Oh hi. Yep, STILL JUST ME HERE.
We’ve tried eggplant, pineapple, spicy foods (which, side note, I think I might be a Pancheros convert. You can add queso to your burrito…!) and a seriously long walk, yet nothin’. No baby! It’s fine, I’ve come to terms with it. Nobody stayed pregnant forever so until that special day comes, we wait…
And sip luxurious, Secretly Healthy Cherry-Peach Smoothies!
So I went a little crazy at the grocery store last weekend, buying enough produce to feed a family of 10 for at least a week. I just can’t help myself around this time of year when fresh fruits and veggies are so inexpensive and abundant they’re practically giving ’em away.
That being said, Ben and I are now in a race against the clock to polish off a fridge and counter top full of of raspberries, sweet corn, asparagus, zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, pineapple, peaches, plums, and cherries. No seriously. These use or lose items all need to be eaten (or frozen, I suppose) before we leave for the 3-4 day hospital stay that’s looming in our very near future.
Tonight we’re having a clean out the fridge night where many of the aforementioned ingredients are destined to sit atop a bed of lettuce after a date with my chef’s knife, and for breakfast I’ve been enjoying these Secretly Healthy Cherry-Peach Smoothies which combine fresh cherries, peaches, and Greek yogurt (’cause Lord knows I still have enough yogurt!) with a secret healthy ingredient – baby spinach!
If you’ve ever had my Top Secret Diet Weapon Smoothie then you can attest to the fact that you truly can’t taste baby spinach when it’s blended into smoothies with a few sweet ingredients, which is great because spinach is fabulous low-cal, fat-free way to add a ton of essential vitamins and minerals to your diet.
If the kermit-color freaks you out though, this smoothie is for you. While the summery-sweet flavor of cherries and peaches mask any subtle spinach flavor, the deep crimson color of the cherries also nixes any and all shades of bright green that the healthy addition would otherwise bring to the table. PLUS did you know that cherries are full of antioxidants and help reduce swelling associated with arthritis? My knuckles, which feel like those of someone twice my age from pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel (I know) are seriously pleased. Secretly healthy smoothies, for the win!
Gosh I’m chatty. Maybe this is the burst of energy I’ve been hearing about before the onset of labor?!
Anywho, the recipe is simple, as all good smoothies should be.
Start by scooping 6oz Black Cherry or Peach Greek Yogurt into a blender which provides a rich creaminess and protein, aka staying power, to the smoothie.
Next add 1 cup pitted cherries – fresh or frozen – just make sure they’re sweet not sour cherries.
Like I said I went absolutely bonkers for produce this weekend, and especially for cherries. Not only did I buy a pallet from Costco but I also felt the need to buy a giant bag from the regular grocery store when I saw their cherries were on sale for $1.98/lb. Madness, I tell you!
Next add 1 sliced peach, or 1 cup frozen peach slices. The peaches are so sweet this time of year that I opted for fresh. Yum!
Finally add 1 – 2 cups baby spinach on top – fresh or frozen. If you’ve never tried adding spinach to your smoothies, I’d start at 1 cup and work your way up just in case you think you can taste it (which I promise you won’t.)
A word on frozen spinach – I have never used pre-frozen spinach from the carton in my smoothies. I’m sure it’s fine, but I prefer to freeze baby spinach myself in a freezer bag and just use that. It’s easier to pull out a cup or two instead of having to hack off a portion of the frozen cube.
I like to stock up when the store is having a 2/$4 or 2/$3 sale and freeze a few bags for easy smoothie additions when I need ’em.
Finally add 1/4 cup milk – any kind will do. If you used frozen cherries and/or peaches you may need a touch more to get the smoothie goin’.
Place a lid on top of the blender and let ‘er rip!
Sweet, decadent, and seriously (shh – secretly!) healthy!
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Cherry-Peach Smoothies
Description
Secretly Healthy Cherry-Peach Smoothies have a healthy ingredient nobody will ever guess is in there!
Ingredients
- 6oz Black Cherry or Peach Chobani Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen sweet cherries
- 1 fresh peach, sliced OR 1 cup frozen peach slices
- 1 - 2 cups fresh or flash-frozen baby spinach (see note below)
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond breeze)
Directions
- Combine yogurt, cherries, and peach slices in a blender then add 1 - 2 cups baby spinach (this will depend on your preference. I personally cannot taste baby spinach in smoothies, but if you are just starting out I'd add just 1 cup.) Add 1/4 cup milk then blend until very smooth, adding up to an additional 1/4 cup milk if necessary to blend all ingredients.
