I am on a serious smoothie kick!
Please excuse me for posting a few smoothie recipes over the next few weeks.. I ate a little TOO much over the holidays and it is time to keep things extra healthy.
Smoothies are a great way to get some of your daily fruits and veggies, dairy and protein. Not only are they delicious, they are so easy to make. Smoothies are great because you can even throw all of the ingredients in the blender the night before, stick it in the fridge–wake up, blend and eat! You have the perfect morning wake me up.
Smoothies are very customizable so if you want to substitute raspberries for strawberries, eliminate the honey, or use a different type of milk go for it!
My toddler loves these too so I make extra for him to sip on. 🙂
A light and healthy salad packed full of veggies, olives and feta and topped with a light vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 cups pasta (I used tri-colored rotini, fortified with spinach and tomato)
- 1/2 English cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 red pepper, chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, chopped
- 3/4 cup kalamata olives, sliced
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Instructions
- Directions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.
- In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, oregano, basil and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, olives, feta cheese.
- Toss the pasta salad with half of the dressing, mixing well. Cover the bowl and chill overnight.
- Before serving the salad toss the remaining half of the dressing over the pasta salad.
Notes
If you are serving the salad right away you can rinse the pasta off with cold water to cool it down then mix it with the vegetables, cheese and olives and all of the dressing. Peperocinis would be a great addition in this recipe (I just didn't have any on hand) as well as grilled chicken or chopped roasted red peppers. Pasta salads are very customizable! If there is something you don’t like take it out. If there is something you want, add it in. There are no rules!!
If you like this smoothie recipe check out others from around the web:
Green Monster Spinach Smoothie by Iowa Girl Eats
Homemade Smoothies: Money Savings Tips and Recipes by Whole Foods Blog
Pear and Ginger Smoothie by Guilty Kitchen
Cheers to health in the New Year!
Julia
v
Ana
Sunday 6th of January 2013
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Kind regards
petit4chocolatier
Saturday 5th of January 2013
I wish I could reach in the screen and drink one! Gorgeous, healthy, and delicious :)
A Cedar Spoon
Saturday 5th of January 2013
That is how I feel about all of the delicious treats you make!!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
Friday 4th of January 2013
Perfect for the new year!
A Cedar Spoon
Friday 4th of January 2013
Thanks Sommer! I agree--I am working on being extra healthy & smoothies have been a great way to get fruit, protein in!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
Friday 4th of January 2013
Yes please!!! I heart PB in smoothies!
A Cedar Spoon
Friday 4th of January 2013
I know. I made another this morning--my son is in love too! :)