanilla Chobani)
1/2 cup of almond milk
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
3 cups of mango (frozen or fresh)

Blend until creamy smooth.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook

Fresh strawberry, banana, Chobani Mango smoothie.

by Filed Under: Beverages, Breakfast, Brunch, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, No bake/cooking required!, Smoothies, Vegetarian 2 Comments

We picked 12 lbs of fresh strawberries yesterday.  This morning’s smoothie idea was given!  So easy and such a flexible recipe.  My daughter said this was the best smoothie ever!  Love that!

Ingredients:

2 cups of fresh strawberries, washed with tops removed
2 ripe bananas
1 -6 ounce container of Chobani mango yogurt
1 cup of vanilla almond milk
1 scoop of protein powder (vanilla Whey protein powder)
6 ice cubes

Directions:

Blend everything (except for the ice cubes) on high or a smoothie setting on your blender.   Add the ice cubes for the last 30-45 seconds of blending.  Pour and enjoy!

— Knead to Cook