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Joe got up on Sunday and asked me to make him a smoothie. I almost fell over. I’m the smoothie drinker at our house.
Being a wise wife, I didn’t act surprised or even make a smart remark. Instead, I quickly rattled off some options – he went for blackberries, frozen tropical fruit, and kefir.
Living with me can’t be easy. I’m always talking about nutrients, phytochemicals, and eating greens. After I bake something new, I ask him to try it. He tells me he loves it, then I rattle off how it’s good for him. Irritating, I know.
So when he asked for a smoothie, I was thrilled. This time I kept quiet. I didn’t tell him that blackberries are rich in vitamins A and C, nor did I mention that kefir was great for his digestive system. And I most certainly didn’t point out that his smoothie was sweetened with stevia and I snuck in a teaspoon of chia seeds. It was more fun to just watch him enjoy it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain kefir
- 1/4 cup blackberries
- 3/4 cup frozen fruit (I used mangos, pineapples, & strawberries.)
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1/4 cup water, if needed
- powdered stevia to taste (I used 1 packet.)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into your blender or VitaMix in the order listed except the water. Start on low and quickly increase to high, using the tamper to push into the blades if using a VitaMix. Otherwise you might have to stop and scrape down the blender.
- Add a little water if needed to get your smoothie to the perfect consistency. Sweeten to taste, pour into a chilled glass, and serve.
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Jenn
posted on June 3, 2010 at 4:28 am
Mmm this one sounds so tasty! I will def. have to make some smoothies when I visit the US again, not having a working freezer really limits my ability to have ice!
I have not tried kefir before – does it impart a very sour taste to the smoothie or does it blend well with the fruit?
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abbie
posted on June 3, 2010 at 7:43 am
you know, I am doing the very same thing to my husband. More protein, stats about the average American fiber intake, and the perils of conventional strawberries. He must go nuts with my bantering. Or, it must just slip out the other ear. (I suspect it is the latter.) Next time, I’ll keep quiet when he reaches for the “health muffin.”
And kefir, ah, I love it. I can drink it well though I can’t drink plain milk well. I love its tangy-ness, and I can even get the kids to drink it in a smoothie.
I had been making my own but those little grains multiply so quickly, I kind of fell behind and they died.
Need to get some more. I miss my drink. Next time I’ll try it with blackberries.
I have heard of chai seeds, but I don’t know a lot about them. Have you done a post on these?
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Kat
posted on June 3, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hahaha I do the same thing to my bf. He’s never said it’s annoying but I’m guessing it is.
Kefir rocks!
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gfe--gluten free easily
posted on June 3, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I’m guessing we all do this to our loved ones. LOL I’ve been getting Mr. GFE to take sips of my green smoothies. Baby steps. He can’t believe that their are establishments that actually sell smoothies. Of course, I doubt that theirs are as healthy as our homemade ones. The smoothie you made for Joe looks very delicious, Amy. I love the color, and the fruits you used. I’ve been adding chia seeds to every smoothie I make. I can’t believe I’m about half way through the huge jar that I got in my iHerb giveaway!
Shirley
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gfe--gluten free easily
posted on June 3, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Oh, the brain … sometimes it lets me down. I just have to comment again to say that I do know the difference between “their” and “there.” Ugh.
Shirley
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Alta
posted on June 3, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Amy, you are too funny. I am sure my husband ignores a lot of nutritional stuff I blab on about too. While I haven’t really seen evidence of his desire for a smoothie (the closest we ever came was that he said one of my green smoothies that had cardamom and almond butter wasn’t “that bad”), he does tell other people that his saving grace on a healthy diet is my influence. I believe it – if I wasn’t around, he’d eat Sonic, Taco Bueno, McDonalds 24X7! What kind of kefir did you use? I’m considering making my own, using Lucky Layla’s raw milk (which is DELICIOUS!).
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Amy Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:07 am
@Alta, I used Lifeway – it’s their “carb controlled” version. I didn’t buy it because it was carb controlled, though. It was the only kind that didn’t have sugar.
On my to-do list is a visit to Lucky Layla farms. Now that I’m out of school for a few weeks it will actually get done. Let me know if you make the kefir. I want to start making my own.
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Kim
posted on June 5, 2010 at 12:01 am
Let me count the ways that I love Kefir! I recently wrote a post about all the amazing health benefits! And in my house, we like it made with… (don’t gasp) raw goat milk! All of those live enzymes! ;0) I have seen amazing intestinal healing with Kefir in my son. But… I cannot get my hubby to touch the stuff. Boo! You are lucky that you can sneak those healthy benefits in with yours!
And my total motto is: What they don’t know…..will only make them healthier ;0)
Great post, Amy!
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Amy Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:06 am
@Kim, Joe has gotten wise to my sneaky ways and now refuses to anything out of the VitaMix unless I tell him what’s in there. Do you have a good post on how to make kefir? I’d love to start making to at home. If so, send the link my way.
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Kim Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Amy,
Hey Amy, Amanda breaks it down into very easy steps on her blog. She has some great nutritional info. She is a political scientist with a PhD and she focuses on nutrient deficiencies as they relate to depression (she is the author of “Rebuild from Depression”). Her steps were what I used when I started out with my Kefir. By the way, I have used my Kefir to make sourdough, and I use it in my pancakes and waffles ALL of the time (instead of buttermilk)!
http://www.rebuild-from-depression.com/blog/2007/06/making_dairybased_kefir_at_hom.html
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Barbara @ moderncomfortfood
posted on June 5, 2010 at 7:12 am
Who can resist this completely guilt-free, good-for-you smoothie? Certainly not me, and my husband would love it too. He’s continually trying to get me to drink an unsweetened fresh ginger infusion he makes – yuk! I’ll send him a link to your recipe with a hint to make it instead.
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Amy Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 9:02 am
@Barbara @ moderncomfortfood, It sounds like your husband and I would get along famously.
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Barbara @moderncomfortfood Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
@Amy, Careful! More often than not, my husband also douses it heavily with vodka. Double yuk!
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Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on June 6, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I love kefir smoothies! I am a bonafide kefor addict I daresay! I love the idea of blackberries too!
Sounds like you are rubbing off on Joe!
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Aubree Cherie
posted on June 8, 2010 at 6:31 am
Haha, I love this! Although I’m not married, I do cook a lot for The Boy and there is definitely a lot of ‘sneak-age’ that goes on
This smoothie looks fantastic though, I can’t imagine anyone not liking it!
~Aubree Cherie
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Kathy
posted on August 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm
LOL I know I’m late to this post, but I can’t help but comment. My husband loves smoothies, and since he’s into nutrition, too, he doesn’t mind hearing about it. However, he did give me an odd look one morning and ask why his berry smoothie was grayish. I told him to hush and try it, then I’d tell him. He still mocks me to others for putting spinach in the smoothies, but he drinks every drop when I make them.
I’ve stumbled upon your blog a couple of times lately. Good stuff.
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carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com
posted on November 1, 2010 at 10:14 am
So funny! that sounds like Michael & I… I think he gets so annoyed with me!! lol… Your approach to this smoothie is fantastic though! nice job!
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Amy Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 am
@carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com, Joe is so skeptical of anything that comes out of my VitaMix. At least I had him fooled for a little while….
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