Fat Head

I watched a movie today that fascinated me so much that I want to tell  the whole world about it.

Treat Yourself Sweetly in the New Year

Happy New Year!

I hope 2016 turns out to be the brightest, the luckiest, the happiest, most prosperous, most romantic, most successful, most beautiful, and overall the sweetest year for all of us. Here is a perfect treat to ring in the new year.

Moderation Is Key

I have always said that discipline and moderation is the key a balanced life. This article is case in point: Even foods that are considered "superfoods" by some are best for you, if consumed in the recommended portion size.

http://time.com/4094746/healthy-foods-mistakes/

Basic Salad Formula

Today I made another bucket of salad.  I will never understand why all the restaurants in America call that plate of grass they serve "a salad".  I must be foreign, but the definition of salad for me holds a lot more than a handful of non-nutritious iceberg lettuce and an occasional slice of cucumber and/or a grape tomato. 

Cucumber Jello Salad

Cucumber is my favorite vegetable.  It is perfect in the hot days of California summer - cool, hydrating, and low in calories (only 45 in the whole thing!).  And of course, I love the taste. I put it even into my smoothies that I have became a huge fan of thanks to my dental graft surgery. 

Papaya Mango Smoothie

1 small mango

2 cups of papaya chunks

1/4 cup coconut syrup

3/4 water

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz tropical fruit yogurt

Blend for about 1 minute.  Makes about 32 oz.

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Cucumber Avocado Green Smoothie

3/4 cup lemon water

1 small avocado, peeled and pitted

1/2 cucumber, sliced

Handful of spinach

1/2 cup cottage cheese with chives

8 ice cubes

Blend well for about 1 minute.  Makes about 32 oz.  

In my mind a "green" smoothie is the kind that has all vegetables and no sweetness of fruits.  Since in my mind smoothies are inherently sweet, I was a little apprehensive to go completely fruitless.  But this has one turned out a lot better than I expected.  Turns out, I am a huge fan of avocado fruit, which is 75% fat.

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Peachy Watermelon Smoothie

2 cups watermelon balls

1 peach

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz peach yogurt

Handful of spinach

1/4 cup sugar free watermelon syrup

3/4 cup water

8 ice cubes

Blend for about 1 minute.  Makes about 40 oz.

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Pineapple of Garden Variety

2 slices of canned pineapple

3 whole canned beets

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz lime yogurt

1 cup pineapple flavored drink

Handful of spinach

1/2 cucumber

8 ice cubes

Blend for about 1 minutes.  Makes about 40 oz.  

One thing smoothies are good for is to use all the left over produce.   This is a very interesting flavor combination, but it is actually not bad at all.  A great way to get your vegetables in.  I don't know if I will ever be brave enough to make a purely vegetable one, because I do associate smoothies with sweetness.  But the beets in this one hit the spot just right. And the color is simply beautiful.  

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Tropical Garden Smoothie

1 cup coconut water

6 oz tropical fruit yogurt

1/2 cup cottage cheese

3 slices canned pineapple

1/2 banana, frozen

1 mango, pitted

A handful of spinach leaves

Blend for about a minute.  Makes about 32 oz.

I don't usually like mango too much, but this was very tangy and refreshing.  I was glad I did not additional sweetener. 

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Apple Carrot Smoothie

1 cup water

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz vanilla yogurt

1 packet of appletini drink mix

1 apple, chopped

10 carrots, boiled

Handful of spinach leaves

8 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into blender in the order listed.  Pulse a couple of times. 

Blend well for about 1 minute or to desired consistency. Enjoy! 

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Cucumber Melon Smoothie

1 cup lemon flavored water

6 oz vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup cottage cheese

2 cups cantaloupe balls

1/2 cucumber

A handful of spinach

Place all ingredients into the blender in the order listed.  Blend well. Enjoy.

Make more than 32 oz.  

Peachy Plum Smoothie

1 cup raspberry seltzer water

6 oz peach yogurt

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 canned plums (make sure to pick out the pits)

1 peach, chunked up

A handful of spinach

Place all ingredients into the blender in the order listed.  Blend well for about 1 minute or to desired consistency.   Enjoy!   

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Strawberry Orange Banana Smoothie

1 cup water

6 oz strawberry banana yogurt

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/4 cup orange juice concentrate

1 frozen banana

5 strawberries

5 spinach leaves

8 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into the blender in the order listed.  Blend for about 1 minute.  Enjoy. 

Caramel Apple Smoothie

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup sugar-free caramel syrup

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz caramel spice cake yogurt

1 packet appletini sugar-free drink mix

1 apple, chopped 

8 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into the blender in the order listed.  Blend well.  Enjoy.

Makes about 32 oz. 

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White Chocolate Coconut Fluff

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sugar-free coconut syrup
• 1 cup cottage cheese

Blend until smooth.  Add

• 1 package (4 servings) white chocolate pudding mix.

Blend until blender stops turning.  Scrape the mixture out into a mixing bowl.   Mix in

• 2  cups whipped topping.

Spoon into serving dishes.  Enjoy.  Or refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Strawberry Colada Smoothie

1 cup coconut water

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz strawberry colada yogurt

3 slices canned pineapple

5 strawberries

10 ice cubes

1/4 cup coconut sugar free syrup (optional)

Place all ingredients into the blender in order listed.  Blend well.  Enjoy.  Make about 32 oz. 

This will be tangy without the sweetener.  I usually add a splash after the first cup.  

Peppermint Mocha Frap

1/2 cup brewed coffee

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar free peppermint syrup

1 Tbsp hot chocolate powder (half of a packet of hot chocolate mix)

1/2 cup cottage cheese

8 ice cubes

Blend well. Enjoy!

Variation:  Substitute Coconut syrup for Peppermint to make a Coconut Mocha Frap.  

Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

1 cup water

1/2 c cottage cheese

6 oz strawberry yogurt

1 or 2 squirts of strawberry watermelon drink mix

2 cups frozen watermelon balls

5 large strawberries

8 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into the blender in the order listed.  Pulse a couple of times to break up the watermelon.  Blend well for about a minute.  Enjoy.  

Makes about 32 oz.  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Frap

1 cup brewed coffee

1/2 cup cottage cheese

6 oz yogurt (banana cream pie flavor)

1 frozen banana

1 Tbsp peanut butter

1/4 cup sugar-free chocolate syrup

8 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in the blender in this order.
Blend it all up and enjoy.  

Makes about 32 oz of pure awesomeness.