Strawvocado smoothies!!!

Summertime in a glass! What do you get when you cross delicious California strawberries with ripe avocadoes on a hot summer day?

Strawvocado smoothies ofcourse!  For a vitamin C and E packed snack, try out my recipe for Strawvocado smoothies! Strawberries contain tons of cancer-fighting antioxidants and immune-system boosting vitamin C.  Creamy avocadoes are good for your entire body! Aside from having a very high level of nutrient density and lots of Vitamin E, they are a good source of monounsaturated fat, which studies have shown speeds up digestion and you’re your metabolism.  The addition of avocado to this smoothie helps you feel fuller for longer and gives the smoothie a creamy texture.  Enjoy!

Chocolate Strawvocado Smoothie Recipe

(Makes 1 smoothie- for more double or triple!)

1c ice

1c strawberries

1/3 avocado

2tsp local honey or agave nectar

1/2c chocolate almond milk

Optional- add 1/4c of greek yogurt for extra blast of protein 

Eat Summer!

It’s summertime in San Diego and there’s no place on earth I would rather be (with the exception of French Polynesia but, come on, who wouldn’t ?)  The next few posts will be dedicated to celebrating the essence of summer in Southern California because the sun has finally come out, the clouds have gone away, the water is (slightly) warming up, and it’s simply a great time be outside!  We are so lucky to have an array of fresh, local fruits and vegetables at our beck and call here in San Diego at the end of June- foods like avocadoes, zucchinis, tomatoes, fresh citrus, and what I swear are some of the best strawberries in the world!  So I want to give them credit, because credit is due!  The short distance these foods travel from farm to table inherently contributes to their refreshing flavor.  Using local, seasonal fruits and vegetables makes any recipe more appealing because they can be picked at the height of their ripeness, not forced to ripen on a temperature-controlled truck while traveling across the country.  I always encourage people to eat seasonally and in the summertime there are no excuses! Find a local farm, check out the local farmer’s markets (open later in the evening now too), or try out a CSA.  You won’t regret it!

Hi!

“We are indeed much more than we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are” Adelle Davis

Hello!  My name is Wendy Leicht and I am new contributor to this awesome blog.  Before I start sharing my love of food with you, let me introduce myself.  

I am food anthropologist who landed in Southern California- Ocean Beach, San Diego to be exact.  This, by default, makes me both a hippy and a foodie.  I am an organic gardener, slow food fanatic, locavore, and an inquisitive student of culture and lifestyle.  I am dedicated to eating whole foods and eliminating processed food from my life as much as possible.  This blog will discuss interesting and fun foods I come into contact with, as well as, delicious recipes inspired by the foods in my garden and the philosophy of cooking from scratch.  With obesity and other food-related health problems becoming a mainstream problem, chefs, nutrition experts, and even people like you and me are calling for a return to handmade foods made from ingredients we can pronounce, as a tasty and healthy solution to the overconsumption of foods high in calories, artificial sugars, and highly processed fats.  I hope to inspire you to make yummy lunches and host happy dinner parties with foods that taste great and are healthy as well.  As you read, please keep in mind that the word "healthy" can be quite subjective and subject to various interpretations based on your background and experience.  (Additionally, we are all human and sometimes we just NEED chocolate.)  So enjoy, share, savor, and be merry!