Category: Under 20 Minutes

Sweet Fruit & Veggie Smoothie

Sweet Fruit & Veggie Smoothie

Posted on by Lisa P

I experiment a lot with different combinations of ingredients in my smoothies.  The vast majority come out “good”, some come out “meh” and once in a while a combination will come out fantastic.

Of course everyone’s taste is different, and much depends on the quality of your ingredients… but I personally thought this smoothie came out fantastic. The combination of fruits and sweet veggies along with the almond butter makes this yummy smoothie one that can serve as an entire meal.

Ingredients:

2 C (or so) of red seedless grapes, washed
1 apple, cored and chopped into 4 pieces or so
2 dates, pits removed
1 carrot, scrubbed and cut into a few pieces
1 stalk celery with leaves, washed and cut into 3-4 pieces
1 large banana
1/2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
1 small piece of lime without rind (lemon works too)
1/2 C organic gluten-free rolled oats
1/3 C hemp seeds (optional)
2 big tablespoons of almond butter
1 tray of ice
1 sm carton of high protein yogurt (optional)
a little bit of water (if needed) to get it to your preferred consistency

Put everything in your Vita-Mix or Blend-Tec (or other high-powered) blender and use the instructions provided by your manufacturer to bring it up to high speed as quickly as possible. Blend on high for about 45 seconds.

Serves 2

Power Smoothie Recipe with Beets and Ginger

Power Smoothie Recipe with Beets and Ginger

Posted on by Lisa P

Power Smoothie with Beets, Chia, and GingerThis power smoothie is surprisingly good considering the amount of bitter greens. The recipe makes three big servings so definitely reduce the quantities if you’re only making it for yourself. It seems like a lot of ingredients because it is! Of course any of the smaller items (lime, ginger, chocolate, almonds, etc) are all optional. Just don’t remove large amounts of wet ingredients or you’ll be adding water to get it thin enough to blend properly (let alone drink!).

1/3 honey dew melon, seeded and rind removed
2 dozen (or so) red grapes
1 stalk celery with leaves
1 piece of lime or lemon
1 fresh beet
1 banana
2-3 C pre-chopped mixed greens (turnip, mustard, collard, etc.)
1″ piece of fresh ginger
1″ piece of 100% chocolate
1/2 C oats (preferably gluten-free and organic)
1/2 C acai or other juice
1/3 C chia seeds
handful of almonds
1 tray of ice cubes

The night before, soak the chia seeds and almonds in the juice. Peel and coarsely cut the beet and the ginger and toss all that in there as well. Stick it in the frig.

In the morning, you’ll want to process the watery items (melon, grapes, celery) first. You can choose to chop them in to smaller pieces if you like but you really don’t need to if you’re using a power blender, like Vita-Mix or Blend-Tec. So throw that watery stuff in there and blend it on low for 15-20 seconds to get it broken down.

The chia/juice mix will be kind of solid, so scrape that into the blender container next.

Then add everything else. The order doesn’t matter much but I usually put the dry stuff (oats) in last, and then the ice cubes on top.

Process on high (according to your blender’s instructions), tamping it down as needed to get it going. Blend for about 45 seconds or so and then pour and drink right away.

Smoothie Power Mix

Posted on by Lisa P

Add 1/2 Cup of this power mix into your smoothie for an extra boost of nutrition and energy.

This recipe makes 8 servings, which is enough for 4 of my smoothies. Most of the smoothie recipes on this site make 2 servings, so if you only make 1 smoothie serving at a time this will be enough for 8.

1/2 C organic instant oats
4 scoops of protein powder (about 1/2 C total)
1/4 C chia seeds
4 servings of Super protein

Store in air-tight container, shake well before each use.

Yoatmelon Breakfast smoothie

Posted on by Lisa P

1/2 cup grapes
1 thick wedge honeydew melon without rind or seeds
1/2 stalk of celery
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Chia seeds
1/4 cup quick cooking oats uncooked
Small wedge lime without peel
1/2 tray of ice cubes

Put everything in a vita mix or very strong blender in the order listed. Start on low and then increase speed to high. Blend for one minute. Pour into your favorite tall glass and enjoy.

Roasted Turkey Thighs & Potatoes with Broccoli

Roasted Turkey Thighs & Potatoes with Broccoli

Posted on by Lisa P

Serves 2-4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hr 30 minutes

This weeknight meal is so effortless, it practically makes itself! If you use very large thighs you will have leftover meat to use in another meal later in the week.

