Creamy Green Protein Machine Smoothie

Happy Foodblogiversary to me! I know. Can you believe it's been a year? It has. And it's been so fun. And I've eaten a lot. And I think my photography and photo-editing skills have improved. And I've spent more money on butter and spices and various flour products than ever before. And thanks for playing, folks.

I thought it would be really fitting to post about cake today. You know, because of the whole "Have Your Cake and Edith Too" thing. Plus there's sort of been a cake deficit lately (partly because of GD). A cake post would have given today a lovely sense of occasion.

But.

I didn't really photographically document the last cake I made, and while it was really wonderful I have a few ideas to step it up a notch or two more, so I am going to wait to post about that one. Making a cake this weekend or tonight was the only alternative and, well, the weekend sort of flew by and I don't feel comfortable waiting until tonight to post on my 1st Foodblogiversary.

So no cake. Sorry.

No hundredth post. Sorry.

Instead, for my ninety-eighth post, in honor of my first foodblogiversary, I am posting a recipe for a super creamy green protein machine smoothie. It's something we've had frequently in our house lately. It's really delicious. It balances carbohydrates and protein in a way that we should all try to do all the time (at least if we're diabetic). And I kind of feel like it is v. prototypical Edith - v. much like what we eat in our home on a daily basis, if not necessarily like the more decadent things I post about here - earthy, random, nutritious, weighed, blended, involving ingredients that one might not necessarily have in the average pantry but that are certainly worth trying out.



It also looks v. good in a margarita glass. If, say, for instance, your margarita glasses have gotten a little dusty and out of shape sitting in the cupboard all lonely and pretty and blue while you've been growing a human being in your uterus and abstaining (mostly) from alcohol during that epic process.



Creamy Green Protein Machine Smoothie
From yours truly
Yield: 3 servings

2-3 pitted dates (or 1/4 cup date syrup*)
50 grams baby spinach (two big handfuls)
1 small apple, cored and cut into chunks (banana or pear or mango would be good substitutes)
1/2 cup plain Greek or regular yogurt
1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
1 scoop vanilla-flavored protein powder**
1/2 cup ice
1-2 cups water

Blend everything until as smooth as possible. Serve immediately or store in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days, shaking well before serving.

* Date syrup recipe: Blend 10 medjool dates or 20 regular dates (pitted) with 1-3/4 cups water and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth. Use in smoothies, mixed with yogurt, or as a topping on pancakes or waffles or oatmeal.

** If you use a protein powder that is not sweetened, I'd be sure to use the full 3 dates OR 1/4 cup date syrup + 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup or agave nectar OR add some stevia or other sweetener with which you have experience.

If you use traditionally made Greek yogurt, the Tera's Whey protein, and dates instead of date syrup, the nutritional information will look something like this per serving:
216 calories / 37 g carbohydrates / 8 g protein

Thank you again for reading and experimenting with me! Here's to another year!