Raspberry Smoothie. Well, Raspberry-Banana-Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie to be exact. That’s what I’m sharing with you all today. Can you see how good it is?
I’ve been thinking about making a raspberry smoothie ever since Diane (The W.H.O.L.E. Gang) mentioned that raspberries would be the “secret” ingredients for this week’s Friday Foodie Fix. I knew I could make a raspberry smoothie that would also work as my submission for this month’s Cream of the Crop, Dairy-Free Delights for Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten Free! So after work yesterday, I made a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up some raspberries and bananas.
When I walked in the front door a short time later, the house felt surprisingly cool considering the fact that it was well over 90 degrees outside and our air conditioning had not been on. Well, that feeling of coolness lasted about 2 seconds. In reality, the house was 82 degrees. (We don’t leave the AC running when we’re not at home.) It just felt much cooler in contrast to the outside temperature. Clearly, a cool refreshing beverage was in order while the house cooled down a bit.
I had seen a raspberry banana smoothie recipe while perusing magazines on our recent vacation. It was in a full-page ad for an artificial sweetener, and the recipe used the artificial sweetener and 1% milk. I didn’t plan to use either of those, but I liked the idea of a raspberry smoothie. My favorite way to use berries, by far, is in beverages.
So I started with a container of pretty raspberries (just over a cup), a banana I’d thrown in the freezer for 10 minutes or so (my usual stash of frozen bananas has been depleted due to my green smoothie addiction), some chilled coconut milk, a little vanilla extract, and a few drops of liquid vanilla stevia. The smoothie was more of a pudding consistency, so I had to add water. The result was the pretty, pale pink concoction above. It was definitely photogenic and thick like a decadent shake, but after a few more sips, I decided the smoothie was still too thick and lacked flavor. It just wasn’t quite doing it for me.
Incidentally, if you take a look at the top photo, those green stick-ish leaves in the forefront are what remains of our hosta there. The “sweeties,” aka deer, have had some delicious snacking on that one. Interestingly enough, they don’t touch the hostas outside our screened porch. Are the variegated hostas tastier to deer? Inquiring minds want to know.
Our local critters have been awfully busy of late. A carpenter bee has decided our front deck is a great home site. I think it’s the same one from last summer. He did major tunnel work that time. Although this time he decided he wanted a home on the second floor versus the third. Not wanting to use any type of bug spray, I decided to fill the hole he’d “drilled” to deter him. I used sticks from the yard. Duh. He’s a carpenter bee. Carpenter bees chew/eat wood. He had no problem chewing on and removing those. Finally, yesterday I came up with a solution; a skinny piece of bluestone fit in the hole perfectly. So far, so good. Okay, I feel a little guilty, but not much.
One of our resident Carolina wrens already raised a brood on our screened porch after nesting in a basket from a plant arrangement I’d thrown to the side. How did she get in you ask? Well, she hopped in through the holes that the squirrels chewed in our screen trying to get to our garbage when it was waiting to be carried away. (Ultimately, Mr. GFE had to build an outdoor garbage bin that would meet Fort Knox’s standards. The only remedy for the numerous squirrel holes will be the installation of all new screen on our porch.) Now Mrs. Carolina Wren, or one of her relatives, has built another beautiful nest in our newspaper box. She flies out to greet me when I go to remove the paper each day. Even though I know she’s going to do this every time, she still startles me. Which means no caffeine is needed to jump-start my day. Haha. One just doesn’t expect a bird to fly at one’s face first thing in the morning, or ever, actually.
Did I mention the raccoon tracks on the patio? Mr. GFE says that I’m a true country girl and that most folks would not recognize raccoon tracks. I don’t know about that, but I do know that life in the country is never boring. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I was greeted by a mud dauber a couple of mornings in a row. Finally, I realized that while we were on vacation, our storm door apparently had not been closing all the way and a mud dauber had built its showy mud nest on the door frame, between the storm door and our front door. That was definitely a first! But, I’ve digressed.
