It’s time to celebrate the greenest and happiest holiday of the year – St. Patrick’s Day!  You know what they say, “Never iron a 4-leaf clover because you don’t want to press your luck.”

(Am I the only one laughing?)

The best way to do that is to drink lots of green … beer … well maybe but let’s follow up with some good-for-you green smoothies.

Delicious and easy to make, smoothies are everyone’s favourite antidote to too much fun and not enough time to cook.  Interesting side note: did you know that Friday is the most popular day for consuming smoothies?

Here is one basic recipe with 4 variations on the green smoothie theme.  Enjoy the party and then enjoy your healing smoothie.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Tosca

PS.  Don’t forget to post your pictures! I want to see your best green smoothie shots.  Include a shamrock if you can.

Shades of Green Smoothie – one recipe, 4 variations

INGREDIENTS:

BASE

1/2 cup plain kefir

1 cup coconut water

Water or ice to desired consistency

PROTEIN

4 Tbsp hemp hearts or 1 scoop preferred protein powder

GREENS

2 cups spinach

1 baby zucchini

1 sprig oregano leaves, picked off stem (discard stem)

Make it more green: add 1 cup flat leaf Italian parsley and 1/4 cup mint leaves

Make it less green: add 1/2 cup full fat, plain yogurt or coconut yogurt

Make it even more green: add 1 Tbsp spirulina powder

SWEETS

2 tsp raw honey

1 apple, green, organic, cored, not peeled

EXTRAS

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1” piece fresh ginger root

1/4 cup raw, unsalted pistachio nuts

HEALTHY FAT:

Make it healthy: 1 Tbsp each flax and chia seeds

Make it creamy: 3 raw, unsalted Brazil nuts

Make it creamier still: 1/2 avocado

Make it decadent: 2 Tbsp coconut cream (found on the top of your coconut milk)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and process until smooth.

Adjust the consistency of your smoothie to your desired thickness by adding water.

Pour into glass drinking or storage container.

Smoothies are always best consumed on the day they are prepared.