Golden Pumpkin Smoothie

A week before we left to get married, I found myself caught up in the excitement of the Super Blood Moon. As someone who has always been drawn to the moon, the whole thing had me enchanted. I immediately set up my camera and watched as the evening unfolded and we experienced not just an eclipse but that brilliant red moon emerge in the sky. It was emotional, likely because I was about to experience an awesome and momentous life event. But also because I remembered how quite often, our lives resemble the cycles of the moon.

Often times, after a change or a busy period, we find our skies are blank and we are ready to grow towards a new venture, hobby or path. We might reflect on previous experiences or feel anxiety for a new life moon. But as we let go of inertia, and the past, we begin rolling and putting our lives back in rotation. Much like a waxing moon, we build new ideas, opportunities and experiences, and more and more light shines on our life. We build confidence (which may can be peppered with a bit of fear or doubt) until we reach the full moon - the climax or pinnacle of our experience - where we shine brightly in the space of who we are. We then enter a period of exploring what just happened where we might feel a sense of loss, or bittersweet emotions, and perhaps start to relax as we wane. 

Well, I guess you could say that I've just been through a Super Blood Moon of my life. 

 In New England, we're currently in the peak "peak" season of autumn. The nights are cool, the sun sets before five o'clock and the light has that turning golden glow. Amidst my own waning moon, I'm more than ready to start fresh and get back to a schedule.  I'm happy to be in the office, re-adapting a more regular exercise routine and being invigorated by the fall markets as I get back in my kitchen. I'm curious about what these next months will hold.

This fall smoothie is one of my very favorites. It tastes like pure pumpkin pie goodness, and is full of anti-inflammatory magic - a much welcome thing after a month of wonderful wedding indulgence. It's packed with pumpkin, which is rich in dietary fiber, beta carotene and Vitamin A. It also includes apple, carrot, banana, as well as fresh ginger and turmeric, which as I've discussed before are literal adaptogenic gold. Thanks to their super antioxidant properties, they help decrease inflammation and supporting your immune system. This is a necessary boost as we enter flu season and they're sure to provide inner warmth as we enter cooler temperatures ahead. 

Golden Pumpkin Smoothie

1 small banana, sliced

1 carrot, chopped

1/2 apple chopped

1/2 cup organic pureed pumpkin 

1-inch knob of ginger, peeled and grated

1-inch knob of turmeric, peeled and grated (you can also use 1 tsp. ground turmeric)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tablespoon Maca powder

1 tsp hemp seed

1 tsp chia seed

Combine first seven ingredients in blender, and top with water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined. Add in protein powders, Maca, hemp and chia seed, and pulse until combined. Drink immediately, or if storing, reserve seed mixture until serving, as they will absorb much of the liquid and thicken the smoothie.

Green Mango Smoothie Bowl

I'm now at the end of my time between jobs, and I find myself doing things that are truly nourishing to my soul. Facial massage that lasts a little longer than usual. Chia seeds in my water. Long walks for the hell of it. I'm determined to squeeze out every ounce of "me" time before starting this exciting new journey. 

Several moons ago, I was a food blogger, and old habits die hard. Quite often, styling food is simply just cathartic to me, as if placing things just so had the same effect as a brush stroke or a good stretch for the soul. And so, what better way to really get into it than by making smoothie bowls? A smoothie bowl is a delicious, spoonable smoothie, yes, poured into a bowl, and topped with goodness that is otherwise not easy sipped: chopped fruit, nuts, granola and seeds. I don't know about you but there's something about the art of spooning that really makes me savor a dish.

Below is a new favorite recipe that combines luscious soft fruits like banana and mango, which deliver a potassium and beta-carotene boost, along with Vitamin C-packed citrus and a healthy dose of cruciferous kale. I've topped with more mango and banana, and a slew of Omega and fiber-filled seeds like Hemp, Chia and ground Flax, as well as immunity-supporting bee pollen. Add a bit of protein powder, and you've got yourself the perfect summer breakfast.

Green Mango Smoothie Bowl

1 small banana, sliced

1/2 lime, peeled

1/2 orange, peeled

1/4 grapefruit, peeled

1 small bunch of kale, de-ribbed

1/2 mango, cubed

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tsp bee pollen

1 tsp chia seeds

1 tsp ground flaxseed

1 tsp hemp seeds

Chopped fruit (I used banana and mango, but feel free to add berries, stone fruit and more!)

Combine first six ingredients in blender, and top with filtered water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined, and pour into a bowl. Top with bee pollen and seeds and enjoy. 

