Most of you will never drink this! It’s too healthy, bitter, and requires too much effort. Thanks for stopping by, though. Keep reading if you think you or your personal chef might make it. It’s cold-pressed kale with an Omega juicer. A tablespoon of honey syrup can be added if needed, like training wheels. A pinch of spicy ground cayenne is optional but adds a kick. Heart-smart, though! Oh, and for all the emails you received – apparently fifty-five in total – those were a mistake. Just like bar business, things can be sporadic and people and drinks can come all at once. Thank you for understanding. Cheers! To your health.
K-A-L-E
Ingredients
1 bag of kale (reserve one piece for the garnish) or bunch depending on your preference
1 tablespoons of honey syrup (1:1 ration honey to water)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Method
Open the bag. Wash the kale. Add the kale into the Omega juicer chute. Stir in honey and cayenne if you choose
Glass: bucket glass
Garnish: kale leaf
Bar Chef Notes: Cold-pressed juice lasts about two to three days in the refrigerator. This method of juicing preserves more vitamins and minerals. Nutrients from the inside out.
For the cucumber-infused water, wash and slice one cucumber. Size doesn’t matter here. More cucumber equals more flavor, less cucumber equals less flavor. Or just add the whole cucumber, as you prefer. Add some salt, toss it into the water, and let it sit refrigerated for several hours. It’s best prepared in advance. Well worth it. Once infused, add it to a blender.
Add the remaining ingredients to the blending machine. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass of choice.
Bar Chef Note: It’s best to start layering ingredients by beginning with liquids, then adding half of the frozen fruits, followed by powders, and finally the remaining frozen fruits. I must confess, most of the time I start with water and then add the rest of the ingredients. However, let me know in the comments below if this order makes a difference for you. The order in which you blend the ingredients and the size or amount of cucumber(s) used.
Glass: silver coupe glass with ribbon (I have been saving velvet ribbons from packages. This one is a pink velvet. Isn’t it perfect.)
What we do when we are well affects us when we are not well. Most of the time. I think about adding many of the things my intuition nudges me to do.
This morning, I enjoyed a water-based drink with frozen pineapple and raspberries. I included two types of collagen powders (Vital and Agent Nature holi (mane)), two types of protein powders, SAKARA metabolism mix (cocoa bean powder, coconut milk powder, coconut sugar, monk fruit, horsetail powder, laminaria kelp powder, black pepper, Gymnema Sylvester), and SAKARA protein and greens mix (spirulina, pumpkin seeds, pea protein, hemp protein, wheatgrass, barley grass, chlorella, coconut sugar, coconut milk powder, stevia leaf extract), matcha powder, three drops of liquid vitamin D/K2, 200+ manuka honey, chia seeds, cocoa nibs, and white sesame seeds.
I made some great ones this week on the fly. This one is an obviously fully loaded smoothie to get me through a fully loaded morning. I found it worth sharing. The pineapple and raspberry flavors provide a sweet-tart zing, while the matcha powder adds just enough oomph. The seeds keep it unboring, and the honey adds perfect sweetness. Vitamin D; I certainly don’t get enough.
Some ingredients break down also worth mention in case you’re not familiar. What do I mean? The difference between types honey or types of ingredients incorporated into smoothie powders.
What is the difference between manuka honey and your regular honey? Welp, although I did attend a beekeeping class for a season several years ago and can test for mites in a hive, I still had to ask this question.
Manuka honey is a type of honey that is produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the manuka bush. It is known for its unique flavor and potential health benefits, including antibacterial properties. Regular honey is produced by bees from the nectar of various flowers and plants. The main difference between manuka honey and regular honey is basically the source of the nectar and the specific properties attributed to manuka honey. One of mine has bee pollen mixed inside the actual honey. Manuka honeys are high levels of methylglyoxal. I had to look that up. Higher levels of methylglyoxal means higher levels of antibacterial properties. Manuka honey is also typically more expensive than regular honey due to its specialized production process and perceived health benefits. I love honey and our little honey bees. I certainly recommend beekeeping for a season. If you can.
Then comes the protein powders. SAKARA Metabolism contains L-Glutamine which promotes healthy gut, horsetail eases bloating , kelp and Gymena Sylvestre is an Ayurvedic herb that supports in curbing cravings as well as cortisol levels. Says so on the packaging.
SAKARA Protein & Greens detoxifies and energizes with its pumpkin hemp pea wheatgrass barley spirulina blend. This blend used to have sesame seeds which they have taken out but I add back in often. I recommend this. I wrote to them asking what was different. They told me so.
Oh and least not the matcha powder. There are many types. Daily to the ceremonial. I only have ceremonial left in my inventory. Into the smoothie it went. Oomph. Oh and what’s the difference in the matcha powders?
