Green Spinach Smoothie

I finally did it - I made a green smoothie. I've been avoiding these for so long, mostly because it was inconceivable to me how strong, green winter vegetables like kale could possibly blend well with fruit. When I think of kale, I often of other members of the cruciferous family like brussels sprouts, which can often have a slightly bitter taste and a sulfurous (gag) odor if cooked too long. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for brussels sprouts, kale, and broccoli - their slightly bitter taste is due to an abundance of sulfur containing compounds called glucosinates, which have anti-carcinogenic properties. I think cruciferous vegetables are delicious -- just on their own as a side dish or as a salad (I had the most delightful kale salad with toasted breadcrumbs, hazelnuts, cherries, and breaded chicken at one of my favorite restaurants downtown).
So, when I came across a green smoothie that used spinach, I gave myself the go-ahead to see what the green smoothie craze was all about. Spinach is decidedly the boring cousin of its cruciferous counterparts - it just has a much milder personality and plays well with other foods. I was delighted by this smoothie, which was creamy, mildly sweet, fruity, and not spinach-y at all. The addition of oats gives this smoothie a little more heft and staying power in your stomach, and as an added bonus, makes you feel like you are actually eating something instead of drinking juice. This recipes makes 4 small servings; if you're having this smoothie as a meal, it makes two servings (I happily guzzled half of mine immediately after I made it!)
Okay, let's do this...

Green Spinach Smoothie
(from the FoodNetwork)

Ingredients
2 cups soy milk (or any milk of your choosing!)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen peaches, mangos, or a combination
1 cup ice cubes
1 cup baby spinach, loosely packed
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 bananas

Directions
Add all of the above ingredients to your blender.
Blend until smooth.
Sip.
Enjoy.


I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did! If you have any favorite green smoothie recipes that you swear by, please share! I'd love to try them -- even if they include kale. Hey, I'll try anything at least once! ;)
Thanks for reading!
-R

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