Strawberry Banana Beet Smoothie

Some big things are in store for Sweet and Spicy Monkey this month. The first (and probably biggest change) is Sweet and Spicy Monkey will be moving to a new location on the World Wide Web.

Yes, it's finally going to happen! Sweet and Spicy Monkey is getting it's very own .com site! I'm so excited with this move as it’s been a goal of mine for this site since I started blogging. And now I'm finally able to make my dreams come to reality.

I know, I know, I'm such a nerd!

Don't worry about missing any recipes though, as I will let you know when the big move becomes final. In the meantime, I'm still going to be sharing recipes here.

Speaking of food, I haven't shared a smoothie recipe with y'all in quite some time. If I remember last, my green smoothie recipe was the last. And green smoothies are so last year!

2016 is all about the color and right now, my new smoothie crush is this pink Strawberry Banana Beet Smoothie.

Made with beet, beet juice, strawberries, banana, chia seeds, dates (for sweetness), and cashew milk or your milk of choice. This smoothie is easy and quick to make for those hurried mornings or your go-to drink before or after your workouts, or between meals.

I love to drink it in the morning before I leave the house or sometimes for breakfast or lunch. It's chock full of vitamins and good for you stuff.   And with its bright pink coloring, this smoothie is sure to wake you up in the mornings to the start of a great day.

After all, how can you stay grumpy in the morning with this beautiful pink Strawberry Banana Beet smoothie?

You can't!

Strawberry Banana Beet Smoothie

Recipe by Julie Murphy @ Sweet and Spicy Monkey

A quick and easy Strawberry Banana Beet smoothie that you can enjoy at breakfast, as a snack, or anytime of the day.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1/2 cooked beet
• 7 to 10 whole strawberries
• 1/4 cup beet juice
• 2 Medjool dates
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
• 1/4 cup uncooked oats
• 1 tall glass (8 ounces) cashew milk

Directions

1. In a small microwavable cup, add 1/4 cup water and the 2 dates. Cook on High for 45 to 60 seconds. Remove from microwave and let cool as you prepare smoothie.
2. Add remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
3. Remove dates from water and slice in half. Remove seeds and place dates into blender.
4. Pour water from dates into blender.
5. Pulse on High setting until all ingredients are pureed, about 7 to 10 times. Or about 1 minute of continuous blending at High speed.
6. Pour into a tall glass and serve.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Green Smoothie Recipes

Avocado Kale Green Smoothie

I have finally came over to the other side! If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen all the green smoothies I've been making. Yep, I am now a green smoothie addict. I know, but as they always say, better late than never.

I really don't know who "they" are, but they are ALWAYS right! I'm thinking "they" must be our mom and dad's because they always seem to be right about everything {smile}.

But anywho, yes I am finally a lover of the green smoothie. Funny thing is, I never thought I would try one. After all, vegetables like kale, avocados, and cucumbers all blended up into a drink just did not appeal to my sweet tooth. Gimme some ice cream, chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel and that's what I'm talking about for a smoothie. Am I right?

Green stuff...Ick!

Recently I bought Matcha powder because I needed help building up my immune system after being sick with a respiratory funk last month. And I got to thinking it was time for me to try the Matcha powder and see what all the hoopla was about.

So I added some coconut milk, a frozen banana, Matcha powder, protein powder, kale, and a little bit of avocado. Whipped it all up, closed my eyes (because I'm a visual eater) and took a sip. That sip was the end to my closed mind thinking of adding vegetables to my smoothies because now I can't get enough of them!

It's true what "they" (yes, "them" again, the all-knowing, always right "they") say, you can't even taste the veggies! Well, I won't lie to you, if you don't have enough banana you will taste a little of the avocado. Which is why I add a large banana or one and a half of a banana and use coconut water instead of plain water. The coconut water has naturally occurring sugars and helps sweeten the smoothie so you don't have to add any honey or agave nectar. Or you can always use less avocado, but I L-O-V-E the rich creaminess the avocado brings to this smoothie!

Look at the creamy thickness the avocado brings to this smoothie

So if you've been like me and avoided the green smoothie because it just doesn't sound good, trust me on this one, and just try it. Because if you're anything like me, you'll be hooked after that first sip of green yumminess!

And I'm not just sharing one recipe with you this week, I'm sharing two of my favorite green smoothie recipes, my thick and creamy Avocado Kale Green Smoothie and my Refreshing Kale Cucumber Green Smoothie. Let me know which one you like best.
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Avocado Kale Green Smoothie

Recipe by Julie Murphy

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients

• 8 ounces coconut milk
• 1/4 cup coconut water (can also use plain water)
• 1 large banana, frozen and sliced
• 2 cups kale
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 teaspoon Matcha powder
• 1 scoop Vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tablespoons chia seeds

Directions

1. Add coconut milk, coconut water, frozen banana, kale, and avocado into a High speed blender.
2. Pulse on High, no longer than 10-15 seconds, until all solid ingredients are pureed, no more chunks.
3. Add remaining ingredients and pulse on High setting until well blended. If too thick, you can add in a little more coconut water or water. I like mine thick and I use a spatula to help get it out of the blender.
4. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy the goodness of this green smoothie!

