With a first name like Erin, which is the Gaelic word for Ireland and grandparent last names of Fitzgerald, McInnery, O’Hara, and Boyle, I clearly get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Every year for the past 55 years (oops… just gave away how old I am, more or less!) I have worn the two pins in the photo on St. Patrick’s Day. One was given to me by my aunt Katherine Pollen (McInnery side) and the other one was a gift from my aunt Bette Fitzgerald, both amazing woman in my life. So now that I have clearly established myself as of Irish decent I had to GO GREEN today, of course, inside and out. So I started the day with a bright green smoothie, full of yumminess from kiwi, kale, mango, spinach, avocado, spirulina, cashews and a bit of orange and pineapple juices. Made in my awesome Ninja Professional mini-blender with 900 watts so it blends just about anything in a jiff! (Only downside is it is very loud so not great in the early morning if you have a loved one trying to sleep in!)
IRISH SMOOTHIE RECIPE (minus the corn beef & cabbage, which is more American than Irish anyway) – Makes 1 large smoothie
- 1 kiwi, peeled and chopped
- 4 0r 5 chunks of fresh or frozen mango
- 1/2 avocado
- handful of raw cashews (preferably soaked overnight)
- handful each of kale and spinach leaves, chopped up small
- 1 TBSP spirulina (this is a super nutritious blue-green algae available in health food stores)
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt (for vegans omit yogurt and add a few more raw cashews)
- 1/2 cup total of orange and/or pineapple juices
- 1/2 cup crushed ice (optional)
Put liquid in blender or juicer first, then add yogurt and all other ingredients. If you want it cold and slushier add the crushed ice. Feel free to add or omit ingredients, just keep with the green theme. Blend until smooth, pour into a glass or if you are using a Ninja type smoothie maker the container is the cup so just screw on the travel top and you are out the door with a delicious, nutritious green smoothie start to your day. This would be a good balance to the Guinness Ale you might be imbibing later today 🙂
the pollen count 