Notes
To freeze baby spinach yourself, transfer fresh baby spinach to a freezer bag and then freeze.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Because I think cherries are such a special treat, as they have such a short season each year, this smoothie tastes especially decadent to me. Could be eaten as a breakfast, OR a healthier dessert option. Totally your call. Either way, enjoy!
Oh, also, life tip #4,637: Do not leave a blender full of Secretly Healthy Cherry-Peach Smoothies perched precariously on a shelf in your freezer while you clean up the kitchen. This will happen when you open the door, which will make your head nearly explode and take almost an hour to clean up. @#$%!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction 08.01.2013
Love fresh cherries in smoothies this time of year! Hope you get to meet your little guy soon!!
Rachel 08.01.2013
Ugh, I had pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel as well. Not fun. The little guy will come when he’s ready, but I know the waiting is the hardest part. I ended up being induced on my due date with my son, only because my doc was going on vacation & I’d’ve been 2 weeks overdue by the time he got back! Good luck!!! :)
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health 08.01.2013
What a shame that you spilled this delicious smoothie!! Ugh, it looks so good. Love the tip on spinach too, thanks! I’ve done the same thing and spilled a whole smoothie before work all in my fridge. Best way to induce a mini stroke.
Come on Iowa Baby Eats! I say today is the day!! :)
Mandy @ Eat Pray Grow 08.01.2013
Why didn’t I think of combining peaches and cherries – my favorite fruits ever! I bet peaches and raspberries would be an awesome duo, too. I think your suggestion to freeze the produce is a great idea – you can still use them for smoothies in the meantime, and after baby comes, you’ll have the rest to enjoy! Our baby is coming in the wintertime, so I imagine frozen will be my only choice :-P
Mandy @ Eat Pray Grow 08.01.2013
By the way, I’m the reader you convinced to go to Charleston for our anniversary vacation. The vacation was great, and said baby above – well, we found out about him/her a few short weeks after!
Kari Fortner 08.01.2013
Let me tell you I am so impressed at how patient you are being! In a day where instant labor can happen, you are letting your body do the work it’s meant to do! It took me until the my fourth pregnancy to come to that realization. You won’t regret it for sure! I still vividly remember my first real contraction with her! Good luck, and LOVE your blog.
Steve P. 08.01.2013
This might sound CRAZY But I Know Someone That has had two kids after having a small glass of wine and by the next day went in to labor
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking 08.01.2013
These smoothies look scrumptious! Love the additions of greek yogurt and spinach. Fingers crossed that your little man makes his appearance this week!
Tieghan 08.01.2013
Mmm! Looks so good! I am loving cherries for the first time this summer. I cannot get enough of them!
Elly 08.01.2013
Team Pancheros!
Can you freeze fresh spinach, and then thaw to use in recipes that call for cooked spinach (sauteed or otherwise)? Just wondering if it “holds up”.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.01.2013
You know what, I’ve never tried! Only used it in smoothies. I will give it a go sometime and report back!
MOM 08.01.2013
I use frozen spinach all the time in smoothies and in skillet dishes that require spinach – ie, stir to wilt. There is no difference in taste and can use what might go bad in the frig or if on sale for .99 a bag!
Mia 08.01.2013
Tomorrow is a perfect day for a baby! It’s my birthday! Good luck, it will be great!
Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine 08.01.2013
Oh yay!! I have been looking for a new smoothie recipe to try. Peaches and cherries? Winner winner! Can’t wait to make it! (:
jad18 08.01.2013
Sending positive thoughts your way and you have the right attitude about the fact that no one is pregnant forever. Do you know that you are having a C-Section? I only ask that because you usually don’t stay in the hospital for 3-4 days unless you have a C-Section. It makes me think of the Office where Pam waited to go to the hospital b/c she wanted to stay as long as possible there once she had the baby.
Iowa Girl Eats 08.01.2013
For some reason my hospital makes you stay 3 days for regular delivery, 4 days for c-section. So long!
Jessica H 08.01.2013
Same here… Three days for normal vaginal delivery and 4 days for c-section. I knew what you meant IGE!
Tracy 08.01.2013
Oh my! You will be SO ready to go home!
Anne 08.01.2013
I beg to differ! Our Maternity Centers in our hospitals available in DM are mini-resorts. I didn’t want to leave:) the food, nurse support, amenities…everything!!! was so fantastic.
