Pineapple, Spinach & Ginger Green De~Tox Smoothie!

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Am I having fun yet?  I'm referring to all of these smoothie concoctions that I've been experimenting with.  Well, yes and no.  Truthfully I'd rather be stuffing my face with a deep dish double-layered Chicago style pizza, just to name one outrageously fattening food that I could choose from.  But that's not going to happen for some time and only for a splurge when I visit my son in Chi-town.

So here's Smoothie recipe #2 that I posted a week or so ago.  This green drink was much more effective in it's claim 'de-tox' due to the pineapple.  I mean to tell you that you will be 'cleansing' (to put it nicely) alright!!!  No doubt about the accuracy of the name 'de-tox' in this green potion!  However, since I do not have a juicer, I couldn't churn up the pineapple and spinach into a 'true' smoothie.  So it was a little more lumpy than the first smoothie.  The taste was just fine though, and that's a key factor for acceptability in my book!  You can't even taste the spinach and instead your tastebuds really pick up on the fruit and ginger elements.  It's quite nice!

Here's the recipe for you if you'd like to try it:

Pineapple, Spinach, and Ginger De-Tox Green Smoothie

adapted from Zoomy Yummy

1 1/4 cup pineapple juice

juice from 1/4 lemon

handful fresh spinach leaves

2 slices fresh pineapple

1/4 tsp. fresh grated ginger

Place in a juicer or blender/food processor.

Give it a whirl.

Pour in glass.

Drink up.

Enjoy results!

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Parmesan, Garlic & Basil Crusted Tilapia!

I've been increasing the amount of fish in our nutrition lately and found this delightful recipe (among many) on the web (allrecipes.com).  Normally I like to prepare fish with a lemon-garlic-butter brushed on top, so I was ready to try something new.  This is very good and is quite adapted from the recipe on-line that sounded far too salty.

I combined it with a spinach and lettuce salad with avocado.  The baked potato is supposed to be a 'no-no', but since I'm not perfect, neither was this meal!  HA!

We enjoyed this delicious fish earlier this week and then prepared some salmon tonight with my trusty lemon-garlic-butter to get more of those healthy Omega-3's (click on the link in red italics for the recipe).  I'd prepare this tilapia recipe again . . . but next time, no baked potato!  Sweet potatoes are the acceptable healthier choice of potatoes now.  Baked sweet potato fries would be awesome!


Parmesan, Garlic & Basil Crusted Tilapia
adapted from "allrecipes"

1/3 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese (may add up to 1/2 cup, but taste as you go)
1/4 cup butter, softened (I'd also recommend an Olive Oil butter replacement)
3 tablespoons mayonnaise (I'd use reduce calorie mayo next time)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
a pinch of celery salt (if you happen to have it on hand; or use another seasoned salt such as Old Bay)
2 pounds tilapia fillets
paprika to sprinkle on for garnish

Preheat oven broiler.
Spray pan with cooking spray (I use Olive Oil Cooking Spray).
In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice.
Season with dried basil, pepper, garlic powder and celery salt.
Mix well and set aside.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan.
Sprinkle the fillets with more pepper, only if desired.
Broil a few inches from the heat for 4 minutes.
Flip the fillets over and broil for 2 more minutes.
Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side.
Sprinkle with paprika for color.
Broil until the topping is browned and the tilapia flakes easily with a fork. Pin It

Avocado with Cilantro Jalepeno Turkey Sammie & Green Smoothie!

Losing weight is hell (at least for most people).  That food we put in our mouthes had better be yummy and filling or it's all over.  I'm an honest person and I'm not going to lie!  It is is overwhelming how much research is out there now on how there's certain genetic predispositions, hormonal changes, metabolism changes, etc. etc. ad nauseum that sabotage our healthy weight.  But it still all boils down to one simple notion that we all excuse away:  getting rid of the crap that we've put in our bodies and putting in the good stuff instead!  That and changing bad physical habits into positive habits such as getting off the damn couch and logging off (dare I say) the computer!

We've all heard the mantras:

Eat more fruits and veggies!

Eat more lean meats and (as Dr. Oz recommends) only one meat a week from a 4-legged animal . . . Mr. M. and P. has to suffer without his red meat.  I'll suffer more without my pork!  So it's hello to more chicken, turkey, fish, and vegetarian recipes.

Eliminate as much processed food as possible (no problem there)!

No fast food!  Doable!

And more!  I can't and do not want to list all of the proven strategies for improving our nutrition.  I'll leave that to the tons of healthy nutrition lists on-line and in the plethora of nutrition and health books on the market!

But I did think that I'd share just a few things that I did this week to drop 2 pounds:

First of all, I don't have enough of the precious resource of time in my life, so the most important element of preparing something in my insanely busy life (and I'm working on that issue too), is that the healthier food and recipes must be SIMPLE!!!

Nothing could be simpler than the green de-tox smoothie and a wonderful sammie that I had over the weekend.  The next post will be a wonderful tilapia recipe that I haven't uploaded the photos yet . . . you know, it's the time thing!

Turkey, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich with Jalepeno Cilantro Hummus

2 slices whole wheat bread

2 Tbsp. Jalapeno Cilantro Hummus (available at Whole Foods)

4 - 6 oz. sliced smoked turkey breast

lettuce or spinach leaves (your choice)

1/2 an avocado, sliced

2 - 3 tomato slices

a few shakes of Mrs. Dash Spicy Southwestern Spices no-salt blend

Salt and Pepper to taste

Toast bread

Spread the hummus on both slices of bread.

Layer each ingredient.

Sprinkle on Mrs. Dash and salt and pepper to taste!

Make any changes that you like!

Enjoy!  This is very good, very filling, and has quite a nice kick to it!

There is no cheese in this sandwich (which causes me to frown) and there is no mayonnaise.  The flavorful hummus and creamy avocado made up the difference very well!

And here's the very first green smoothie concoction that I have ever made.  This was for a different lunch this past weekend and it is surprisingly delicious and filling!  Again, I cannot tell a lie!  Very easy, and quite fun to make as well.

Green De-Tox Weight-Loss Smoothie

(from 'nutrition to invigorate mind body and spirit)

1 - 2 bananas

1/2 cup frozen peaches

1/2 cup frozen mango

a couple handfuls of spinach

1/4 cup of water

ice (if desired)

Add more water if necessary 

Since I don't have a juicer (on the wish list), I used a mini food processor and followed up with my trusty boat motor immersion blender to chop up the spinach leaves more.  The results were just fine.

Again, this is a very good smoothie.  I gulped it down instantly.

But of course . . . I was hungry!

I loved the addition of the mango to this smoothie!

I'd like to try pineapple as well.

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