Posts Tagged ‘banana’

Marie-Claude Gour - Lives of Green Smoothie Adventurers!

Thursday, April 1st, 2010 by stacey

Arugulicious!

Arugulicious!

We’re so fortunate to meet people who are as excited about green smoothies as we are!  As soon as Marie-Claude sent in her first picture for her 3-Day Green Smoothie Mini-Course practicum photo, Arugulicious!, The Emerald Empress and I sighed and shared our mutual admiration over Marie-Claude’s creative display!  You can find the delicious recipe that goes along with this green smoothie in The Emerald Lounge under the 3-Day “Final Exam” section.

And since that first photo, Marie-Claude has been lighting us up with green recipes, photos, stories and lines that make us giggle!   So today, we’d like you to get to know Marie-Claude a little better!  We’ll also sprinkle in  more of her green smoothie creations for you to enjoy!

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Marie-Claude Gour and her green smoothie munchkins!

Marie-Claude Gour and her green smoothie munchkins!

“When I talk about myself, I first say that I am a full time mom of 3 beautiful kids with whom my life is filled with so much love and endless joy…

But I’m also something else!

So let me introduce you to another part of who I am…

I went to study Arts at Concordia University in Montreal 10 years ago.  This is really where I found my personal gesture in drawing and painting…such an amazing feeling to find my true resonance… this path that will always be there to express my deep self!

une diva - Marie-Claude Gour

une diva - Marie-Claude Gour

So from there I did a few exhibitions here and there to put into action what I like doing best!

And amazingly, it is with the birth of my 2 first children that I saw myself painting more! Creation of life is such a powerful state to be in…to create anything we want in life!!!

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Chardledlidou!

By Marie-Claude Gour

  • 1 1\2 bananas
  • 1 peeled apple
  • 2 or 3 leaves of swiss chard (to taste)
  • 1\3 cup of coconut flesh and water
  • a few branches of parsley
  • water as needed

Chardlelidou!

Chardlelidou!

Blend all of this together and gently pour it in your nicest glass! Yes … today is a special day! And sprinkle lovely sunflower seeds on top!

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Time passed by and after staying 4 years at home with the kids it was time to reenter the labour market!… After one unsuccessful try to work for somebody else, I realized that I HAD to do something I really liked and work for myself… So I dived into the unknown and created my own company of originals clothing!  whohooooo!!!

Marie-Claude Gour

Marie-Claude Gour

So here I am after 4 years of growing success, using my creativity for women,  from which I make a happy living for my family and I!

(here I am doing my last delivery of clothes before Christmas, VERY pregnant!!!)

Original Clothing Line - Marie-Claude Gour

Original Clothing Line - Marie-Claude Gour

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Swish!

Swish!

Swish!

By Marie-Claude Gour

  • 1 banana
  • few pieces of pineapple
  • 1 orange
  • 2 big swiss chard leaves
  • half a cup of cilantro
  • piece of ginger ( to taste)
  • half a glass of water

Blend it all well! - makes 2 full wine glasses

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Feel free to visit my kingdom of creativity here! www.marieclaudegour.com (the English version is under construction! So please use the French side and go for “peinture” for paintings, “dessin” for drawings and “couture and collection saisonnières” for the clothes…sorry for the inconvenience!)

My word of wisdom would be “you’ll always find abundance where your passion is” …so follow your heart and go with the flow!

Marie-claudexxx

Still writing with one hand, breast-feeding a sleepy baby while DRINKING MY (NOW) ESSENTIAL GREEN SMOOTHIE!!!!

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Papa Yeaaah!

Papa Yeaaah!

Papa yeaaah!

By Marie-Claude Gour

  • 1 orange
  • 2 pears
  • a small piece of papaya
  • kale (to taste)
  • cilantro (to taste)
  • fresh ginger
  • couple of raisins

Blend it all well!  Makes 20 oz

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les 3 divaa

les 3 divaa

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From SAD to Smiles!

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 by stacey

I know by the time February rolls around, it seems like my mood and emotions permanently set up camp in the basement, and they choose the dreariest and most miserable corner of that basement they can find.  Then they turn out the lights until about June.  This year, my goal is to fight back!  And thanks to Kate, I now have some great ingredients in my arsenal!

‘Blue’ Smoothies!

- by Kate Nicholson

Boost your mood with a smoothie!

Any fellow sufferers feeling a little blue from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) as winter inches its way along will be cheered by these happy-making ingredients for ‘Beat-the-Blues’ smoothies…

To the usual mix of 40% green leafy veggies and 60% of fruit, try adding any of the following…

  • Sesame seeds: these are one of the richest sources of the amino acid threonine (low levels of which are one of the culprits for depression). A spoonful of raw tahini mixes best.
  • A teaspoon of raw chocolate powder (high quantities of phenols, antioxidants which boost the mood) and N-acylethanoloamine, a chemical which stimulates the brain to produce endorphins.
  • Nuts are a good source of omega-3’s, B-vitamins, magnesium and protein, all providing mood-enhancing qualities. Hazelnuts and almonds are particularly good for supporting the nervous system.
  • Bananas: starchy carbohydrate which helps to produce serotonin.
  • Broccoli sprouts, which contain folate, a natural protection against depression, plus you get as much antioxidant in 25grams of broccoli sprouts as you would if you ate 1.36 kilograms of fully grown broccoli.
  • Parsley: an abundant supplier of B-vitamins. Also a good source of glutamine, a potent brain food, and essential nutrient for healing.
  • Avocado: rich in omega-3’s, lecithin (protects cells from oxidation and largely makes up the protective sheaths surrounding the brain) and also acts as a ‘nutrient-booster’ enabling the body to absorb antioxidants more efficiently.
  • Raw honey: contains small amounts of antioxidants and is wonderful for busting S.A.D. sugar cravings!

