Let's face it, you aren't running out and getting the latest crazy drink because of just the taste right?  Its the color, the novelty, the WOW factor. (and maybe sugar addiction).  So I came up with a much healthier fruity drink that's just as pretty!

1 can coconut milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 banana
1 nice sized slice fresh Pineapple
1/2 Tsp blue spirulina
Handful strawberries
Handful raspberries
1 peeled, cooked and cooled Beet (you can buy these already done for you
1 smoothie pack Acai
Handful blueberries
Handful blackberries
Handful of ice
2 tbsp desiccated coconut (tiny small pieces rather than flakes
Coconut whipped cream – see here for recipe
 
Put in blender: coconut milk protein powder, banana, pineapple and ice.  Blend.  Take out about ½ cup and set aside.  Add strawberries, raspberries and beet. Blend.  Pour out about 1/3 of this mixture and set aside.  Add acai, blueberries and blackberries. Blend.  Pour this purple smoothie into glasses about 2/3 way full.  Using a spoon, gently add the pink smoothie on top to fill the glass. Take the white smoothie you had set aside and add the blue spirulina to make your blue-green smoothie. Using a spoon, take some of the blue smoothie and run it down the inside of the cup all around the glass.
 
To 1 tbsp of coconut add a small dash of the blue spirulina and mix with fork until you have blue coconut.  With the other tbsp. of coconut add a small amount of beet juice and mix until you have pink coconut.
 
Top the smoothie with coconut whipped cream and add your sprinkles! Enjoy and feel good!
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It may be April, but here in Colorado its a snow day. I love snow, as long as I don't have to leave the house.  Instead of loving snow, perhaps I love all the accoutrements...sitting in front of the fireplace with a blanket, books and a cup of cocoa.  No chemical laden instant packet here, although its just as quick.  This non-dairy, antioxidant rich cocoa takes minutes to make and is as delicious as it is chock full of healthy goodness. Cocoa and spices are full of antioxidants, and the nut milk and coconut  butter add some healthy fat.

​Ingredients per serving:
1 c almond, coconut or cashew milk
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa powder
1 heaping tablespoon coconut butter
​1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
​pinch of salt
to taste:
honey/maple/agave
cinnamon
vanilla
nutmeg
cayenne
​chipotle chili powder

​Place all ingredients in small pot on stove, bring to a boil, whisking.  Lower heat and whisk until all ingredients are melted, blended and creamy.

​Can top with whipped coconut cream, cacao nibs and a sprinkling of chili powder.

Sometimes you just want a cheeseburger, but  maybe you are gluten free and IF you can find a gluten free bun, it just leaves something to be desired.  Maybe you are grain free and don't do a bun at all, but are growing tired of having your burger on a lettuce wrap.  Maybe you just want something different.


​Say "cheeseburger mac" to almost anyone and the image they get is that of macaroni and cheese with some ground meat thrown in.  Probably not even good mac and cheese, but something made with the big salty block of processed cheese food that has become so ubiquitous with comfort food. ICK.  I don't want macaroni and cheese with some meat in it (at least not today, that's a different recipe...), but  rather a cheeseburger with some macaroni in it. That's what I've done for years and now Ill share it with you.  There are multiple ingredient variations to make this recipe work with almost any eating style.  Wash it down with a soda flavored kombucha! (my favorite is root beer!)

CHEESEBURGER MACARONI
Ingredients:
​olive oil for pan
​12 oz bean based penne pasta such as Tolerant  (could use gluten free pasta or spiralized yellow summer squash cut into macaroni sized pieces)
​1 lb grass fed ground beef, ground turkey or veggie crumbles such as Beyond Beef
​4 slices nitrate free bacon (optional)
​1 onion, sliced
​smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, chipotle hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce to taste
1 dill pickle, chopped and about 1/4 c of the pickle juice
​1/2 c homemade or low carb bbq sauce
​6 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese, or vegan cheese such as Daiya, shredded
​1 Tbsp  yellow mustard plus more for serving
​1 tomato, diced
​shredded lettuce

Cook pasta in boiling salted water. In skillet with olive oil, cook ground beef, bacon and onions.  Add seasonings, pickle juice, bbq sauce, and mustard.  When pasta is done, drain and add to skillet, along with 4 oz of the cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.  Top  each serving  with pickle, tomato, lettuce and additional mustard. and cheddar.