Have you seen Hallie Klecker’s new book The Pure Kitchen?
This cookbook is a lovely collection of healthy gluten free, dairy free recipes. I absolutely love the “Energizing Breakfasts” section which contains quick and easy smoothie recipes full of superfoods; the book also contains wonderful recipes such as Spring Pesto Drizzle, which is packed with healthy greens.
I had the pleasure of meeting Hallie at a conference last year, and can assure you she is every bit as lovely in person as she is on her blog, Daily Bites.
The smoothie below is a slight adaptation of the recipe in Hallie’s book for a Pure Power Smoothie. Hallie and I both like to make smoothies with protein powder in order to start the day off with a nice energy boost. This quick and healthy smoothie is great for breakfast and also makes a delicious afternoon snack.
Breakfast Power Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup kevita sparkling probiotic drink, coconut flavor
- 1 tablespoon creamy roasted almond butter
- 5 drops vanilla stevia
- 1 scoop egg white protein powder
- 1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
- 3 ice cubes
Instructions
- Combine strawberries, coconut water, almond butter and stevia in a vitamix and blend on high
- Blend in protein powder and ground chia seeds, then blend in ice cubes until smooth
- Serve
Equipment
Here are some of my other favorite quick and healthy smoothie/shake recipes:
–Nut Butter Protein Shake
–Ginger Cilantro Green Shake
–Protein Powder Piña Colada
What’s your favorite vitamix recipe?
donna nielsen says
well i am glad to know it before i did buy it…i will try the selina naturally one if i can find it or body ecology…i was just stumped as to why so many people seem to be using this if it had that nasty taste! i don’t know about a plant but i will see if i can find one of those too
thanks for the feedback, ladies ;-)
Ricki says
I’ve seen so many fabulous recipes around from Hallie’s lovely book! The ones I’ve tried from it are terrific, too! :) I also like protein powder in my smoothies (I use rice protein) for the extra morning boost. As for stevia, I’ve never noticed an aftertaste with NuNaturals. . . love the stuff. The smoothie is such a pretty color, too! :)
Becky says
Mmmmm…this smoothie looks so good! I like to put almond butter in my smoothies too because they add protein and healthy fats, which make the smoothie more filling.
Hallie’s book is on my wishlist. Thanks for the recipe!
Kelli says
My husband and I are trying to not use protien powder, and just use eggs, nuts or chia seeds to make a protein Smoothie. I’d love a recipe like that if you feel like a new challenge!
Sarah says
Do other people like almond butter in smoothies? I’ve seen a lot of recipes that include it, but I’m not sure why. More protein? To me it takes over the taste and adds a strange texture too. Sounds good without it though!
Roxanne says
I like it. :) But generally not in fruit smoothies. I make yummy squash smoothies w/ almond butter, banana, egg white protein, almond milk, and warm spices. Tastes like pie. :) I don’t notice any odd texture in my smoothies w/ almond butter.
Sarah @ The Healthy Diva says
Yumm, this looks great. I love putting nut butter in my smoothies. Makes it so creamy! I’ve been looking into buying an egg white protein powder recently. I like that the frank zane one is all natural. What is the taste like compared to other protein powders you’ve tried?
Roxanne says
I like NOW’s egg white protein. It doesn’t have anything added to it. It’s just powdered egg whites, and it’s cheaper than the Frank Zane brand (which contains stevia powder added flavorings).
Mardell says
I like to use Arbonne’s protein powders. They are made from peas, rice, and cranberry protein. They are also gluten and dairy free so they work well when following this type of eating plan!
Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry says
This looks like a perfect smoothie to start the day! I’m always looking for smoothie recipes as I love how easy they are to make-and same goes for the cleanup! :)
Jay says
Since owning an expensive $500-$600 vitamix is out of the question for many, including the words, “or blender” would’ve been helpful.
Roxanne says
I got a refurbished Vita-mix in 2009 for about $225. Seriously, though, I think most people can figure out that a regular blender is fine.
nikki k says
Hey Donna,
I have very specific likes in stevia also. I have only found one that I like and it doesn’t come in flavors but who cares. It’s from Selina Naturally and it’s the liquid Astraya. I’m telling you, once you’ve had this you will never look back.
donna nielsen says
hi
sounds yummy but i have a question about the liquid stevia everyone seems to be using…does it have that under taste that stevia seems to have- i can’t stand it! it tastes as bad as nutrasweet to me and i have stayed away from it because i just cannot get it down..someone told me they have found a way to remove that taste but i wondered about this product….any feedback?
also…i want to mention that strawberries are one of the most heavily sprayed and genetically modified crops in the US…so personally i only buy organic ones when i do…i know alot of people do not know this
…
donna
KT says
Donna- I’m with you! I didn’t like any of the flavored Stevias I’ve tried–yes they have that stevia taste and then some other icky taste. Some of these contain artificial flavoring!! (seems a bit contrary to use a healthy sweetener with chemical flavorings!) I presently use Sweet Leaf clear Stevia, but only in small amounts, and often in conjunction with Coconut Secret Raw Organic Coconut crystals in any of my recipes. I rarely will also use Really Raw brand honey (solid at room temperature.) If I want the vanilla component that the vanilla stevia would provide I just drop in some pure vanilla extract.
Jackie says
Hi KT and Donna,
I don’t like the after taste stevia has either. I don’t use it..prefer honey or coconut sugar. I just bought a stevia plant and tried eating a leaf. I was sweet with no after taste!!! When more leaves grow I am going to put some in my smoothies.
Hopefully you can get a hold of a stevia plant. I have been searching for a while and finally got one.
Jackie says
It was sweet with no after taste!
Rachel says
sweetleaf brand stevia packets are the only stevia i have found that has no aftertaste. i’ve used it to sweeten beverages & in marinades. liquid stevia without an aftertaste has been harder to find. i have used this sweetleaf vanilla before in a “chocolate mousse” i made with greek yogurt & cocoa powder. it was nasty until i lessened the drops i was using & added blueberries. now it’s awesome! i’d love to try an actual leaf, Jackie! maybe i should try it in my garden this year :) also, second Donna on the organic berries. the environmental working group has a list online of the most & least pesticide-doused crops for anyone interested.
Becky says
I recommend the Body Ecology brand of stevia to my clients. It does not have an aftertaste like most liquid stevia brands.
Cindy Cundiff says
Hi Donna,
I go to nutsonline.com or nuts.com and they have the pure stuff w/o added starches. Anyway, you only need 1/8th of a tsp to flavor a quart of lemonade, that’s how strong this stuff is and you don’t have that bitter after taste that other stevia brands do. And they have super fast delivery less than 2 days you get your stuff.
Katie says
I like that you mentioned using a very small amount. I’ve found that if you overdo it that is when it tastes terrible. It’s just kind of hard to figure out how to you a sufficiently small amount. I love Stevia for a pitcher of iced tea, but I never try to sweeten just a single cup.
Roxanne says
I find that the NOW brand of powdered stevia doesn’t have any of that licorice-like aftertaste. It’s pretty clean tasting, but very sweet so a little goes a long–like 1/4 tsp (or about 1/3 of a packet) to sweeten a 16 oz mug of tea…
Tina says
Hello,
I wasn’t aware that strawberries were “heavily sprayed and genetically modified” I don’t like the taste of stevia. I am trying to stop using substitute sugars. I am so glad that I read your views. By the way, where can I buy Organic Strawberry