Recipe Time: Smoothies

As you all know - I LOVE breakfast!! My entire day is a flop if I go without it. I also know that mornings are hectic, and a big breakfast isn't always possible - but for me, a bowl of cereal just isn't going to cut it. So, here are some drinks to go along with that bowl of cereal:

Fruit Shake:
1 1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup yogurt
1 banana
Handful of almonds
2 teaspoons flax seeds
1 + cup frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, etc. - mix & match)
1-2 scoops whey protein powder

Blend up the orange juice, banana, yogurt, almonds and flax seeds (enough to puree the almonds & seeds). Then add the frozen fruit and whey protein powder.

Broccoli Shake

1 cup Frozen Broccoli
1 Banana
1 apple (w/ skin)
1 cup Oats
1/2 cup cottage cheese (or yogurt - I like Vanilla)
2 scoops whey protein powder
2 cups water
ice

Blend and serve. I usually add the whey protein after I have mixed the other stuff for a bit so it isn't as frothy and thick. This drink is not as sweet, but using vanilla yogurt and vanilla protein powder helps. Some (including mw's dh) can't take the texture - but look beyond that and look at the health benefits! :) It is loaded with vitamins, fiber protein, etc. You've got broccoli, oats, whey protein, etc. So give it a shot!!


My absolute favorite appliance in my kitchen is my Vita-Mix. If you are in the market for a good blender, and you can spend a bit more, I highly recommend it. I have had mine for about a year and a half and LOVE it!! My SIL has had hers for over 8 years and it is still going strong - she'd buy another one if she had too.

Recipe Time: Jell-o

I know, what is so special about jello?? Well nothing really - I don't even really like it that much. but my grandma was a big fan of it, and this was one of her favorite ways to have it. And I must admit, it is pretty good for jello! I wish I had taken a picture of it, because it truly is a pretty treat.

Multi-Layer Jello
5 small boxes of jello - different kinds! (pick and choose from the pretty colors and flavors)
Sour Cream
9x13 glass pan
Free space on a level shelf in the fridge

Pick your first color/flavor - mix the contents with 1 cup of boiling water. Mix it well. Divide it in half. To one half, add 1 TBSP cold water. Pour into bottom of 9x13 glass dish. Put in fridge to set up. To the other half of jello, add 1/3 cup of sour cream. Mix it well. Once the first layer has set up, pour this on top. Continue with each of the remaining colors/flavors repeating each step exactly. Be very patient!! Some layers take a bit of time to cool off! After the final layer, cover with plastic wrap (being careful not to let the plastic wrap touch the jello - it will peel of that entire top layer!!).

Recipe Time: Egg Rolls

This past week was one FULL of cooking and baking (if you need any cake recipes or tips, I just might have them!!). I also made lots of bread (the recipe is posted here). I hosted bookclub at my house this month. Fun but a bit stressful. All in all, I had a hard time deciding on what recipe to post this week, but eventually decided on these Egg Rolls we had for dinner one night last week. I am hesitant to even post it because I am sure Dancing Queen has a good Korean egg roll recipe - if you do, leave us a recipe!! Anyway, here goes:

I initally found this recipe that sounded simple enough, but again (as always) wanted to make some changes. First of all, I wanted chicken, not shrimp, plus, I only had purple cabbage, so I figured I would give it a shot. So, this is how I made my version of Chicken Egg Rolls:

Chicken Egg Rolls

Oil
2 cloves garlic
1 inch grated ginger root (ginger root keeps forever in the freezer, so I always have it on hand - just chop off the amount you need, cut of the skin, and chop it up)
3 chicken breasts
salt & pepper
Honey
Soy Sauce
1 chopped carrot
1/2 head cabbage (I used purple, but I think any kind will work just fine!)
Dipping Sauce (from the original recipe)

Heat some oil, add the minced garlic & ginger. Add Chicken Breasts, salt & pepper, soy sauce, and honey. Cook until chicken is all the way done. Remove chicken, add carrot & cabbage. Chop Chicken and add back to pan. Cook on medium heat until cabbage wilts and cooks down a bit. Scoop on to egg roll wrappers, roll up (instructions for rolling are on the package). Fry in a little oil on each side. Serve with the dipping sauce. We had some rice and peas, and that was the meal. Vin was hesitant, but after forcing the first bite he loved it.

If anybody has a favorite egg roll recipe to share, or any favorite recipe from this past week - please share it with us!! I LOVE new recipes!!.