Back inside from my yard exploring and photography session, I poured the smoothie back in the blender. I had some pineapple chunks (in their own juice, unsweetened) in the refrigerator, so I added some … and then some more.
As the daylight was fading and the house was becoming cool enough to be comfortable, I finally came up with a smoothie blend that I liked. Flavorful enough, just the right amount of sweetness, and still thick like a shake, but not too thick. It was also very filling and satisfying; a juice glass full would be plenty. So one batch of these smoothies could serve several people, or be savored by one (moi!) over a few days.
Now grab a smoothie, put your feet up, and pretend you’re back in the islands with amazingly beautiful flowers to gaze at (like the ones in the two photos above) and the only nearby, above-water critters being skittish iguanas and curly-tailed lizards, the latter who also happen to be very cute … for reptiles. Oh, wait, maybe that reference applies only to me! LOL Seriously here’s hoping you have had some great summer trips already or have some future ones planned. And, here are some reflections on a few of my “findings” worth noting this week:
Alta (Tasty Eats At Home) just celebrated one year of being gluten free—congratulations, Alta! Read her outstanding lessons learned post here.
I didn’t plan to talk about this today, but Alta’s post and an email from a gfe reader with celiac who has been gluten-free for 9 years, but still has no support through friends (or doctors), have both caused me to reflect more than usual this morning. You see … this month is actually my own anniversary for being gluten free—June 2003—7-years ago as I write this.
First, I’ll tell you that living gluten free can get easier and easier, especially if you take the gfe approach. The keywords there are “can” and “gfe.” That’s not a shameless plug … I sincerely believe that. But, that initial transition can be a jolt, to say the least. It can leave you feeling like a visitor in a foreign land, and one who can’t even begin to speak the native language.
I was scheduled to go on an 8-day, 4-state (Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina), 1800-mile motorcycle trip with my husband a week after I was told to go gluten free by my new celiac doctor . When I shared that fact with her, she looked at me with an expression that read, that is not a good idea. But, I was not about to cancel the trip (which we nicknamed our “caves and waterfalls trip”) that we’d been planning and looking forward to for months.
The classic advice for gluten-free folks when traveling is to take a number of gluten-free standby products with you. Some even suggest carrying an extra suitcase just for safe food. Do you know how much room there is to pack anything on a motorcycle? We have a “tail” bag (bag that fits behind me and the sissy bar) and two saddle bags, which are fairly skinny. A girl is lucky to be able to take an extra pair of shoes, some jewelry, and a few changes of clothes after packing her requisite leather jacket, leather riding chaps, and rain gear. In the end, the only food I took with me were a dozen high-quality protein bars—very flat, space-saving protein bars, I might add–which I purchased from the chiropractic business where I still buy my supplements.
Looking back, the coincidental timing of my diagnosis and the long-planned trip was a true blessing. Because I had no other choice than to learn to eat gluten free via the gfe approach. I had to do my own self-guided, combination mini-training session/crash course on living gluten free before we left our driveaway. I had to focus on foods that were both naturally gluten free and readily available everywhere—which meant convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
I learned that apples, bananas, nuts, and even the occasional bag of potato chips and protein-packed candy bar could all be satisfying and, sometimes, “lifesavers.” I homed in on naturally gluten-free menu items like a heat-seeking missile.
We stayed at bed and breakfasts throughout the trip, and I did call to ensure that I would be served gluten-free food free of cross-contamination. All our hosts were knowledgeable and the breakfasts I was served were delicious and safe. Overall, the trip went amazingly well, and it gave me confidence that I could stay gluten free and live in the real world, so to speak.