Experiment and enjoy! And don’t forget a good dose of daily fresh air - even if the sun isn’t shining!

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The Popeye Punch!

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 by stacey

by Kate Nicholson

As a long-term vegetarian, I’ve suffered from chronic mild anaemia for the last ten years or so. It wasn’t until I switched to a raw vegan diet at the end of last year that my iron levels rocketed from a low-energy haemoglobin level of 10.4 to a ‘got to take the stairs at a run ‘cos I’ve got so much energy‘ 13.7!).  I’m attributing this to a regular intake of my favourite green smoothie - the Popeye Punch!

The Popeye Punch

(By Kate Nicholson)

1 cup of mixed organic berries
1 organic Fairtrade banana
2 handfuls of organic spinach
1 handful of organic parsley
1 tsp spirulina
filtered water to top up
splash of Agave (optional)

The vitamin C rich berries enhance the absorption of the bio-available iron from the spinach. There’s also a host of other health benefits to be gained from this delicious refreshing smoothie - spinach maintains good eyesight by helping to prevent age-related macula degeneration, and also protects against cancer and heart disease.

Bananas contain the mood-enhancer tryptophan and as Fairtrade bananas ensure better wages and working conditions for plantation workers (which consequently has a beneficial knock-on effect for their families) every one benefits! Karma points!

Enjoy!

References:

Adnani, S.  Health benefits of spinach.  Retrieved from

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-spinach.html

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Purple Passion Smoothie! Who said anything about green?

Thursday, November 19th, 2009 by admin

beetsI am just loving beetroot at the moment, and have come up with a super recipe for beet smoothie, which not only has great liver cleansing powers, it’s also my favourite colour….Purple!

The liver is the largest gland in the human body and is responsible for several functions which keep our bodies in good health including the production of bile. A healthy liver can benefit all parts of the body and so if it doesn’t function properly, the body can’t function at peak capacity either. My liver has taken a bit of a battering of late and I can feel that my body isn’t performing at its optimum level so it’s time to I did something to redress this situation. NOW!

Beetroot is one of the few vegetables which you can enjoy both their roots and leaves. Studies have shown that beetroots can help to protect liver cells from harmful chemicals as they contain the compound betacyanin – the red pigment which is found in beetroot. This pigment provides the body with powerful antioxidant protection. Beetroot is also rich in folate, a water soluble B vitamin which is important for a healthy heart and is also essential for the growth of tissues in the body. The red pigment in beetroot helps to raise the antioxidant enzyme levels in the liver and may also promote detoxification in the intestines, blood and liver.

Beet greens are also delicious and are rich in vitamins and minerals. They contain almost twice the potassium of the beetroot, as well as high levels of folic acid.

My Purple Passion Smoothie contains both beetroot and its leaves and is a gorgeous rich purple colour which fills you with that feel good factor!

Simply juice:

  • a small beetroot
  • a handful of beet green leaves
  • a handful of spinach
  • ½ cucumber
  • 1 large carrot
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 apples

Then transfer the juice to your blender and blend with 2 bananas and extra spinach if desired. Pour into an elegant wine glass and savour – purple bliss!!!!lisa-purple-passion-pic

This is an excellent smoothie for those sceptical about the appearance of green smoothies, as the intense purple of the beetroot predominates and the greens are cleverly hidden!

Lisa Simpson

Raw Liberty

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Pomegranate: A New Take on My Old Favorite (Banana, Pomegranate, and Spinach Smoothie)

Saturday, January 10th, 2009 by Doll

pomegranate juiceI’ve gotten myself into a rut with my smoothies lately being the same old, same old…bananas, baby spinach and sometimes some frozen strawberries or orange pieces.  Today I wanted to try something new and inspiring.

Just before the holidays we purchased a really great juicer.  This is something I’ve always wanted, or thought I wanted.  So far I’ve enjoyed juicing carrots, apples, oranges and even making almond milk.  Pretty good stuff!

Today was the day to be daring.  I tossed my banana in the blender then tossed a pomegranate into the juicer.  I added a couple of tablespoons of the pomegranate juice to the banana and blended away.  A little extra water was added since I knew that I didn’t really want pudding.  Tossing in some baby spinach made this a great snack for me!

The outcome?  Not too bad.  The pomegranate was a little tart for me but for those who really enjoy this juicy fruit, I’m sure it would be loved be all!  A little more spinach or romaine would have been a great asset.

I wonder where my imagination will take me next time?

Doll Creelman

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Family Slushie (Frozen Green Smoothie with Bananas, Mangos, and Spinach)

Friday, December 12th, 2008 by Aran

green smoothie slushie - bananas and mangoes
We’ve been buying extra mangoes and bananas because they are in season Down Under, and freezing the extras. I went to make a large batch of mango smoothie, and discovered a slushie!

Summer Green Slushie!

  • 200g (7oz) frozen baby English spinach leaves
  • 4-6 frozen bananas
  • 3 frozen mangoes

I put the above ingredients into my food processor and processed them on high until they were chopped up. I then slowly added water (to the desired consistency) and didn’t want to wait for it to thaw out, so had it as a smoothie. This made up 2 litres (quarts).

Yum!!! What a great summer dessert.

Blessings,
Veronica

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