Ingredients

  • 1 package of (2) turkey thighs
  • 1-2 Tbsp steak or other rub-type seasoning blend
  • 2 baking potatoes (white or sweet)
  • 1 bunch of broccoli (or replace with green beans or zucchini or salad or whatever greens you like)
  • olive oil
  • Salt & pepper or other desired seasoning
  • Potato fixings: Butter, chives, sour cream or plain greek yogurt

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375F on convection, or 400F on regular.
  2. Scrub the potatoes under running water, and wrap them in squares of tinfoil.  Puncture with a sharp knife in several places. Set aside.
  3. Remove turkey thighs from package and cut away any excess fat or loose bone materials.
  4. Put the thighs skin-side up on a cutting mat or kitchen towel. Sprinkle with the seasoning mix and lightly rub the seasoning into the turkey.
  5. Dribble some olive oil onto a small roasting pan. Place the thighs skin side down in the pan and sprinkle the exposed side with the seasoning. Lightly rub the seasoning in with your fingers.
  6. Place the pan in the oven, along with the potatoes and set a timer for 30 minutes.
  7. After 30 minutes, turn the thighs over (skin side up now) and rotate the potatoes.  Set the timer for another 30 minutes.
  8. Prep your broccoli (or other green vegetable) by trimming off the hard ends and little leaves, and cutting into mouth-sized pieces.  Put into a sauce pan with a quarter inch or so of water in it (or use a steamer), and cover.
  9. When the turkey and potatoes are done remove them from the oven and set aside.
    Put a clean towel over the turkey (not foil).
  10. Cook the broccoli about 6 minutes or until crunchy tender.
  11. Serve all! Put some butter, plain greek yogurt (or sour cream), and salt and pepper on the table for dressing the potatoes.

Photos

Step 5 – Put turkey in pan.
Raw turkey thighs with rub

Step 6 – Put turkey and potatoes in oven.
Turkey and Potatoes in the Oven

Nutrition Info

Oops, not here yet. Coming soon!

Crunchy Cucumber Salad for 2

Posted on by Lisa P

This cucumber salad is made with miniature English cucumbers. They’re not expensive and you don’t have to peel them. This makes a great little side salad, and it’s crunchy enough to hold up til tomorrow so you can have the leftovers lunch.

3 miniature cucumbers or similar amount of pickling cucumbers
1 small shallot or piece of sweet onion
1/2 medium tomato (or more to your liking)
oil and vinegar
Italian seasoning blend

  1. Prep your space:  Get out a medium cutting board, a knife, and a small bowl. If your garbage can is not nearby, have a little plastic bag open next to your work space for scraps.  Grab your steel and give your knife a quick sharpening.
  2. Wash the cucumbers since you’ll be leaving the skin on. Wash the tomato too if you haven’t already.
  3. Cut the ends of the cukes off, and then slice them at a diagonal, very thinly.  About an eighth of an inch or less.  Toss them into the bowl.
  4. Peel the shallot and cut off the hard end. If using onion obviously you can skip that part.  Slice as thinly as possible.  A very sharp knife makes all the difference here.  Scrape the pieces up with your knife and bang them in the bowl as well.
  5. Cut the tomato into smallish wedges.  Into the bowl they go.
  6. Shake some Italian seasoning onto the vegetables.  This is where you have to judge for yourself how much seasoning you like.  If you’re not sure, start with 1/4 tsp, mix it in, and look at it.  That’s about as much as I use, but you might like more or less.  It’s OK to guess, the world won’t end if you add a little too much.
  7. I use olive oil and white wine vinegar, but you could use regular oil and apple cider vinegar.  It’s a different flavor in the end, but we’re not talking gourmet here, we’re just trying to get dinner on the table.  About a tablespoon of vinegar and a teaspoon or so of oil should do it.  Mix it up, taste one, and add more if you like.
  8. Put the bowl (with spoon) into the frig to sit while you make the rest of your meal.  Maybe you could stir it once or twice if you remember.

This is my favorite summer go-to salad.  Hope you enjoy it!

Step 2:
Miniature English Cucumbers

Step 6:
Crunchy Cucumber Salad

Yield: 2 Cups
Prep time: 10 minutes
Calories: Hardly any