Green Smoothies

mlbazemore wrote: »

questionfear wrote: »

I make one most mornings, this makes two smoothies (my wife LOVES them so it works out well, we split a pitcher):

2 small apples
2 cups spinach
1-2 cups water (depends on how thick or watery you want your smoothie, we usually do just about 1 cup)
2 carrots OR 2 celery sticks (Depends on what we have around)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

This sounds delicious... Does it taste like apple pie, or is that just wishful thinking:-)

More like applesauce-esque. Ever have one of those little kid packaged applesauce packets with cinnamon? Like a less sugary version of that.

oncem0re wrote: »

We have the Vitamix and it's the BEST investment I have ever purchased for our health! especially if you are going to be using it daily and for green smoothie, we had the walmart brand, nutribullet and ninja and NOTHING compare to Vitamix.

I agree... Bought mine for $499 13 years ago. So right now it has cost me $38.46 per year to date...

We just purchased a blender for making smoothies. I have many small kitchen appliances so all I needed was the blend feature. I really didn't want to spend a fortune so after a lot of thought, we purchased a black and decker for 59 dollars. It totally sucked and we could smell the motor burning while making our first smoothie! So it went back. I wanted a Vitamix or a Blendtec but couldn't justify spending so much on a blender. So in the end we purchased the Ninja professional with the two additional single serving cups.
I really love it so far. It was 98 dollars and it makes good smoothies with no issues so far.

If I could justify it, vitamix would be #1 then Blendtec and then the Ninja Pro.
Now that I know how much we love smoothies, if the Ninja dies we will spring for the best blender next time

Wow, theres even hatrs when it comes to blenders, lol

I paid $20 for my blender and it works just fine.. going on 2 years. Recipes for green smoothies, I have none... I can't stomach them.

mlbazemore wrote: »

My husband and I want to start drinking green smoothies, myself especially. I wanted to ask if anyone had any recommendations on blenders and tasty green smoothie recipes. I want a vitamix but is it really necessary to spend $500 on a blender. I love the warranty and I do plan on using it everyday if I can find smoothie recipes I like.

You can get a refurbished vitamix for around $250. They still have a five year warranty. I got mine right before Christmas for $241 shipped (it's the 5200 model) and you would never be able to tell it was a refurb.

https://www.vitamix.com/shop/Certified-Reconditioned-Standard.aspx

Google around, and you'll find a 20-25% discount code, usually free shipping too.

I have used mine almost every day since I got it. I've never been a smoothie person but I never had a vitamix before They are so smooth and clean-up is ridiculously easy compared to a regular blender with all its parts.

Bonus, you'll also make the creamiest nut butters you've had. Cleaning the machine afterward takes longer than it takes to turn roasted nuts into magic.

Vitamix tomato soup is now my go-to easy meal. Throw in canned or frozen tomatoes, a carrot, some sauteed shallot and garlic, and salt - run on high for 5 minutes. Turn off, add some half and half and basil, run another minute, and voila - hot steaming soap straight out of your blender.

Though I know people love their ninjas and nutribullets, those have a one year warranty. Vitamix stands by even its refurbished machines for 5 years, and I know many who've been using theirs for a decade. I'd rather pay a little more and get something that lasts.

ShannonMpls wrote: »

Vitamix tomato soup is now my go-to easy meal. Throw in canned or frozen tomatoes, a carrot, some sauteed shallot and garlic, and salt - run on high for 5 minutes. Turn off, add some half and half and basil, run another minute, and voila - hot steaming soap straight out of your blender.

Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely try that recipe, yum!

I bought a NutriBullet when I started having kids. It was great for making homemade baby food. I use it for smoothies on occasion too. I'm on my 2nd one. The threads give way eventually so the blades won't spin, and if the seal gets loose, it leaks while blending, but I like it just fine.

However, once I started making bigger batches of smoothies for the whole family, I noticed it wasn't all that convenient depending upon what I was making and was forced once back to my Oster blender....I use my Oster now every day again for my green smoothies because I found the bullet blender kind of whips the contents incorporating a lot of air and therefore changing the texture--think whipped yogurts. That's good for pudding-like pureed baby food, but it turns out I don't prefer that for my smoothies.

As for frozen ingredients, like those I freeze myself to use in my smoothies, I prefer my Oster. Firstly, because I freeze apples, avocado, banana, spinach, and flax meal all together in FoodSaver bags, which won't fit into the bullet glass and fit fine into my large blender, and secondly because I found those frozen ingredients blend better in my large Oster leaving no chunks behind like it was doing in the bullet. Depending on how full the bullet got, with the way it thickened up the contents as it blended, it just wouldn't pull some of those frozen chunks down and would leave some behind.

Those aren't the only ingredients in my green smoothie. I just add the almond milk and honey, and sometimes pomegranate juice fresh. It produces a nice frozen-type smoothie that doesn't give you a brain freeze.