I’ve not quite got my scarf and gloves out yet, but the weather is slowly getting colder. In an effort to prepare ahead, I need to start thinking about adjusting my weekday breakfasts - which usually consist of porridge or smoothies. I’ll stick with the porridge, but I’m too nesh for slurping down an ice cold smoothie in the colder months - even if I have just finished a hot & sweaty workout (because I do that every day. Not.). I can feel myself slipping into the habit of hot buttered toast and coffee (i.e. the last two mornings) and I need to kick it and bring in some new hot, healthy and flavoursome breakfasts. So every Saturday this month I’m going to feature a different hot smoothie. Yes I said hot. Don’t grimace at me like that. It’s going to be delicious, I promise!! I’ve already been doing some experimentation and have found that your typical fruit/veg smoothies don’t really work with creamy additions such as almond milk or banana when it comes to hot smoothies. I tried them, but they reminded me of hot sickly sludge. So the flavour combinations I’m going to be looking at will be either: a) Juicy/refreshing/spicy with a hint of sweet - and these ones will be light smoothies that aren’t thick enough to make you feel you’re just drinking soup through a straw. or b) Creamy, warming, malty, filling smoothies that you can enjoy whilst knowing you’re still giving your body what it needs to make you feel great.
So let’s kick off with good ‘ole original green. For this you’re going to use the classic blend of kale, apple and dates, but today you’ll be adding green tea. You could also swap out green tea for jasmine tea or white tea. Have you tried white tea? I’m not talking about your PG Tips builders brew, I’m talking about the upgraded version (in my opinion) of green tea. Green tea is made using relatively mature leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. White tea comes from the same plant, but is made from the unopened buds and the young leaves. It’s got a milder taste than green tea, but is said to be higher in antioxidants. I get through 2 or 3 cups of it a day and I find it’s much gentler on an empty stomach than green tea too. Back to the Hot green smoothie! So first, a word of warning. Don’t fill your smoothie maker up with boiling hot tea. It’s either going to shatter the glass (if you have a glass jug) or it’s going to come wushing out with a tonne of pressure when you open the lid after whizzing things up. Check your smoothie maker or blender can take warm or hot liquids. Then add the kale, dates and apple to your jug. Add in a splash of cold water and a splash of the green tea. This should give you some luke warm liquid to blend your ingredients together with. Blend it all until smooth, and then pour your smoothie into a cup and pour in your green tea. Give it a mix and drink. Let me know what you think. Have you any hot smoothie recipes up your sleeve?
The Hot green smoothie Recipe:
Oaty Mocha Hot Smoothie White Chocolate Cashew Hot Smoothie Cranberry Apple Hot Smoothie Carrot, Orange & Ginger Hot Smoothie