Amanda O. 08.01.2013
This looks great! My youngest and self-proclaimed “little man” (he is 2 and walks around calling himself that when someone asks his name) was 8 days late…I had to be induced with him. Sad part was, insurance wouldn’t let the doctor induce until we were on day 8. We tried everything, including a bumpy car ride on a horrible Central Nebraska road…Good luck! He will come when he’s ready…he may just be a little stubborn. ;)
Melissa 08.01.2013
Ahh, looks so, so good! I will definitely be making this sometime soon!
Amanda B. 08.01.2013
I was 5 days over at my 40 week appointment. When my OB checked me I was 2 cm which was enough to strip my membranes. They use their fingers to separate the bag of waters from the uterus and it releases progesterone. I had this done. It was no more uncomfortable then the pelvic exam itself. My appointment was at 11 am and my water broke that evening at 8pm. My little girl was born at 5:05 am the next morning. That was almost a year ago (August 2012). Good Luck!
Jenny 08.01.2013
LOL!!! DO NOT share ‘fun’ stories like that with a new-to-be-momma…you’re gonna freak her out!! LOL!!…stripping away bodily membranes with fingers and such…I’ve had four children and that grossed me out!
Cindy 08.01.2013
Good luck to you!! Have you ever tried Almond Coconut Almond Breeze Milk?! It’s so delicious! I feel like I’m sipping out of a giant coconut every time I drink it!!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.01.2013
I have – so tropical tasting!
Tricia 08.01.2013
Seriously these look delicious and both my kids haid they’d eat them!! :). My sister-in-law did.castor oil. she was in labor aday later;).
Molly 08.01.2013
This smoothie looks very tasty! I also love cherries and mixed with peaches sounds delicious! I hope today is the day for you and your little one! But you are right, he will come when he is ready! Enjoy these last few hours and soon you will have something so precious and little that you never imagined you could love sooo much! So excited for you!!
Sue 08.01.2013
Have you ever used kale in smoothies? I have a huge bunch of kale that I got as part of a local produce groupon I bought and I’m trying to figure out what to do with it.
Lea 08.01.2013
I’m a big advocate for putting spinach in smoothies so I thought I’d give kale a try once not long ago and it didn’t work well for me. It just didn’t blend as smoothly leaving a gritty texture and the bitter taste was hard to override.
If anyone knows a better way to put kale in smoothies I’m all ears.
Amy 09.20.2013
Regular kale does NOT work, I just used baby kale this morning, and it’s fine. I prefer the spinach, because you cannot taste it at all! (I think I could taste the kale a bit). Also try adding 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and “Voila!” You have a cherry chocolate smoothie! Delish!
Brittany 08.01.2013
Personally, Kale in smoothies makes me nervous to even think about since it isnt as smooth as spinach. BUT, this happens to be my absolute favorite IGE Kale recipe https://iowagirleats.com/2013/04/11/creamy-kale-mushroom-chicken-pasta/
I am not a fan of mushrooms in the LEAST so I skip those, but the creaminess factor in this dish is out of this world :D
Good luck!
Bri
Iowa Girl Eats 08.01.2013
I haven’t but if you have a high-powered blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix I’m sure it would blend right up (though you might be able to taste a hint of it if you add too much.) If you’re still looking for recipes, here are some ideas for you! :) https://iowagirleats.com/recipes/?search_term=kale&ui=402&ki=1
Tom T. 08.01.2013
I have used Kale in juice when my juicer wasn’t broken (I need to get that fixed). So, if you have a juicer, you could juice the kale and add it to your smoothie. Or you could just use all these things in a juice.
I always used spinach in any juice I made and if you have any fruit you can’t taste the spinach at all, but it does come out green.
Jody 08.01.2013
I use it all the time. It’s usually cheaper than spinach & I can’t taste it at all in my smoothies. I buy fresh then rinse & use my salad spinner to get the excess water off. Then tear off pieces (I throw away the stems) and put on a cookie sheet & put into freezer. Then you can put them in a plastic bag & pull out how much you need. Hope you like it.
Emily @ Life on Food 08.01.2013
Oh no! Freezer spills are the worst. I certainly hope it was the hubby that cleaned the mess up and not you!
Iowa Girl Eats 08.01.2013
Unfortunately not. It was the morning and he was at work for the day. Me and the hardwood got nice and friendly!