Starting out the year right is part of everyone’s resolutions right? Lose weight, get organized, clean the closet, stop procrastinating, be a better wife/husband/sister/brother/friend. We’ve all made the promises to ourselves. Well, some of us. I don’t make resolutions anymore. My whole life is a resolution. I have a billion and one pop up reminders on my iPhone reminding me to be a better mom, stop yelling, sweep the kitchen, play with the kids. I have serious concrete plans to get a tattoo on my left wrist that simply says “breathe.” I live my resolutions year-round.
I’m not saying this to be better than you, nor am I saying everyone should do this. But for some of us (mostly type-A personalities…A for anal!), striving to be our best is simply part of our daily life. Perhaps this is why I’ve been so stressed out over these past few months. I can guess that most people reading this blog have the same problems I do. Money is tight, the kids need new clothes, the garden needs tending, the car needs an oil change, groceries are running low, too many things to do, lists to check off, plans to make. Life gets int he way of, well, life. Isn’t that a conundrum?
So what to do?
I relax. I breathe. I play puzzle with the kids. I laugh. I make coffee in the afternoon just for the hell of it. I have some chocolate whenever I feel like it. I take the kids out for pizza buns at the bakery and let them sit on the sidewalk outside to eat them, their faces covered in gooey sauce and we laugh. I make dinner late so Adrian and I can hang out together. We play MarioKart on the Wii like we’re teenagers. I pass out at 9pm after reading a few passages from my latest book: “Blood, Bones and Butter”. I just do the things that make me feel good and make the kids smile. What else can I do?
One of the things that makes me happy is having a smoothie. I know a lot of people prefer solid food (boring!), but I love a good smoothie. Recently I have been experimenting more with different flavour combinations and this was one that I came up with on a day I wasn’t feeling all that hot. Ginger is good for that I hear…
One year ago:Â Baked Brie in Phyllo with Preserves
Two years ago:Â Chicken and Barley Stew
Pear and Ginger Smoothie
Yield: 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: N/A
1 bartlett pear, cored but left unpeeled (If using bosc, peel first)
juice of 1/2 a lime
4g fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 tbsp plain Greek 0% yogurt
dash of cinnamon or cardamom (or both)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut milk (I use So Delicious Vanilla)
1/2 cup crushed ice (optional)
1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Similarly delicious recipes from other fabulous food blogs:
Classic Green Monster (the original!) from Oh She Glows
Cucumber Yogurt Smoothie from The Perfect Pantry
Orange Julius Smoothie from Gimme Some Oven
Strawberry Hemp Milk Smoothie from Gluten Free Goddess
Raw Chocolate Banana Smoothie from Healthy Green Kitchen
I think this one is good to drink looks healthy drink..I am going to make this and try..
Pear and ginger are so good together, and this is going to come into play when the insane quantity of pears I just bought go past the very specific stage of ripeness that I like them. I never know what to do with them once they go soft.
That’s exactly my thought too!
Your smoothie looks delicious. The ginger sounds especially yummy with pear. I can’t believe I’ve never put pear in a smoothie before! Can’t wait to try that.
I beg to differ. I’m pretty sure you ARE better than me 🙂 Thank you so much for this post. It’s what so many of us in this Blog Land are feeling and you are able to post it. I made a resolution, but just like you, it’s just one of many that I make all year. Being the first month, or the sixth or then tenth month of the year makes no difference to me. Lets have beer and burgers soon. Oh, and I want to add some rum to that smoothie of yours 🙂
Yes Jackie, let’s do burgers and beers and then the next morning you can make me this smoothie with a little rum. What’s better than hair of the dig, right? 🙂
I just poached pears in ginger…maybe I will whip it up.
I’d opt for this smoothie instead of an afternoon coffee every day of the week and honestly, I should!
What a lovely combination, ginger provides such a warm pick-me up! I love smoothies in the morning, especially because they are so portable (usually am out the door by 7:15, hard to eat a solid breakfast that early). I usually use the full-fat coconut milk when I know that lunch is going to be a ways away, does wonders to keep the hunger pangs away! Another great recipe though, thoroughly enjoy the blog.
Looks so healthy and delicious! Pinning now!
I can’t wait to see you get that tattoo Elizabeth!
This smoothie is delicious! I made a few substitutions using ingredients that I had on-hand, but the pear-ginger-cinnamon combination is great. Thanks!
this sounds fantastic – can’t wait
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Yummy! I just got done drinking it! It’s delicious and just the right amount of thickness, for a good smoothie! The hardest part was waiting for the pears to ripen!
cardamon makes the final strike!
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Just had my first green smoothie of the year and was browising for some inspiration. Love this idea of combining pear and ginger. Must run out to get some pear!
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