Ryan and I made it safely to Ocala this morning.
Hello palm trees!
We ended up spending the night at my parents’ place in Jacksonville to break up the eight-hour drive and were grateful for a comfy bed and yummy snacks upon our arrival.
My mom and dad have graciously volunteered to watch Sadie while we deal with moving which will be so, so nice. Ryan and I always joke that Sadie has to meet someone three times before she falls head over heels in love with them, so a bunch of new people in “her house” wandering in and out would seriously stress her out. She’ll be quite happy playing on the beach and soaking up some quality time with my parents. I’m pretty sure she body slammed them 10 times last night when she saw them after several months away!
Since I am currently blogging from the parking lot of a Burger King (heeey free wifi!) and need to get back to the house to help with the move, I’m just popping in this morning to share a giveaway I think my fellow smoothie and juice lovers will enjoy.
Tina, the blogger behind Carrots ‘n’ Cake, recently released her second book, PTV: The Part-Time Vegetarian Smoothies and Juices.
Tina’s blog was actually the first blog I read and the way I first discovered the crazy world of blogging. Fast forward a few years and I started my own blog and have had the pleasure of hanging out with Tina many times. I now feel fortunate to consider her a good friend!
(Someone please get me a hairbrush, STAT.)
I know how hard she worked on this book – creating and taste-testing 140+ smoothie and juice recipes in less than two months is no joke – and was thrilled when a copy showed up on my doorstep early last week. I’ve had the chance to try a handful of her smoothies (Ryan has made a few, too!) and every single one has tasted delicious.
As you guys know, I make smoothies all the time and before flipping through Tina’s book, I felt like I had made tons of different flavor combinations. Well, Tina put me to shame and introduced me to smoothies using ingredients I never would have thought to include in one of my favorite breakfast staples, such as frozen butternut squash, jalapeños and sweet potatoes.
The smoothie you guys may have seen on the blog yesterday was actually made by following Tina’s recipe for her Creamy Avocado Smoothie, which she said I could share with you today!
Creamy Avocado Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach
- 1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted
- 1 1/4 cups vanilla almond milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
***
Here is your chance to win a copy of Tina’s book!
Simply comment on this post telling me about some of your favorite ingredients to use in smoothies or juices you make at home. (I’m all about frozen bananas and fresh spinach!)
I’ll randomly select a winner tomorrow.
Good luck!
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I don’t think it’s possible for me to make a smoothie without a banana.
I always put frozen bananas in my smoothies. I love banana and peanut butter smoothies after a really hard workout!!
I’ve recently started freezing fresh brewed coffee in ice cube trays. It’s a great way to get a mocha flavored smoothie!
My family loves when I make my creamsicle smoothie with almond milk, peaches and orange juice!
I am also a long-time reader of CNC. My two fave ingredient for a smoothie is pumpkin and my fave ingredient for juicing is fresh ginger- I throw it in everything!!
I always make my smoothies with either spinach or kale, frozen banana, blueberries, peaches, flax seeds, almond butter, one date and almond milk. The best!
i literally cannot make a smoothie w/o frozen bananas
I always throw some peanut butter in mine. And I’m sure I’ll start making pumpkin everything now that fall is right around the corner!
This is my go-to smoothie recipe for the summer: 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen mango, 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, 1 scoop vanilla protein, 1 cup almond milk and then blend. It’s soooo tasty 🙂
I actually started reading Tina’s blog about a year ago after you blogged about her. I love both of your blogs and read them religiously.
My favorite smoothie ingredients are Greek yogurt and spinach. It’s an easy way to get extra protein and veggies in.
Frozen bananas, blueberries and almond butter!
I love adding extracts–my most recent obsession is coffee extract and cocoa powder–brings out a great mocha flavor!
Honey. I add it to every smoothie I make!
I love smoothies! I always make my smoothies with frozen bananas, cinnamon, a dab of cocoa powder, almond milk and peanut butter. If I’m feeling extra motivated I will throw in some spinach or kale to add to the healthiness factor. 🙂
Always almond milk and spinach. That’s the base.
Frozen bananas are definitely my go-to! Or honey, a little bit of honey can make or break a smoothie for me.
