The Pink Smoothie

So - if you made the pink salad, from my last post, you'll likely have some very red water leftover from boiling your beets.  And if not, boil some beets!  Then you'll have one of the necessary ingredients for this AMAZING morning smoothie. 

Admittedly, I was somewhat nervous about using beet juice in a smoothie - but I had this leftover, blood-red liquid that i knew was loaded with goodness.  I couldn't just throw it out!

Beets are not only an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron - but they also provide vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C.  The juice rendered from a beet is rich in choline, folic acid, iodine, manganese and potassium.  So many good things from one little plant.  

So here's what I did with our leftover beet water. 

A Pink Smoothie . . .

1 c. beet water

2 apples, peeled and cored

2 bananas

1/4 c. coconut milk 

1 c. ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender, a food processor or a smoothie maker.  Then drink it.  You will be surprised at how good this smoothie tastes.  It might have been the most tasty smoothie I've ever had.  My 2 year old asked for seconds and my 8 month old loved it too.  

The Pink Salad

I took a picture of this salad - but one of my kids deleted it before I could post it.  However - it really is a beautiful pink salad.  It may be a while - but when I make it again, I will post a picture of it.  Here's the recipe though - a VERY tasty little number.

3-4 large beets
3 organic romaine hearts - chopped
2 cans marinated bean salad (I buy it at Trader Joe's)
1 small chopped onion
4 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 Tbsp butter or oil
3-4 chopped carrots

To prepare the beets:  wash them and quarter them.  Then put the unpeeled beets into a pot of water.  Cover the pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and let them cook for an hour or so - until the beets are nice and soft.  Then remove beets and allow them to cool a bit.  Once they are cool enough to handle, use a spoon to separate the beets from the skins.  Then chop the cooked beets into bite-size pieces and put them in a large bowl.  Saute' chopped onion and sliced mushrooms in butter or oil - until soft.  Then add them to the beets.  Chop the romaine and the carrots and add them.  Then add the two cans of marinated bean salad and toss it all together.
This salad is amazing.  Full of great nutrients and so good.  And it is so pretty and pink.  I promise to post a picture soon.

Notes and Tips:

• Save the water in which the beets were boiled to add to your morning smoothie.
• If you want more "dressing" than the marinade from the beans, add a little balsamic vinaigrette.
• Radishes are also nice chopped and added to this salad.