Jessica Alba's Go-To Green Drink (do not miss this one!)

There are some posts I get way too excited over. This would be one of them. I recently got Jessica Alba's new book and I think my favorite thing so far has been this recipe for her go-to green drink. We've all heard of green smoothies, but this is something different. I don't know what it is exactly, except that it's packed, and I mean packed with nutrients and antioxidants with plenty of whole food fiber to boot. And it's so delicious! I literally make this 2-3 times a week. It could easily be lunch, but I be 7 months pregnant, so it's a snack for me.

Since I've made this so many times, there are a few things I've learned:

1) Fresh ginger varies a lot in potency. The recipe calls for a teaspoon but I had been putting more until I got a super potent batch. Test your ginger to see what amount is right for you. You can always add in more but you can't take it out!

2) This drink separates as it sits. It just does. It doesn't matter how well you blend. In fact, I prefer mine not too overly smooth. Since we're dealing with lots of whole fruits and veggies this is just something you have to be okay with. I just keep mixing it with my straw and it's fine.

3) You use green fruit to sweeten this drink like cubes of honeydew melon or kiwi, but if you don't have that, watermelon works but keep in mind, it may change the color slightly. If you don't have any fruit, a pinch of stevia will do the trick. That's what both Jessica and I do half the time.

4) Make sure you add ice. This drink is best icy cold.



This drink is refreshing, pleasantly sweet, and you can really taste the green apple which I love. I tell my kids it's a green apple smoothie and they suck it down like champs. Until the end. Sometimes, because of the separation that occurs, the end can get a little thick and since Jeremiah is sensitive to consistency so he doesn't love finishing it. Isabella and I could care less. Truth be told you are supposed to "chew" your smoothies anyway for better digestion.

Feel free to play with this one. I added mint once and it was awesome. I bet a fistful of parsley wouldn't be bad either. You can always sub spinach for the kale, but honestly, you can't taste the kale at all so it's great way to sneak it in. Jessica says she likes to make a double batch and keep some in the refrigerator to sip on all day long. It's how she curbed her appetite while trying to loose baby weight.



Want to take a walk on the wild side? Last year I posted a recipe for my other favorite green drink. Be warned. It's savory, salty and lemony. It's different, but good! If your a sweet person, stay right here.

Jessica Alba's Go-To Green Drink
adapted from The Honest Life, by Jessica Alba

makes 1 large green drink

1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 cucumber, skin on, chopped
1 green apple, chopped
a big handful of kale (2-3 large leaves)
Juice from 1 whole lemon
1 teaspoon peeled fresh ginger (you can add more to taste)
3-4 cubes of honeydew melon or watermelon, or 1/2 a kiwi, or a pinch of stevia for sweetness 
5-7 ice cubes
enough water to blend

(add a handful of spinach or fresh mint if you'd like!)

Place all ingredients in a blender and add just enough water to get it going. Blend until smooth. Pour and drink right away with a straw. 

Just got back from our trip to Texas! More to come on that!