I make the same smoothie every single day: frozen bananas, peanut butter and almond milk. I could use a little variety but nothing else I make turns out as good!
frozen banana and cocoa powder
I love frozen banana, apple, kale, heaping tablespoon of peanut butter, almond milk and cinnamon. Yum!!
Frozen banana’s, spinach, and mango! YUM!
Frozen fruit (my faves are banana, mango and pineapple), fresh spinach and coconut water! Yum.
SMOOTHIE LOVE! I use flaxseed, protein powder almond milk bananas peaches berries and some times I add spinach oatmeal or almond butter. Large bags of frozen fruit are the way to go 😉
I absolutely LOVE avocado in my smoothies when I am substituting one for lunch! I also am a huge fan of the frozen banana b/c nothing is better than a smooth, creamy smoothie in the morning 🙂
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Tina’s book! 🙂 Good luck with the move!
Sara
I loooove a good smoothie and I LOVE both yours and Tina’s blogs! 😀
This would be perfect in your new kitchen 🙂 :
https://www.jossandmain.com/The-Simple-Life-Peanut-Butter-Wall-Decor~QVH2707~E12544.html
I’m addicted to smoothies!! They are always my go-to after my morning workouts. I love throwing frozen bananas and some spinach/kale in my smoothies. Recently I’ve started adding avocado to my smoothies and am loving it!!!
I hope all goes well with your move and that you are able to spend some much needed quality time with your family this weekend!
1. Frozen bananas are a necessity for me
2. Very partial to using a scoop of protein powder, but also love to sub in greek yogurt for some extra creaminess
3, Seeds! Flax or chia seeds do an awesome job of adding a little nutritional boost.
4. Spinach, of course.
5. Last, but, absolutely, not least, my beloved nut butter.
There you have it- the perfect ingredients for the perfect smoothie!
Butternut squash, banana, Greek yogurt and lots of pumpkin pie spice! Hello fall smoothie!!
Frozen watermelon cubes! They can replace the ice cubes and not only naturally sweeten and have health benifits but give a better consistency. I learned from Kathy on Healthy Happy Life lunchboxbrunch.com.
I recently started freezing sliced up bananas once the bananas started getting too ripe to keep around fresh. It makes smoothies that much easier!
I love frozen banana, protein powder, frozen mango, and spinach all blended with some almond milk! so yummy
Frozen strawberries and dark chocolate chips!
I love Greek yogurt, frozen bananas, Strawberries, spinach, soy milk and flax seed.
I love juice with beets, carrots, celery and apple!
I am a huuuge avocado fan so I always try to add a half to my smoothies! Otherwise it’s cocoa powder if I’m feeling indulgent.
My favorite smoothie ingredients are spinach, pineapple, baby carrots and banana. I love adding in a dash of peanut butter too!
I love adding mango for some sweetness!
I like pumpkin!
Smoothies taste best with a banana and I love when I can sneak some spinach in them too! Although the real winner is any type of nut butter!
Trader Joes has a tropical fruit blend (frozen) that I buy all the time for smoothies..I think it’s bananas, pineapple, mango, and strawberries…all things I would use on their own so it’s perfect for me!
My favorite ingredient to use in juices is cucumber.
Almond butter, almond milk and a handful of tiny chocolate chips!
I love the tang of plain greek yogurt in my smoothies!
I LOVE to use Bananas aswell as blueberries, I’m all about the berries. I have never tried putting in vegetables, I would love some more inspiration for ingredients!
I love fresh fruit and spinach in my smoothies!
I am trying to get more into vegetable smoothies…it’s a rough transition. But, my fav ingredients are oatmeal and peanut butter. Tastes like a cookie!
I like to use pears and frozen bananas along with spinach in my smoothies.
There are always frozen banana chunks in my freezer from overripe bananas that we did not eat. They are the base of every smoothie I have ever made.
I ALWAYS add frozen banana! I’ll even throw in some frozen cucumber to cut down on sugar, but still want to keep a creamier consistency than ice cubes. So Refreshing!!
I use spinach, or frozen spinach when I need to, in my smoothies. I also add Powerade zero, orange flavor, in them! It’s so refreshing to add in with a banana and frozen fruit!