Power of Suggestion...

Good and Plenty...

Someone gave me these garden grown cucumbers because they felt like the had plenty to share, and I was overjoyed! So as I was making this salad http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/tomato-onion-and-cucumber-salad-recipe.html ( I left off the olive oil) I got to thinking about the power of suggestion. What if those who had a garden or even if you go to the farmers market and bought a few extra things, and gave that extra to someone you know that maybe doesn't cook much or could just use something nutritious to eat?. You never know what that might spark, through the power of suggestion.  It could inspire them to want more healthy choices, they might ask you about the food, and it doesn't need to be delivered with a speech. When something is given with love from one heart to another ~ "it's all good."
If you watch TV or read a magazine, you know the power of suggestion that lingers there. So why not try and offer a healthy suggestion and see what power it has.

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Smoothie... with a warning!

Almond Joy Smoothie...

WARNING!

This too could happen to you... After you make one you can't stop thinking about the next one!

My daughter is working at a place that makes smoothies and juices and so I get try a lot of different ones. But I have to say the one I am slightly obsessed with is called, Almond Joy. Here is a link from one that is similar http://www.edibleperspective.com/home/2013/3/28/almond-joy-smoothie-milkshake.html. One of my favorite combinations of sweet favors is peanut butter and chocolate. Oh how I've missed my Resses since going dairy free. There are times when I just grab a spoon of peanut butter and put a pile of chocolate chips ( dairy free ) on top and eat! So this smoothie works wonders for me. It has become my go to breakfast smoothie. I use sugar free almond butter in so it's full of protein and it keeps me full still lunch. Smoothies are great, because you can add in all kinds of stuff. Sometime I add in flaxseed and/or avocado for extra filling. Here is my version of Almond Joy smoothie ...

1 cup unsweetened almond milk or 1/2 cup almond milk and 1/2 cup coconut milk

1 Tb of cocoa powder

1 frozen banana pieces - really ripe ( keep cut up in freezer )

2 Tb of unsweetened almond butter

2 Tb cacao nibs

1 Tb chocolate chips

( makes one serving)

* you can add: 

toasted coconut

avocado 

more chocolate chips

Peanut Butter chips ( if not dairy free)

flaxseed/chia seed

Peanut butter

any other kind of non dairy milk

Chocolate non dairy milk

dairy milk ( if not dairy free)

The ingredients in my Almond Joy, keeps the sugar very low - The only sugar I have is one tablespoon of chocolate chips and natural sweetness from the banana. My measurements are not exact, so use your best judgement and taste before you pour incase you think it needs more of something.