Recipe: Apple Butter & Fruit Green Tea Smoothie

I haven't posted a smoothie recipe for awhile. Lately, I've been using blackberry green tea as the liquid base in my smoothies, rather than water. The tea is delicious. Unfortunately, not all combinations of fruits and vegetables are delicious. I've tried a few ideas that were good, but not delicious enough to share.

Today, though - today I created one that I think some of you might like. It's thick, smooth, and filling. Here's what you need:

3/4 cup crushed ice

1 Large leaf kale, chopped

1 - 2 Small leaves lettuce, chopped

1/2 cup apple butter

1/4 block tofu (by the way, I tend to use firm, but any consistency works)

1 cup cold blackberry green tea (or any flavor tea you'd prefer, of course)

1/2 cup frozen fruit (in this case, I had a banana/strawberry/mango mix)

Stevia to taste, if desired

I'm finding it easier to get the kale and lettuce blended smoothly if I chop it very, very finely, put it into the blender with the ice and some of the tea, then blend for awhile. 

When it looks like the tiny pieces of leaf are mixed in pretty well, stop the blender and add the apple butter, tofu, and the rest of the tea. Blend until it has a smooth, consistent color throughout. Add the fruit, a couple of pieces at a time. You may need to stop the blender, put in some fruit, and put the lid back on before starting to blend so the mixture doesn't pop out at you and make a mess. When all the fruit has been blended in, add Stevia or other sweetener, if desired. This has a pretty sweet flavor without the added Stevia, actually.

The apple butter gives this a nice, refreshing flavor and a thickness that isn't always easily achieved. This recipe made enough for my lunch. I put it in the refrigerator at work, and when I finally got to it, the smoothie was just as thick and delicious as it was when I taste tested it this morning.

Everything with Kale is Green: Apple Butter & Fruit Smoothie at My Desk

Recipe: Big Green Meanie Smoothie

Okay, so I have this tendency to call these things "shakes," but they aren't usually as thick as a shake should be, in my mind. So let's go with "smoothie."

I created this new one this morning. Again, I'm sure it isn't all that original, but I did make it up as I went along, so I get to name this version of it. It's really, really green, so as I watched it all blend together, the name "Big Green Meanie" popped into my head. So that's what it is.

This time, I took the time to look up the calories in all the ingredients. This recipe basically filled my blender to the top, and I split the results into three servings - one for my breakfast, one for my lunch, and one for my son to have whenever he chooses to drink it. Each serving has less than 200 calories, and it's extremely filling. So, here it is:

Big Green Meanie Smoothie

2 cups ice cubes

2 cups chopped kale

1 cup broccoli tops (aka florets)

1 cup water
1/3 package tofu

1/4 cup Garden Salad (various lettuces & shredded carrot)
1 large peach, sliced

2 large bananas
Stevia to taste (always optional)

Blend ice cubes, kale, broccoli, and water until the greens are liquified. Continue blending as you crumble in the tofu. Add Garden Salad and peach. When all is blended together, add bananas, about 1/3 banana at a time. Add Stevia to taste, if desired (I like it a little sweeter). Pour into as many containers as desired.

Total calories in the blender = 507, so just divide that by how many containers you choose to fill to get the calories per serving. As I divided it into three equal servings, each serving was 169 delicious, refreshing, and filling calories.

I have been asked if the tofu should be silken, soft, firm, or extra-firm. I happen to be using firm, because that's what was on sale. However, I honestly don't think it makes any difference. I'd say, experiment - see what consistency you like best, and go with that. Or, if you're like me, you'll just go with the better deal.

One serving of my Big Green Meanie Smoothie
Yum! Lunch...