Refreshing Green Smoothie

I like to start most of my days with a smoothie, and am always looking for new ways to switch up my go-to recipes. So when fevers hit our home a few weeks ago, and the only requested meals consisted of liquids, I figured it was a great way to come up with a new nutrient-dense drink that would not only deliver a punch to the flu but also wake the body upon any old Monday.

This smoothie is extremely refreshing, thanks to a few citrus squeezes, a cooling mint kick, and a touch of sweetness from apple. It balances the flavors nicely, and received rave reviews and repeat requests in my household. It also delivers some great adaptogenic boosts through the addition of raw garlic, whose antibacterial and antiviral properties are present, though the taste is perfectly hidden amidst banana and greens. It's then rounded off with raw protein power and bee pollen, which provide good energy and immunity support. I can't think of a better way to jump start the day. 

Refreshing Green Smoothie

1 small banana, sliced

1/2 lime, peeled

1/2 orange, peeled

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp lemon rind, finely grated

1 small bunch of kale, de-ribbed

2 sprigs of mint leaves

1/2 apple, sliced

1 clove of garlic, sliced (let sit for 5 minutes before adding in)

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tsp bee pollen

Combine first ten ingredients in blender, and top with water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined. Top with bee pollen and enjoy.

Coconut Citrus Smoothie

This smoothie is pure wow.

Which is a bit like the weekend that I just closed out. For three days, I kicked off my journey towards becoming a professional coach. I'll share more about that over time, but for now, three words come to mind: spiritual, possibility, and transformation.

I talk often about the importance of balance. In light of the nourishment that my mind and soul received this weekend, I'm sharing a smoothie recipe that does the same for the physical self. It's creamy, invigorating, and brings all the right kind of nutrients to elevate your morning and sustain your energy throughout the day.

The meat of mature coconuts is amazingly nutritious. It's metabolism boosting and provides your body with a great source of energy due to the fact that it's made up of medium length of the fatty-acid chains. While it can be a bit tricky to pry it from the shell (I used this video as my guide), once free, the meat is chewy, dense, and perfect for smoothies.

The other ingredients balance it out with a nice level of zing and tang. The almond butter plays well with the creaminess of the coconut, and the citrus brings an added punch of Vitamin C. Mint is a calming and soothing herb that is also high in antioxidants and helps aid in digestion.  After blending together, I've topped this powerful drink off with my favorite seed mix and some immunity-supporting local bee pollen.

Coconut Citrus Smoothie

1 small banana, sliced

1/2 naval orange, peeled

1/2 lime, peeled

2 tbsp chopped mature coconut meat

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tbsp organic almond butter

1 tsp hemp seed

1 tsp chia seed

1 tsp flaxseed

1 tsp bee pollen

Combine first five ingredients in blender, and top with water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined. Add in almond butter, hemp, chia, flaxseed and bee pollen and pulse until combined. Drink immediately, or if storing, reserve seed and bee pollen mixture until serving, as they will absorb much of the liquid and thicken the smoothie.

Mango and Golden Beet Smoothie

Last night, we returned from five glorious days off in Florida. It was a much needed break from a recent busy period and the epic winter we've been having here in Boston, and a great place to celebrate my love's thirtieth trip around the sun.  But there was one thing that was missing from our trip south: the sun.

Gloomy skies aside, we had a wonderful visit filled with quiet island adventures, meditative walks on the beach and some good vacation indulgence. We also had the pleasure of devouring delicious citrus in their natural locale. And now that I'm back, I'm craving more of those fruits and a return to my weekly health routine. 

This mango and golden beet smoothie is a variation on what typically makes up my daily breakfast: a blended mix of fruit and vegetables, nourishing powders and a mixture of seeds.

Beets are a wonderful detoxifying food, and in conjunction with mango, are filled with antioxidant-loaded carotenoids to help support eye health. Maca is a hormone-balancing root vegetable native to Peru and known to help boost fertility and control adrenal activity. These ingredients are combined with orange, raw sprouted protein, my hemp, chia, and flaxseed mix and immunity-boosting bee pollen to provide the right kind of sunny energy needed on a winter morning.

Mango and Golden Beet Smoothie

1 small banana, sliced

1/2 naval orange, peeled

1 small golden beet, peeled and diced

1/2 a mango, cubed

1 packet of raw protein powder (I prefer this kind)

1 tablespoon Maca powder

1 tsp hemp seed

1 tsp chia seed

1 tsp flaxseed

1 tsp bee pollen

Combine first six ingredients in blender, and top with water or preferred nut milk and 3-4 ice cubes. Blend until combined. Add in hemp, chia, flaxseed and bee pollen and pulse until combined. Drink immediately, or if storing, reserve seed and bee pollen mixture until serving, as they will absorb much of the liquid and thicken the smoothie.