“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”— Eleanor Roosevelt, Voice of America broadcast (11 November 1951).
“Today human beings are searching for answers for the simplest of questions when all they need is a little common sense.” — Loretta LaRoche [Source: Get a Life by Loretta LaRoche
Where we live summers are hot and humid. One of our favorite ways to stay cool is to enjoy a nice smoothie.
If you ask about the essential ingredients in a smoothie you will probably get as many answers as people you ask. These are some of those ingredients along with suggestions for substitutions if needed.
Fruit
Fruit juice is used in many smoothies. You do need liquid to make the other ingredients blend properly but may use water or almond milk if you prefer.
Milk or yogurt is used in some smoothie recipes. Try adding a banana instead if you can’t tolerate dairy.
Greens may be added for extra nutrition.
Some people add various types of protein powder. You may also use almond milk, nut butter or a Tablespoon of flaxseed meal for a protein boost if preferred.
Stay with me throughout the summer as I share a few of our favorite smoothie recipes.
What is your perfect smoothie?
This recipe is part of a summer series on smoothies. Enter “smoothies” in the search box at the top of the right column to find the others.
“Writing, to me, is intellectual and spiritual life… it allows me to ponder deeply the mystery of reality.” — Raimon Panikkar [Source: http://raimon-panikkar.org/%5D
“The Go Red for Women campaign raises awareness of the risk of heart disease. I think a lot of people don’t realize that heart disease is the number one killer of women. So what we’re doing is encouraging women to tell five other women to learn more about heart disease and how they can prevent it.” — Cheryl Hines
Will you join me in encouraging 5 other women to learn more about heart disease and how to prevent it?
“Walk in kindness toward the Earth and every living being. Without kindness and compassion for all of Mother Nature’s creatures, there can be no true joy; no internal peace, no happiness. Happiness flows from caring for all sentient beings as if they were your own family, because in essence they are. We are all connected to each other and to the Earth.” ― Sylvia Dolson, Joy of Bears
When we started packing Callie started packing herself.
Copyright 2014 by R.A. RobbinsCopyright 2014 by R.A. Robbins
She was in very cramped quarters on the car ride and looked a little carsick when we arrived but recovered quickly. As the movers arrived we were heartsick to find her empty harness. No Callie anywhere. I don’t know why I looked down at the floor beside the fridge hours later, but there she was, wedged in so tight we had to move the fridge to get her out.
Several hours later she was stuck under the kitchen cabinets requiring removing a piece of baseboard to free her. She never cried.
And then a few days later when the washer and dried were installed she found a new place to play and trapped herself a third time. We’re trying to block the space so she can’t get back there.
I’ve heard of cats “disappearing” in a new house for days so we feel blessed to have found her quickly. I think Callie may have used at least a few lives on this trip, but all in all the move went well.
“Our culture values independence and isolation far too much, it seems to me–we have a hard time making ourselves part of things, of making ourselves responsible to others, and trusting others to be there for us. Sure, there’s pain involved if we get hurt, but there’s far more pain in isolation. I love community because God gave us other people to live with, not to pull away from, and I learn so much from others that I can’t imagine my life without the learning I’ve gained from getting to know other people.” ― Tom Walsh
Lentils are legumes and come in varieties which cook to different consistencies. They are an ancient food, mentioned in the Bible and are naturally gluten free.
Lentils are a nutritional powerhouse but often overlooked. Seen as “poverty food,” in this case low cost means high nutrition. High in protein, soluble and insoluble fiber and low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories, they are also rich in folate, manganese, protein, iron, phosphorus and copper and are a complete protein. Evidence suggests lentils help lower cholesterol due to high fiber content and help control blood sugar. However, if you have gout, kidney stones or other conditions related to uric acid, talk to your doctor before eating lentils.
Lentils do not have to be soaked before cooking. With a mild flavor, they can slip into a dish unnoticed or be seasoned as desired. They may be used to thicken sauces, as an extender in meatloaf, as a one dish meal with veggies, tomatoes and onions, as veggie burger or loaf and of course in soup.
Some seasonings such as salt and vinegar may interfere with the cooking process.” No one wants crunchy lentils so season after cooking.
Spend some time getting to know lentils. They are a nice legume to have around.
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