Valentine's Strawberry, Banana & Pineapple Smoothie!

No, it's not another green smoothie, but is still an extremely yummy strawberry, banana, pineapple smoothie and totally loaded with good stuff to help improve health and lightly de-tox.  Plus the pink color is perfect for the upcoming St. Valentine's Day, one of my all-time favorite holidays, being a romantic at heart!

Today I hit the 10 pound weight loss point since the first week in January . . . I am doing this slowly and intelligently through a change in what I put in my tummy.  I also joined Weight Watchers to someday have a body like spokeswoman, Jennifer Hudson (in my dreams at 56 years old!).

Oh, yes, I did blow it (eating healthfully) for one lunch this week when Mr. M. and P. (meat and potatoes) and I stopped 'where the parking lot is full' at a local new and booming BBQ joint, "The Squealing Pig".

I caved!

However, I did order chicken instead of pulled pork and I did have sweet potato fries instead of regular white potato fries.  Oh yea, baby . . .  it was wonderful!  And absolutely no sweet tea, just lemon water.  Hey, one has to splurge every now and then to stay on this health journey, don't ya think?

Valentine's Strawberry, Banana & Pineapple Smoothie

1 banana
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple (this is your de-tox magic ingredient!)
10 medium to large strawberries
2 Tbsp. coconut water
1 tsp. local honey
1 tsp. chia seeds (swells to 8 times larger in your tummy to help you feel fuller)
2 ice cubes (to chill it)

Blend the banana, add the pineapple, blend again, add strawberries, blend again.
Add the rest and anything else that you like, blend again.

Enjoy the full feeling you get from this pretty pink drink!
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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