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Refreshing Kale Cucumber Green Smoothie

Recipe by Julie Murphy

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients

• 8 ounces almond milk
• 1/4 cup coconut water (can also use plain water)
• 2 cups kale
• 3/4 - 1 cup English cucumbers, sliced and diced
• 1 large banana, frozen and sliced
• 1-2 Tablespoons blueberries, frozen
• 1 scoop Vanilla protein powder
• 1 teaspoon Matcha powder
• 2 Tablespoons chia seeds

Directions

1. Add almond milk, coconut water, kale, cucumber, frozen banana, and blueberries into a High speed blender.
2. Pulse on High, no longer than 10-15 seconds, until all solid ingredients are pureed, no more chunks.
3. Add remaining ingredients and pulse on High setting until well blended. If too thick, you can add in a little more coconut water or water. I like mine thick and I use a spatula to help get it out of the blender.
4. Pour into a tall glass and enjoy the goodness of this refreshing green smoothie!

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party #27

Healthy Shamrock Shake (Smoothie)

I really think I made a big huge mistake for the timing of my Sugar Crush Challenge. I say this because every time I walk into a store, I see St. Paddy's treats and Easter candy all around me!

Ugh, this hasn't been easy!

My sweet tooth is telling me to indulge. Will Power is saying "don't do it!" It's like the battle between the little angel and devil that sit on your shoulders in the cartoons. Lucky for me, my willpower is much stronger than my sweet tooth.

And since I've been seeing homemade Shamrock Shakes all over the web these last few weeks, I decided to make a healthier version, one that doesn't have as many calories, fat, or sugar as the original McDonalds Shamrock Shake.

Sprigs of fresh mint

My version is still green, although a darker green, and has that refreshing, delicious minty flavoring that many of us look forward to at this time of year.

Plus, you can make it year round and it will satisfy your Shamrock Shake cravings. It's a win-win!

Healthy Shamrock Shake
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Ingredients

8 ounces coconut milk, unsweetened

1 frozen banana, sliced

3 to 4 sprigs of fresh mint

2 Tablespoons agave nectar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

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Directions

Add milk, banana, and mint leaves into a blender. Puree until all ingredients are liquefied. Add in remaining ingredients and pour into a tall glass. Enjoy!

Can top with whipped cream or garnish with a mint leaf.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Totally Terrific Tuesday #24, Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #139, Savoring Saturdays, Munching Mondays #83

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie

It's been three days since I started the Sugar Crush 30 day Sugar-Free Challenge and I'm doing better than I expected and I've been making healthier food choices. My body hasn't went into a downward spiral sugar shock (yet) and I'm still alive despite not having any cookies in the last few days. {whispering}....I still have some Red Velvet Oreos in my kitchen cupboard that I haven't touched yet!

This smoothie is one of those healthier food choices. It has banana, pineapple, blueberries, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt. Yep, that's it! No milk, no almond milk nor coconut milk in this smoothie. I've found that the chia seeds work great for thickening up smoothies so you don't need any milk.

It's great for anyone who's eating clean, gluten-free, or just watching their waistline as this smoothie has 595 calories with 6.5 grams of fat. Plus it has all those antioxidants from the chia seeds and blueberries.

It makes for a delicious, nutritious breakfast when you're on the go and don't have time to make anything in the morning. Or as an afternoon snack to perk yourself up during those slump hours between 1 and 5 p.m., when cravings hit you the hardest.

Whenever you drink this smoothie, you'll feel a whole lot better drinking this than having those cookies sitting on your kitchen counter {smile}.

Blueberry Pineapple Smoothie

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients

½ cup plain Greek yogurt

¾ cup water

1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

2 cups fresh blueberries, washed and rinsed

1 frozen banana, sliced

1 Tablespoon chia seeds

Directions

Add all ingredients into a blender. Blend on Medium to High until all ingredients are liquefied.

Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Featured at ~ Savoring Saturdays

Shared with: TotallyTerrificTuesday #24, Savoring Saturdays, Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party #139

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Remember when I told you I was adding pumpkin to everything I made?

Well, pumpkin (my pumpkin butter to be exact) has canoodled its way into another of my breakfast recipes with this Pumpkin Spice Smoothie. A delicious pumpkin flavored smoothie with the rich spices of Fall from pumpkin butter and apple cider.

Mix this yummy concoction with some frozen bananas and coconut milk and you've got yourself a quick, healthy, and tasty breakfast for those days you don't have time to fix yourself something to eat before leaving the house.

Or you can have it as a snack when those hunger pangs start in the middle of your day.

No matter what time of day you make it, it will give you a little pick me up to get you through to your next meal.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

Makes 1 smoothie

Ingredients

6 ounces coconut milk

1/3 cup sweet apple cider

1 frozen banana, cut into pieces

3 Tablespoons pumpkin butter

Directions

Place all ingredients into a blender and *blend until all ingredients are mixed together.

Pour into a glass and enjoy!

*Blend to your blender's specifications for frozen fruit.

*Helpful Hints*

- Can use your choice of milk- almond, soy, almond-coconut, goat milk, or regular, low-fat, fat-free cow milk.

- Recipe for pumpkin butter here.

- You can sprinkle a little nutmeg over the top before serving.

All content and images are property of Sweet and Spicy Monkey. Please do not reprint this content without my permission. If you wish to include this recipe on your site, please re-write in your own words and use your own photographs and link back to this post for original recipe.

Follow Julie's board Sweet and Spicy Monkey on Pinterest.

Shared with: Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party #35, Savoring Saturdays #43, Sweet and Savoury Sundays #91, Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up, Munching Mondays #69