Smoothies

I kept hearing all the "hype" about  kale and spinach smoothies on how good they were but to be honest thought gross!  My friend Yanelley says all the time she makes spinach smoothies for her and the kids  most mornings.  My friends and I would just kinda roll our eyes like no way can they taste good.

I decided to put the kale and spinach smoothies on my cooking class schedule along with some regular smoothies.  The first one we made was the one with kale and honestly we couldn't even taste the kale!  Then we made the spinach one and I will have to say it was my favorite!  Not much different than the kale because again you really can't taste the kale or spinach!

My all time go to smoothie is the first one listed (below), banana, strawberries, and any other fruit like blackberries, raspberries or pineapple I have in the fridge along with juice (I often use cran-grape or orange juice) and ice.  Now I have been putting spinach in it, who would have thought!  Great way to get the green leaf you need!  The way you know it's in there is the color, green!  Sometimes the blackberries changes the green to a brownish purple color.

I personally never use yogurt in my smoothies but in my class two of the ladies perferred yogurt in the smoothie.  So add yogurt if you like a creamy taste to it.  I have gone to a place called Thirsty's for years and I also get just the fruit, juice and ice with no yogurt.  McDonald's has some great fruit smoothies and you can omit the yogurt also!  Although I know most like the yogurt in there!

Fruit, orange juice, spinach and ice

add juice, fruit, spinach and ice

Green and delicious!

If you use fresh fruit instead of frozen just add ice!

Strawberry, Banana Smoothie

1 cup juice

1 1/2 cups strawberries

1 banana

1 to 2 cups ice

* you can also add extra fruit like blackberries, raspberries, pineapple and etc
**I know add spinach to this one if I have it at home

Toss in blender until combined
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Mango and Yogurt Smoothie

2 ½ cups frozen mango chunks (or add if not frozen add about 1 cup ice)

1 ½ cup plain yogurt

1 Tablespoon of honey

¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)

Toss in blender until combined
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Tropical  Blueberry Smoothie

1 cup chopped pineapple

1 ½ cups frozen blueberries

 1 orange, seeded and cut into quarters

½ to ¾ cup water

Ice if not using frozen fruit

Toss in blender until combined
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Strawberry, Mango and Yogurt Smoothie

1 ½ cups apple juice or orange juice

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup frozen strawberries

2 cups frozen mangos

Ice if not using frozen fruit

Toss in blender until combined
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Fruit Smoothie

2 oranges, peel and remove seeds, cut into chunks

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 cup frozen blueberries

If you are not using frozen fruit add ice
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Spinach Smoothie

1 banana

1to 2 cups ice

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

¼ cup juice

1 cup fresh spinach

Toss in blender until combined
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Kale Smoothie

½ cup plain yogurt

1 banana

1 cup kale, packed

½ cup mango chunks

½ cup frozen peaches

Use Ice if not using frozen fruit

Toss in blender until combined

Bakery Cake

So I am not one to use a cake mix much to make an actual cake, in fact I use them more for when I am making a Neiman Marcus Cake which has a cake mix for the crust and then I use a cake mix for Dump Cakes (kinda like a cobbler).  Oh and the Old Fashion Strawberry Cake I make also uses a cake mix but other than that I might make a cake out of a cake mix once every two years and that is usually for kid's to decorate.

 On Pinterest there was a pin that said "Recipe for making a Box Cake taste like it's from a Bakery! It made me curious so I pinned it!!

 I found out that a little girl,  Ja'Niyah who my group Creating Heartstrings has come to love was going to get to go home!!  Ja'Niyah was in the hospital for 4 months and then the Ronald McDonald House another month!  Our group happen to be making dinner for the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas two days before she was leaving so I thought we should make her a going home cake!  My friend Madeline was coming to help cook so I thought I could have her make it and decorate it there at the Ronald McDonald House.  Madeline always does a great job decorating cakes.

Basically you use a cake mix and add on additional egg or it says you could add 2 additional eggs to make it richer.  Then instead of using veg oil you use butter but you double the amount and melt it after that you milk instead of water.  That is it!

Wow, this cake was delicious and was sooo moist!  I love a good bakery cake and I love icing, it's pretty much my favorite!  If the cake has whipping cream icing I am not even tempted and won't even eat a piece but if it has butter cream or even the kind we call lard icing, watch out! 

Ja'Niyah's cake

Ja'Niyah eating her cake...she had another piece later that evening!

Ja'Niyah and I, this girl is a fighter!  I saw her go through chemo, a bone marrow transplant and radiation!  It's amazing the strength and courage so many have with cancer especially children!

Step 1: Look at the directions on the cake mix
 Step 2: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich)
 Step 3: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount
Step 4: Instead of water, use milk.
Step 5: Mix well and bake for the time recommended on the box.