The most difficult moment came when we stopped by to see some friends of Mr. GFE’s from college. He hadn’t seen them in years, and I had never met them, but we were going to be traveling right by their home so Mr. GFE called and set up a brief visit. However, they had made their own plans to have us eat dinner with them and then convince us to spend the night. The freshly made, and homemade, lasagna had just come out of the oven when we arrived. When we had to decline dinner, I didn’t feel bad for myself, I felt bad that they’d gone to such efforts for us and we couldn’t eat with them. Our schedule would not have allowed us to spend the night anyway, but I still felt a bit bad.
However, I’ve long since stopped worrying about such things. The truth is that friends learn to understand or they are not truly friends. There are lots of people who will love and appreciate you even if you can’t eat their prized lasagna. The really good friends will start making their lasagna with gluten-free noodles (and learn about preventing cross-contamination) so you can enjoy their lasagna, too. Those friends are the gems in all of our gluten-free lives.
As I shared in my gluten-free girlfriends’ post recently, you should seek those friends out or be open to the possibilities of such friendships through participation in support groups, chance meetings at health food stores, introductions through mutual friends, meeting folks through online gluten-free forums and blogs, etc. Educate your gluten-eating friends, but if they are not supportive of your new lifestyle, don’t feel bad about limiting your interactions with them to non-food events. None of that advice is earth-shattering in its wisdom, but it’s worked well for me since I went gluten free and I think it will still hold true for the future.
The reader who sent me the email stated: “My once friends do not understand this disease and some think it is all in my head. Do I ever wish that was true, for I can fix that. I had almost died from this disease.” Sadly, I know exactly what she’s saying. I’ve experienced the same reaction with others myself, even with some family members.
Celiac, food intolerances, and food allergies are, of course, all too real. One only has to feel, see, or even read about the effects the “poisonous” ingredient has on a person to know this is true. My good friend, Alison, of Sure Foods Living (who also co-founded and co-leads the Gluten Intolerance Group of Marin, California) has shared two personal stories recently that, clearly and powerfully, demonstrate the seriousness of intolerances/allergies.
First, she shared her own recent experience in Diary of a Gluten Poisoning. Then in her latest post, Adventures in Food Allergy Testing (Part 2: The Results), she details her daughter’s experience in the allergist’s office while undergoing a challenge to see if eggs could be reintroduced safely into her diet. It’s a fairly brief post, but one that will have you on the edge of your chair. And, both posts emphatically drive home the point that (as my one, dear friend, Jennifer, always says) eating a little bit of the food you are intolerant to is like eating “a little bit of rat poison.”
Raspberry Smoothie Recipe
Raspberry-Banana-Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie
Put your raspberries and other fruity ingredients to good use in this cooling and luscious Raspberry Smoothie!
Ingredients
- I banana; semi-frozen (at least), peeled, and sliced
- 1 cup of raspberries (fresh or frozen)
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks, in their own juice
- 3/4 cup of full-fat coconut milk plus 1/2 cup of water OR 1 1/4 cups lite coconut milk (adjust amount as needed for desired smoothie thickness)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 drops liquid vanilla stevia
- about 4 ice cubes, or more as needed
Instructions
- In preparation for making your smoothie, if you don't have a frozen banana, place banana slices in the freezer for about 10 minutes or until at least slightly firm.
- Process all ingredients in blender on high until smooth. Serve immediately.
Shirley
Not just gf, but gfe!
Originally published June 25, 2010; updated August 1, 2022.
christine says
I see that youโre interested and fascinated in food stuffs. This is a good blog! You see, we have this food site Foodista.com (http://www.foodista.com) that is a food and cooking encyclopedia that everyone and anyone can edit. Maybe you are interested in sharing some of recipes to us or share your knowledge about food stuffs and techniques, Or maybe you just like to write reviews about food, wines, restaurant and recipes…why don’t you visit us sometimes, if it’s food you’re interested in, then we are interested in you. Don’t hesitate to check us out. And by the way, If you wont mind I’d love to guide Foodista readers to this post. Just add the Foodista Widget
to the end of this post and it’s all set, Thanks!
I hope to see you there.
Cheers!