Ceremonial grade matcha (the most vibrant in color) is the highest quality and most expensive type of matcha powder. Been my experience this far. It is made from the youngest tea leaves, which are shade-grown to enhance flavor and nutrient content. Daily, or culinary matcha is a lower quality (this doesn’t mean bad) and more affordable type of matcha powder. It is made from more mature tea leaves and may not be shade-grown, resulting in a slightly bitter taste and a less vibrant green color. It is more suitable for cooking and baking purposes, such as adding to smoothies, desserts, and savory dishes.
Touching base on the collagen. Not all collagen powders are alike. Marine collagen powder is derived from marine sources like fish and is known for its bioavailability and skin benefits, while bovine collagen powder is sourced from cows and offers benefits for joint, bone, and gut health. The choice between marine and bovine collagen powders often depends on individual dietary preferences and health goals. I use marine collagen daily. Agent Nateur and Great Lakes Wellness are my favorites.
A Morning Fully Loaded Smoothie
Ingredients
1 scoop SAKARA Metabolism
1 scoop SAKARA Protein & Greens
1 scoop of Agent Nateur (Holi) mane collagean powder
1 heaping spoonful of 200+Manuka honey
1-2 teaspoon(s) of Hikari matcha powder
1/2 cup of Whole Foods 365 brand frozen pineapple chunks
1/2 cup Whole Foods 365 brand frozen raspberries
3 drops of Thorne liquid vitamin D/K2
1/2 cup of filtered water
1 teaspoon of each cocoa nibs, white sesame seeds, and chia seeds for the garnish. These babies are antioxidant-filled goodness adding crunch and texture, keeping each sip interesting
Method
Add all ingredients to blending tumbler. Blend until smooth. Pour into a bucket glass and garnish with seeds and cocoa nibs.
***Please note that this works for me, and you should always check with your medical provider before incorporating any new ingredients, alcohol, or exercises into your wellness routine.
Today looked like Monday. The Monday that gets the bad rap Monday. A cold rainy January Monday case of the Mondays Monday. It could be Tuesday or Friday and would still feel like that Monday. To add to the case of the Mondays feeling, I don’t have any more of my usual frozen fruits for the smoothie. I contemplate click and ship within two hours via Amazon Fresh and decide against it. I am glad I did, decide against it. After rummaging through my freezer fridge and cupboards, I figured it out. You’ll thank me. The Motivation Monday Mean Green Smoothie for any day of the week that feels like, you know, is a happy smoothie. It’s fresh bright light and satisfying. After a few sips, you will be asking yourself, case of the Mondays what? Who me? And I don’t know know about you but I feel a teensy bit healthier it being green and all.
Motivation Monday Mean Green Smoothie
1 Cup of Frozen Spinach
1/2 Fresh Cucumber
1/4 Cup of Frozen Black Cherries
8 Fresh Mint Leaves and a sprig for garnish
1 Scoop of SAKARA Protein + Greens Super Powder (contains pea and hemp protein pumpkin seed protein sesame protein coconut milk powder AND Super Greens Blend (spirulina, I’m guessing green and wheatgrass some barley and more..) addition coconut and vanilla for good measure. These are the ingredients listed in the package. Saves the trouble of buying all the seeds and peas and powders. It’s an all in one.
1 Scoop of Agent Nateur Holi (mane) Hair, Skin, Nails Supplement (marine collagen and pearl powder)
Add almond milk to the blender. Then add frozen spinach. Continue with remainder ingredients. I recommend adding powders after the agave and almost last if you can; This way the powders don’t sink to the bottom of the blending machine and clump. Please don’t forget to wash your cucumber and your mint. I chopped extra and ate while I was preparing and contemplating what other ingredients I might add. Cinnamon could be nice too? I skip it. Anyways, blend all together and pour into glass.
Glass: Bucket Glass
Garnish: Mint Sprigs
Where to buy the goods? Glasses, blenders, ingredients.. Blonde Behind the Bucket Storefront of course. I may receive commissions from eligible purchases.
Just look at it. Isn’t it beautiful.Up close and last looks before the gulp..
It’s light bright sweet slightly savory and energizing. Perfect for a cool early morning or midafternoon pick me up as the season changes. It’s autumnal colors certainly signaling fall is here and hinting Halloween is around the corner. No matter the season, drink happy.
My Orange Juice
1 1/2 cups of baby carrots
1 medium knob of ginger
2 Granny Smith apples
1/2 naval orange
Fresh ground black pepper, dried turmeric powder and manuka honey for the rim of the glass.
Method
Paint or roll your glass rim with PRI Manuka honey 10+. Set aside. Add dried turmeric powder and several turns of the fresh pepper from the grinder to a saucer. Mix together using your finger or a fork. Twist and roll the honey coated rim of the glass into the pepper turmeric mixture. Refrigerate while you juice.
Wash fruit. Add all to a juicer. I use Omega. If you don’t have a juicer use a blending machine and strain with a cheese cloth or coffee filter. Add juice to the prepared glass and enjoy.
