CSA Basket – May 15

Here is my CSA basket this week:

It contained:

Beets, Collard Greens, Black Kale, Avocado, Kohlrabi, Swiss Chard, Red Kale, Purple Kale, Red Turnip, Savoy Cabbage, Cucumbers, Carrots, Fuji Apples, Red Leaf Lettuce, Radishes, Grapefruits, Celery, Cauliflower and Zucchini, Romanesco Cauliflower, Green Beans and Snap Peas.

I switched out the beets and radishes for an extra kohlrabi, a cucumber, and an apple. Beck ate the apple on the way home from the farm.

I had trouble fitting it all into the refrigerator. I made some kale chips and collard/apple juice in the afternoon which I shared with my neighbor and made paleo zucchini bread in the evening. That barely put a dent in it. I better get cooking!

Apple Induced Sugar Crash

Today, I learned that apples have a lot of sugar.

For breakfast I had an avocado with salt and a leftover bison slider. An avocado is so simple and so delicious.

Mondays Beck gets to leave school early and we have lunch together. We decided to go to Whole Foods today. Just when you walk in the door they have a display of juices they make throughout the day. He wanted to get a fresh squeezed orange juice and I got a green juice. The ingredients were celery, apples, spinach, kale, spirulina, and wheatgrass. I was a bit concerned about the apple, but figured it would be ok. I also got an arugula and asparagus salad and added a hard boiled egg and some tuna for protein.

Big mistake.

By the time I got home my head was feeling weird. I felt foggy, almost dizzy. I could feel a headache coming on. I drank a glass of water, hoping it would help. I texted my sister and told her. She wrote back that it sounded like hypoglycemia and to have some protein and a carb. Unfortunately, I was no longer at home and didn’t have anything to eat. By the time I got back home I had a full on headache. I ate some coconut flakes and a piece of cheese and laid down for a bit till I had to go pick my son up again. I still felt pretty crappy.

We went out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. $2 fish tacos on Monday. I got three grilled fish tacos with cabbage, onion and cilantro on a lettuce wrap instead of tortillas. I skipped the grated cheese and creamy chipotle sauce. When it became apparent that Beck wasn’t going to eat his guacamole I stole it and topped my last taco with it.

I felt much better after eating, but my head still feels a little fuzzy. Hopefully I wake up recovered in the morning.

Green Drinks for St. Patrick’s Day

I never understood the appeal of green beer.  It just seems wrong. Green juice on the other hand, good stuff!

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, here are two green smoothies and a green juice.  Maybe they can help you recover if you decide to indulge in some green beer.

Spinach-Pineapple Smoothie

1 bunch spinach leaves

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 cup almond milk (or other milk substitute)

1 scoop wheat grass and/or green powder

Add ingredients to blender and blend till smooth.  If needed, stop the blender and mix with a long handled spoon or something to incorporate all the ingredients.  The spinach doesn’t really lend a taste, so it has a great pineapple flavor.  The five year old liked it.

 

St. Patrick’s Juice

1/4 head cabbage

2 green apples

handful of parsley

Run through a juicer. Makes 1 glass.

If you are tempted to get a minty milkshake from a fast-food establishment in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, STOP!  Instead, make this.  Much healthier!

Minty Shake

1 avocado

1 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon mint extract, or a handful of mint leaves

1 cup ice

Mix in blender until smooth and creamy. Serve.

 

Oh, and . . .

Beware the Ides of March

Landscaping Juice

I made this pitcher of juice for my husband, son, 2 landscapers and myself when we were working in the yard on Saturday.

1 bag spinach, 3 cucumbers, 2 apples. Serve with ice.
Makes about 4-5 big glasses.
Everyone liked it, but if you want it sweeter, use 2 cucumbers, 3 apples.

Beet Drinks

Beety Beauty Juice

(Named for it’s color; and just imagine what it can do for all your little cells.)

2-4 carrots (depending on size)
2 apples
1-2 small beets
1 inch peeled ginger

Juice!  Drink!

Roasted beets can also be included in smoothies.  Try adding 1 roasted beet to your next creation.  I have found that they blend well with cherry and chocolate flavored smoothies, though feel free to experiment.

Beet Juice gives you an energy boost.

So we have discussed BPA in water bottles, baby bottles, and canned foods. Now a Canadian study has found BPA in canned soda and energy drinks.

Those things aren’t good for you anyway. Instead, get a SodaMaker to make your own soda or a juicer to make fresh juice. I have the Breville Juice Fountain Compact and I love it. Tasty, healthy, and an energy boost to boot!