Shirley says
Hi christine–Thanks for letting me and my gfe readers know about Foodista. I’ll do some research on Foodista and using the widget. Incidentally, I am vey excited to be attending the International Food Blogger Conference at the end of August, which Foodista co-sponsors. ๐
Thanks,
Shirley
carrie @ gingerlemongirl.com says
The smoothie sounds DELISH! This is SUCH a great time for smoothies, I think I’d eat one every day if I could!!
Shirley says
Hi Carrie–I agree … smoothies are absolutely the best this time of year. Almost makes the scorching heat worthwhile, doesn’t it? ๐ .. I said, Almost … maybe I should reverse it and say that the smoothies almost make the scorching heat bearable. Ha ha, but that’s more like it.
Shirley
stephanie @ glutenfreebynature says
hey shirley,
thank you so much for your reflections on this Friday. A good reminder that a celiac diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Yes, change is hard – for everyone. But, if we just take it one day at a time, before we know it it’s been seven years!
Reading this has brought to mind that quote about changing the past or worrying too much about what will be – “that’s why they call it the present”. I do believe that you have struck a cord here in that we are responsible for embracing the GF support that is out there. The connections we make on this journey are in and of themselves such a gift. Since moving to NJ I have met this wonderful woman who has struggled in so many ways with her food sensitive young daughter. As difficult as both of our situations are, our journeys have brought us together. We have such a bond. It’s wonderful. I wish more people would see that they don’t have to feel alone or alienated. Kudos to you for all you do and the role you play in your support group ๐
xo
stephanie
Shirley says
Hey Stephanie–You’re welcome and thank you a million times over for the kind words! You stated it exactly … time passes and we suddenly realize that we’ve been doing this for years and it’s not a big deal. As you know, my big thing is not having to rely on processed foods. It would be a whole different, and complicated, ball game if I was using processed foods all the time.
Oh, gosh, Stephanie, it does my heart good to hear that you have made that connection—what a blessing you are to each other! ๐ So often, we just need a buddy to listen, to be objective, to offer up ideas that we are too tired or overwhelmed to think of ourselves, etc. Even when we are not gluten free, have food sensitivities, or such, it’s always the people and connections we make that get us through the hard times. So it makes sense to embrace the folks who know the challenges and to pull others into the fold, so to speak, and help them, too.
Thanks so much for your very thoughtful and supportive comment, Stephanie! Hugsss to you,
Shirley
Iris says
Wonderful post, Shirley, and congrats on being 7 years gluten free! I’m really impressed by your being able to handle that road trip after only a week’s time. It can definitely be a tough thing when friends don’t support or just don’t “get” gluten intolerance. Those who do should be doubly appreciated! I have to admit to still having some anxiety in social situations where I can’t control food, such as long trips. But it is getting easier, and I’m slowly getting better about speaking up and making my needs known rather than just choosing not to eat anything.
Shirley says
Hi Iris–Thank you on both counts! ๐ ti’s really hard to believe it’s been 7 years in some ways and in other ways, it seems like I’ve been eating gf even longer. I’m sure you know how that time thing goes. ๐ Yes, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your friends who support you on the gf path, and are willing to take the time to get it, or at least respect you and your path. I started a post that I’ve never finished called The Gift of Being Fed Safely. I have friends and family who feed me safely time and time again and it IS such a gift.
