Thursday, February 23, 2012

Thursday here...

As soon as my morning routine was behind me this morning, I started slicing bananas and filling quart size freezer bags with them. I laid the bags flat and tried to make sure the banana slices would freeze without clumping together. The last time I froze them (mainly for smoothies but also for baking) --- I used the wonderful, plastic, Mason jars but need to buy more.
I put around three bananas per bag (some easily held four) and prepared about six or seven bags. This will make our morning and snack time smoothies much easier.

I cut up a whole pineapple (peeled and cored it as well) and put the pieces in a gallon size freezer bag and laid them flat and they were delightful by this morning.

Tomorrow, I have a very full day and night but will try to fit in cutting and peeling some mangoes, the other pineapple I bought for freezing. I definitely want to make ahead some smoothie bags. So far, the ones I am making for easy grabbing by my husband, myself, our soon to be married and living minutes away son, and our teen girl are:

* Bananas. By themselves with almond milk, coconut milk, organic milk if on sale, regular milk, kefir and so on with a spoon of regular or vanilla protein powder.
* Bananas & blueberries. These go so well together! I'll keep Greek yogurt (or homemade) on hand or water or whatever liquid we want and maybe throw in some Chia seeds. I haven't been brave enough to try the latter yet but I've been reading on them and Hemp and they sound so good!
* Mango & Pineapple... these two would probably tastes amazing with nothing else but I'll add some calcium rich liquid and a sprinkle of protein powder.
* Mixed "body blessings" : My favorite!
I gather a cup of fruit or 1 1/2 cups total per person and around 8 ounces of almond milk per person. This morning, it was a few pieces of frozen pineapple, a few frozen grapes, a few frozen banana slices and a whole, peeled kiwi. I added a scoop of vanilla protein powder and it was so nourishing and delicious!
*DI-Heart (Daughter in Love) instant fave: I made one for us before she left for the gym the other day and she called to say it was really good. I put almond milk, pineapple, mango, kiwi, a few grapes, and banana along with a scoop of vanilla protein powder.

For lunch, I made up a big salad to cover our lunch, snacking and dinner. It was just washed and cut Romaine lettuce with some sliced Vidalia green onions and two peeled and cut pickling cucumbers. I topped it with a few sprinkles of aged white cheddar cheese on the top and some smoked salmon (heated on the stove) on top, with a generous toss of dill. My daughter found some really good low-calorie salad dressing but I am going to try some homemade versions until I find one I love.

I made two skillets of chicken breasts in the oven and a crockpot full of turkey breasts so tomorrow and this weekend won't call for as much time in the kitchen. We had another salad for dinner with chicken on top. So good!


Gluten Free Pantry: Kid Approved Green Smoothie! (Dairy Free)

Gluten Free Pantry: Kid Approved Green Smoothie! (Dairy Free): This delicious smoothie is a favorite in our home. My daughter regularly asks me to make " The Green Smoothie ." I put this smoothie in si...