Checking my personal email, scanning through worthy status updates, and laughing to myself while chatting with the girls in the innocently named “Disney Princesses” chat group – I haven’t even reached Union Station yet, but I have managed to catch up with family and friends from San Diego, Chicago, New York, Manchester, Dhaka, Wattala, Georgetown and oh can’t forget Markham and Ajax. The train comes to a jerking halt, and the imagery of “Woman Falls In Mall Fountain While Texting” pops into my mind, and I quickly put away my iPhone in order to prevent the next viral video from happening.
Just when I think the construction can’t get any worse at Union station, I am welcomed by new additions to the existing convoluted makeshift drywall labyrinth. I force myself to muster a bit of resolve and follow the school of fish into the TTC sardine can, thankful they were able to squeeze in one more. Then I channel all my energy to remain balanced and not let physics get the best of me. After what seems to be an eternity of taking in the friendly and the not-so-friendly scents of the sandwiching natives, the lady announces “Arriving at Interchange station”. I gasp for air, thread through the tunnel and surface back to earth. Aah, I breathe in the city air. The sun is shining down on me as I walk down Bloor St. I bask in delight as I resume my daily routine of people-watching on my 10 minute walk to work.
I arrive at my cozy nook by the window, log on to the network, double-click on Outlook to be welcomed with bolded messages. It always amazes me how there are so many fresh emails waiting for me before the day even starts. Take a deep breath, I’m not completely ready to go full force just yet. I reach for my fashion-friendly Rachel Ray lunchbag and pull out the breakfast I prepared the night before. Yes, I’m one of those people who would rather get a few more minutes of Zs, than leave the next morning’s breakfast to chance. I reach in and pull out the glass mason jar from my bag. I shake the daunting green smoothie really well, twist and snap the lids off. I take in a long, slow sip and allow myself to take in the fresh ginger aroma, and the cucumber & celery aftertaste that completely masks the taste of nutrition-rich kale. I silently rejoice as I refresh and nourish myself with the best part of my morning, until a colleague comes by and exclaims, “What are you drinking?!” and I snap back into reality.
***
After experimenting with a few different green smoothie recipes (like that one time I thought banana and cilantro would work well together in a smoothie), I’ve come to love this combination below. It allows me to intake amazing nutritional content from my greens, while playing with my palate. It tantalizes the tongue with familiar tropical fruits and then kicks you with aromatic ginger and celery before cooling down with cucumber. Kale passes by in clandestine. Try it and perfect your own morning routine.
Morning Routine Green Smoothie
store in a mason jar for fresh and easy storage
Ingredients:
- Bunches of kale
- A small stalk of celery
- One-third of a cucumber
- Frozen mangoes and/or pineapple (handful of each)
- A small piece of ginger
Apparatus:
- A powerful blender like the Blendtec or Vitamix (I use a Blendtec, and it’s remarkable the things this nifty machine can do)
- Mason jars to store smoothie
Unperfected but Equally Satisfying Process:
- Tear kale leaves into blender (with stalks if you are using a powerful blender).
- Add sliced cucumbers and celery.
- Drop in a handful of frozen mangoes and/or pineapples.
- Add a small piece of ginger.
- Add cold water.
- Blend really well for a minute and a half.
- Check for taste and consistency. Add more water if it looks too thick. I like mine blended really well and more juice-like than smoothie-like.
- Add more mangoes/pineapple if you want a sweeter/fruitier flavour. Skip or cut down the ginger if it doesn’t suit your palate.
- Drink right away or pack in a glass mason jar (slows down oxidation) but drink in the next 24 to 48 hours.
- Share your healthy breakfast smoothie with everyone you know and get them on the green smoothie bandwagon.
- It’s an amazingly efficient way to get your veggies in for the day. Personally I LOVE the flavour, but if you’re just starting off you are better off opting for a higher fruit:vegetable ratio.
Drink with all your senses! Enjoy!
-FROM ONE UNRULY KITCHEN TO YOURS
Kitchen Unruly 