I admit being intimidated for sure on that first trip, but I wanted to do it, so I just had in my head that it would be doable. I focused on what was available, not what wasn’t. I’m not big on choosing not to eat anything, even if it’s tortilla chips or a handful of nuts (some of the standard social setting fare), I’m typically eating something. In some cases, I do eat before we go though … if I know there will be nothing I can safely eat. Usually in those cases, I just have a beverage and don’t make a big deal, and often I’m rather glad I’m not eating what’s being served regardless of its gf, etc. state, if you know what I mean. ๐
Still my biggest obstacle by far is airports. I was nearing meltdown (nearing, mind you, not quite there) last weekend when I was unable to find anything other than some gluten-free bars (I’ll post on them later) and had no time to get anything else when our flight was canceled and we had to go halfway across the airport to a special services desk to reschedule our flight. Then a true miracle happened. Mr. GFE and I smiled at the agent and were pleasant and understanding. Next thing you knew, we were rescheduled in first class no less! We passed a real restaurant going to our new gate and we had time to stop and eat—crab and shrimp salad over greens and a margarita and I was back in business—hallelujah! And, then the delightful flight attendant (have you noticed that they are just pure sweetness in first class?!) had healthy gf potato chips for me as a snack as well. Yippee! That whole leg of our trip was a nice little unanticipated anniversary gift!
Shirley
Jessi @SweetandSaltySea says
Shirley ๐
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday. May I just say that this smoothie made my mouth water instantly! Haha I may have to whip one up for a little snack in a few minutes :). I submitted a dairy-free delight for “Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten-Free” too :). I can’t wait to read and try the others!
Shirley says
Hi Jessi–Thanks for your reciprocal visit! ๐ I’m happy to find another great blog in yours. ๐ Thanks for the kudos! Yep, great little afternoon snack!
Oh, I’m so glad you’re participating in Go Ahead Honey! over at Zoe’s. She and Naomi (the originator) are two of my faves! Like you, I’m looking forward to the roundup. ๐
Shirley
Alta says
Great post, Shirley! That smoothie looks decadent and tropical. Yum! Congrats on 7 years gluten-free. I agree, it can get easier – and I love your approach. And you are a great example of how to live gfe – especially while traveling!
Shirley says
Thanks so much, Alta! Very, very kind words, and again, much appreciated. The smoothie is decadent tasting, but yet pretty healthy and definitely satisfies the fruit quotient. ๐ Your approach is almost identical to mine, if not the same. You are always focusing on eating real food that’s naturally gf and going from that as your starting point for recipes and meals. Thats’ why I love your blog so much, especially since you educate us all on dishes from around the world!
Now I have to ask … was that link to my site already in your post? If so, I missed it earlier. Too much skimming and not reading word for word … LOL, but thanks for the link love!
Shirley
Sophie says
Hello Shirley!!
Your smoothy is a real winner!! energizing, fresh & ooh so tasty too!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,…lovely!
Shirley says
Sophie–Smoothies are just as you described. Such a healthy, yet “decadent,” way to get in lots of fruit! ๐
Shirley
glutenfreeforgood says
We’re on the same page with smoothies! Just now having my morning salad drink! I almost always use coconut water as my base, but your creamier version sounds delicious. It’s such a good way to pack in some nutrient-dense foods to start your day. And now that I have a VitaMix (of all people, I can NOT believe I waited so long to get one), I’m blending up a new concoction on a daily basis. One ingredient almost always remains the same. You guessed it, Shirley. Beets!
=)
Love that flower photo. And all the various stories about being diagnosed with celiac disease always bring a tear to my eye. So sad, so sad that people can’t get properly (and promptly) diagnosed. It’s also sad that some folks don’t have the support of friends and family.
Speaking of GF friends — I had dinner Friday night at Carol Fenster’s house. OMG, she made the most incredible GF baguette bread I’ve ever tasted. EVER. It was like a flashback to artisan, old-style Italian crusty bread. It’s definitely a treat to have her as a GF friend.
๐
Melissa
xo
Shirley says
Hi Melissa!–“Morning salad drink” … hmmm, I like that. I do love coconut water, too. I need to stock up on that the next time I’m at a “real” store in town. I couldn’t agree more on smoothies being a wonderful way to get in nutrient-dense foods. I love getting in so many fruits and veggies for the day that I can meet my requirements. Then, the servings I eat later are just a bonus. ๐ The beets are to be expected coming from you. You really should see if there is a Beet Board (pun intended) … you should be their spokesperson. I am so serious on this one! BTW, I just saw some Beet Pancakes over at iHerb’s blog. I immediately thought of you!
