Welcome back Pot Heads!
What is the best way to start your day?
Well, some of you may be thinking "not starting it at all and staying in bed." I can't say I disagree with you there. Some mornings, it can feel impossible to get up and get going. BUT I have a really promising way to get you started on the path of a great day.
The answer is A GOOD BREAKFAST.
We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Well, I don't know how much science backs that up to be completely honest... However, when I am in a cranky mood from leaving my plush blankets to head into work, there is one thing that perks me up: a good smoothie or a nice cup of tea can change the way that I start my day. To be very real, not everyone can afford (or have the time during their commute) to stop at Tropical Smoothie Café, Starbucks, or any other similar establishment.
Don't get me wrong: these places have a cult following and I am very much guilty of spending my fair share of cash on them. An alarming amount of cash has slipped through my fingers and I probably won't stop treating myself every now and then. Although it takes a little work and planning to have a nice smoothie or tea latte at home, it has never been easier to treat yourself at home with these short and simple recipes.
On The BIG Yellow Pot YouTube (page), you can find my Freeze Ahead Smoothie Video with two recipes that are SURE to make your day 10 times better once you add them to your routine. The best part about these smoothie recipes is that they are a meal prep item which means that you can make them ahead of time for the entire week. Enjoy treating yourself every day with a little pick-me-up on your way into the office, to drop off your kids, or after a nice workout.
Here are a couple recipe notes for those who like to adventure...
You can play with ingredients in this smoothie just like anything you can create from scratch. Sometimes I use mandarin oranges, kiwi, frozen avocado, peaches... It just depends on the day.
You can freeze your own fruit instead of buying it. Oftentimes, I freeze mandarin oranges because you can't find them frozen in stores. I get a clean plate and parchment paper and lay all my fruit into a single layer. Freeze them until solid and place all contents into a Ziploc freezer bag; on the bag, write (preferably with a Sharpie or similar writing utensil) the date that you froze everything and the contents that are inside of the bag.
If you notice, I didn't use any sweeteners or sugar in my smoothies typically because frozen fruit is frozen at peak ripeness. If you are choosing to freeze your own fruit, give it a taste and make sure it's sweet enough according to YOUR liking.
You can use coconut water, coconut milk, cranberry juice, flavored water – you name it. If you are using any type of water, keep in mind that the smoothies thaw to the perfect consistency because they contain a fat. Whether that fat is yogurt, plant based milks, or coconut products, YOU NEED FAT. Otherwise, the consistency upon thawing it out will be ICEy – not SMOOTHie.
Why grams? What if I don't have a kitchen scale – how do I know how much to put in the smoothies?
Well, I use a kitchen scale because it is more accurate for me and helps me to keep things exactly the same when you guys make my recipes. I didn't learn to cook by measuring things; I learned by repetition and trial/error.
A kitchen scale is something I specifically bought for YOU so that you guys would know how much of something to put in each dish. Also, they're really cheap.
The link to the one I have below is here.
I DON'T USE ICE IN SMOOTHIES.
Before I had a $200 Ninja Power Blender, I had a simple Oster and it HATED ice. (I am still haunted by the noise.) That is how this smoothie recipe came about. Frozen fruit is pretty consistent (produce isn't always great depending on the season and time you shop) and creates a better smoothie than fresh fruit and ice. I never use ice for smoothies because of a few more reasons as well. Ice is water. If you use it, not only will the consistency change and be less creamy, your smoothie may also not be as flavorful.
Last but not least, I did only make one of these smoothies for my video. However, the recipe yields 24 oz. You can make three, 8oz portions and freeze them in mason Jars.
I encourage you to play around and get familiar with what YOU like.
The recipe is below...
If you are a hands on or visual learner. This recipe has already been uploaded. Please Subscribe to The BIG Yellow Pot YouTube channel & stay tuned to my BYP Meal Prep series where I teach you to maximize flavor and minimize time on amazing meals prepped and ready to go.
TROPICAL GREEN
What you need:
350 grams orange juice with pineapple
90 grams frozen mango
105 grams frozen pineapple
30 grams fresh spinach
1 high powered blender
Here's what you need to do:
> In a blender, place your juice, mango, pineapple and spinach. Blend until spinach particles are completely emulsified into your fruit and juice.
This should take just under 45 seconds and if your blender has a smoothie setting, use that for best results.
> You should have 24oz of blended smoothie. If your smoothie isn't blending, adjust your juice level and blend again until homogenous.
Here is the best part!
Pour your smoothie into 3 separate 8 oz. mason jars with lids. Freeze overnight.
When you are ready for a smoothie, take it out and place it on a paper towel. In 1 hour, your smoothie will be back to the freshly blended consistency and ice cold from the freezer.
I usually take an hour to get ready in the morning. I wake up at 5:55am, turn off my alarm and grab the smoothie. Set the smoothie on the counter under a paper towel to catch any water and condensation on the glass. Reusable straws are always a nice touch, or you can eat them with a spoon & more fresh fruit similar to a smoothie bowl. By the time that I walk out of the door at 7 am, I can sip my smoothie on the way to work and no additional trouble. Wash the mason jar and repeat the next day.
STRAWBERRY YOGURT
Here's what you need:
350 grams Vanilla Almond Milk (Measure 300 and set aside. Measure 50 grams and set aside)
200 grams Frozen Strawberries
100 grams Vanilla Greek Yogurt (Use your 50 grams of almond milk to stir into the yogurt, it comes out of the measuring container easier if you reserve this amount)
1 high powered blender
Optional: Vanilla Flavoring or Honey...
***This smoothie isn't as sweet as 'Tropical Green' due to using almond milk instead of juice. If you prefer a sweet smoothie, add what you like to taste. Chobani Greek yogurt is one of my favorite snacks, so I like it without added sweetener.
Here's what you need to do:
> In a blender, add your almond milk, strawberries and yogurt.
> Blend well until everything is homogenous. You should have 24oz of smoothie. If it isn't blending, add more almond milk until it blends.
> Pour your smoothie mixture into 3 separate 8 0z mason jars with lids. Freeze overnight.
> Thaw your smoothie for 1 hour and enjoy!
Thank you for the support and if you'd like for me to see your creations based off this recipe, please tag me @thebigyellowpot on Instagram so that I can repost your photos and videos to my Story! If you don't follow me on Instagram, please do so or head over to the Instagram tab on this site & take a look over there.
Thank you for everything… As always - One pot, One mission.
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