Healthy Chocolate Smoothie

This is a smoothie that I make when I want something sweet and ice creamish.  I called it chocolate pina colada though there is no coconut in it.  The children say it tastes like chocolate ice cream.

In a blender combine:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 4-5 Medjool dates
• 1 scoop cacao powder

Pour over ice and serve.

Submitted by Nadirah Angail

Home Roasted Coffee Beans

You will need

• green uncooked coffee beans
• small grill
• open mesh vegetable grill pan
• brown paper bag
• fan or blower

Preheat your grill for about 15 minutes.  You need a lot of heat for roasting so hotter is better.  Once the grill is heated, pour the coffee beans in your vegetable grill pan and place on grill.  Note:  this will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Shake beans back and forth vigorously.  After a few minutes the beans will begin to darken and will get smoky from the water being released from the beans.  

Carefully monitor the process.  You will begin hearing the beans crack and pop.  Let the beans continue to roast, shaking vigorously.  The color will also start to get more evenly brown.  You will hear a low toned second set of popping.  Be ready to remove the beans after about 30 seconds.  

Remove the grill from heat and pour the beans into a large paper bag.  Blow them with a fan or blower to cool them as quickly as possible and to remove the loose flakes that "popped" off the beans while roasting.  After a few minutes you may remove from the fan but allow to cool for about 1-hour.  

Close the paper bag tightly and leave for 24-hours.  You may then grind and use.

Breakfast Metabolism Boost Smoothie

Mix ingredients in a blender until smooth.

• 6 ounces vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt
• 8 almonds
• 1/4 cup broccoli florets, stems cut off
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup cannellini or garbanzo beans
• 3/4 cup iced green tea
• 1 teaspoon flaxseed
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Submitted by Chicago Fit For Life

Healing Turmeric Tea

Ingredients

• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 small piece ginger
• 1 cinnamon stick
• A slash of apple cider vinegar
• 1-2 cups of water
• Raw honey to taste

Prepare

Combine all ingredients (except honey) in a small sauce pan then simmer for 10 minutes.  Pour tea through a strainer and add raw honey to taste.  

submitted by Rashida Brookins

Easy Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh berries; sliced if needed
• 1 tablespoon organic dehydrated cane juice
• 1 tablespoon milled flax seed
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt

Instructions

1. Mix flax seed and yogurt in a cup or bowl 
2. Place fruit on top of yogurt mixture 
3. Shake cane juice on top
4. Serve immediately 

Yogurt Fruit Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

- 1 cup strawberries* (de-stemmed)

- 2 tbs crushed flax seed

- 2 cups cool green tea

- 6 oz plain greek yogurt

- 1 tbs raw sugar 

- 1/2 cup ice cubes (optional)

In a blender add ingredients (fruit then flaxseed then yogurt then all other ingredients and mix on high for 1-2 minutes.  

Pour and serve.

*you can substitute other berries, peaches or nectarines