Green Smoothies

I know they're not for everyone, but I personally love a green smoothie. And I prefer them on the savory side. Don't be mixing sweet fruit juice with my veggies! Rouse the Spouse is right on when he calls my concoctions liquid salads.

I thought today's version was delicious. Wanted to get the ingredients down for future reference.

Toss all of this into a blender ...

Start with the green stuff:
2 cups packed spinach leaves

Add something for creaminess:
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon ricotta cheese

Add enough liquid to mix well into a drinkable solution:
5.5 oz V-8 juice (one individual serving can)
about the same amount of chicken broth

Extras for flavor:
1 tablespoon chopped shallot
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
salt / pepper to taste (if you use chicken bouillon, skip the extra salt)

• Blend well.
• Pour into a tall glass.
• Feel good about treating yourself to all that green goodness!

Let Us Eat Lettuce!

What to do with a refrigerator FULL of lettuce? And more to come?!

I like to make green smoothies, basically a salad in the blender. And when it comes to fresh greens in the blender I prefer a savory concoction, without the sweetness of added fruit and fruit juices. That, unfortunately, is not very appealing to some members of the family. So I decided to change the presentation from "smoothie" in a glass to "soup" in a bowl.

It's a cold soup, but if you can get past that idea you just might like it! It makes a lovely appetizer on a warm spring day. The recipe is a work in progress, but here's what I made for lunch today:

Lettuce Soup

1/4 cup V-8 (vegetable) juice
1 cup chicken (or vegetable) broth
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 avocado, chopped
2 cups lettuce, packed
1/4 cup tzatziki *
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Zing it all up in the blender. Pour into your favorite bowl. If you like, top with extra tzatziki.

* Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt/cucumber/garlic sauce. I'm lucky! I get mine from Angelina's Kitchen, where they serve up delicious, real food, prepared from local meats and produce. Gluten Free? Vegan? No problem. Angelina will take care of you. And the service is quick! If you're in Pittsboro for lunch visit Angelina and tell her Sue sent you!