I have serious Vita-Mix envy! Does it even pulverize seeds from fruits? Like the ones in raspberries for example?
Thanks re: flower photo! More to come … Yes, there is a lot of sadness when it comes to celiac disease. I’m hoping the more we spread the sad stories, the more happy stories will result. Awareness, awareness, awareness! It’s hard to understand when folks won’t support you. Some of it is based in ignorance, but as Mr. GFE says some folks refuse to acknowledge the reality, because then they don’t have to accommodate you—in their minds. “If it doesn’t exist, I don’t have to deal with it.” type of thinking. Still inexcusable. I just keep educating, educating …
Wow, having dinner with Carol Fenster and eating her gf baguette bread, now that’s what you call, good—and delicious—times, my friend! I can just imagine that bread as you’ve described it. I say all the time I don’t miss bread, but that image has me salivating. Was there also a good red wine involved? ๐ Anyway, lucky girl!
xoxo,
Shirley
Erin Elberson says
Happy Anniversary Shirley!
I was diagnosed a bit more recently than you at about 5 years ago, but also at that time I (unknowingly) took the gfe approach. I think it makes it much more flexible and approachable when you focus on those items which you can find almost anywhere. I love going to restaurants that have GF menus, but if they don’t, I have no problem giving a very friendly yet firm education and ordering a simple, naturally GF meal. It’s not deprivation, simply a shift in perspective.
Shirley says
Thanks, Erin! I’ve pretty much celebrated this anniversary quietly each year. Very gratefully, of course, though. Yes, your words are a great endorsement for living gfe—flexible and approachable … who doesn’t want that? ๐
Yes, I agree with you on the restaurant experiences. Gf menus are great, but I’ve had many wonderful experiences eating in restaurants where people know food and just want to feed you well and safely. ๐
“Simply a shift in perspective” … yes, exactly! Have a great week, dear!
Shirley
glutenfreeforgood says
Thanks for the long response to my comment, Shirley. I like the communication you have going here. Beet Board! I love that. Made beet waffles not too long ago and have a beet and spinach recipe in my WordPress dashboard for next weekend. Mr. GFE is right-on with his thoughts on not “acknowledging” celiac disease. You know, I am lucky that my world is so full of accepting people and farm fresh food. It’s just not that hard for me when it comes to eating. BUT, I got zapped at the Farmer’s Market last week and felt like poo for a couple of days. I rarely ever get glutenized because I rarely ever eat out, but I had a muffin from a well-known local restaurant and I almost thought it tasted too “regular” to be gluten-free. My DH flared up within 24 hours. Big time. Then the canker sores developed and I had the blues. Gluten makes me cry — literally. It’s so weird.
But, anyway, life is good and I’m with you on not caring that much about bread, but Carol’s was beyond good. I haven’t had that feeling of eating soft, Italian-like bread dripping in butter for so long that I can’t even remember. No red wine. She served white wine and something she and the past president of our local CSA chapter called baby Guinness drinks (that’s another story). I was up until midnight, which is rare for me. Can’t even remember the last time I was up past about 10 or had any white wine (that’s probably been 15 years ago for the white wine). A good time was had by all (girls only — yeah). Some day that will be us (you, me and the rest of our blogger gang) toasting life gluten-free!
Melissa
xo
P.S. Whew, sorry about the ramble. I’m avoiding my work!
Shirley says
Melissa–I love it when you “ramble,” dear! And, I’m happy to provide a respite from your work any time. ๐ First, so sorry about being glutened. That totally stinks. And, I don’t think it’s weird at all that you cry when you are glutened. Gluten definitely affects our moods and emotional behavior. I tend to get down, angry and/or anxious when I get glutened. I also get canker sores. I suffered with them all my life before going gluten free, but I don’t often see them mentioned as a gluten symptom. (In some cases, I see them associated with vitamin/mineral deficiencies, which could be caused by gluten, but obviously those of us who get canker sores in a flash aren’t experiencing sudden deficiencies.) I don’t have the DH, but another friend has hers flare up within 24 hours, too. Our body really speaks to us, doesn’t it?
That girlfriends’ evening sounds so very lovely. Wow, on being such a party girl! ๐ Absolutely that will be us one day, and hopefully not too far in the future … I have some ideas …
I’m very fortunate in my gluten-free eating and support network, too. There are just a few non-supportive folks and, frankly, most of the time I just stay away from them. Whether the issue is gf or not, accepting folks and farm fresh food are definitely the way to go!
xoxo,
Shirley
Erin Elberson says
Melissa and Shirley,
Count me in on the wine and gluten free toast!
And Melissa-sucks that you were zapped. ๐
Shirley says
Erin–Oh, you’d definitely be invited! ๐
Hugsss,
Shirley
annette says
that smoothie sounds delicious. can’t wait to make it. i read adventures in allergy testing just the other day. i am so thankful that nothing like that has happened to us.
those flower pictures are beautiful. i wish i had some in my yard.
Shirley says
Hi Annette–Thanks re: smoothies and the flowers! ๐ The flowers in Little Cayman were spectacular. I have more to share. Of course, I’m pretty partial to my hydrangea blooms, too. ๐ If I can grow a hydrangea, anyone can.
I hope you enjoy this pretty smoothie when you make it.
Shirley
Debbie says
Shirley, next time you make this my boys would love to come visit! You have all of their favorite things in the smoothie. Beautiful photo, too!
Shirley says
Hi Debbie–Please send them over! My boy is 22 now and I miss having a little guy in the house. ๐ Thanks very much for the kind words, Debbie! I love the versatility of smoothies. ๐
Shirley
Chelsey says
Shirley your drink is so tropical and summery. Perfect sun N’ fun food. And thanks fo sharing about your diagnosis and linking Alta’s tips (they came in really handy for me). You are such a rock star for going a a motorbiking trip right off the bat. It sounds exactly what Victor (hubby) and I would love to do one day. Everything in it’s own time, eh?!
Shirley says
Hi Chelsey–That is a great drink! It can be varied quite a bit, too, depending upon what one has on hand. ๐ Oh, I’m so glad that Alta’s tips helped you. Her blog is great!
LOL … rock star? moi? ๐ But, thank you! And, I like how motorbiking sounds. It definitely sounds more glamorous than going on a motorcycle trip! I bet you and Victor will take that trip one day. Yes, a season for everything as the song goes. ๐
Shirley
Desi says
Shirleyyyyyy!
I LOVELOVELOVE smoothies. In fact, I love anything that I use my Vita-Mix to make, haha! But smoothies are at the top of the list. Particularly in unbearable humidity. ๐ So, thank you for the recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
And even more importantly, perhaps… Thank you for reflecting about your own gluten-free journey. I am addicted to reading gluten-free blogs for recipe ideas, but the real treat is whenever one such gluten-free blogger embellishes her post with details from her own personal life. It is the sharing of those personal pieces of ourselves that open us up to the potential for human connection, and there’s nothing I like better than meeting more people, and loving more people! On that sappy note (forgive me – I get carried away sometimes), congratulations on being GF for a whole 7 years! ๐
xo
Desi
Shirley says
Hi dear Desi–Sorry I’m so late in replying! I’m with you on loving smoothies … this morning’s was cherries, spinach, romaine, coconut milk, and water. Super delicious. The raspberry smoothie is light in flavor, but super filling and thick. ๐ Of course, I haven’t made a bad smoothie yet, have you?
Oh, thank you for the feedback on my reflections. I’m all about sharing with others. Today’s quote in my planner was: “Sharing what you have is more important than what you have.” Good one, huh? I like sappy (most of the time LOL). Thanks for the congrats!
xoxo,
Shirley