Smoothie for Health!

OK. I do not get sick often. I really don't. I haven't been sick, more than occasionally having sniffles or sneezes due to allergies, for the most part since fall of 2009 (It's true that I do get migraines due to incoming storms, but I don't count that as being "sick.").

I've been trying to avoid it for a couple of days, but it got me. I'm sickish. Headache, sinus pressure, ear pain, post nasal drip, achiness, exhaustion, sore throat, swollen glands... I think it was passed along from my son who got it from one of his friends in the neighborhood. We homeschool, so it must have come from one of the traditionally schooled kids...  :P

Today, I haven't felt like making food. I have been drinking broth, boullion, hot tea and eating nothing but crackers. I know the broth and hot tea can help when you are sick, but I felt I needed a bit more, so I went into the kitchen to experiment. This yummy concoction is what I came away with:

(all measurements are approximate)

In a blender combine:

1 Medium Banana
1 Cup Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1/2 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 Tbsp Raw Honey
1 Raw, Pastured Egg

Pulse in blender until the big chunks are broken up and then blend until it looks good to you. It is super thick, creamy, and delicious. It has fiber from the fruits, protein from the yogurt and egg, tons of probiotics from the yogurt, antibacterial action from the raw honey and it is cold on my sore throat. While it certainly would have been better if everything had been organic and homemade, I think I did pretty good for baby-stepping my way to better health. And this smoothie is good enough to make a regular part of my real food plan!

Do you have any favorite go-to items for when you are feeling under the weather? Please share them in the comments below!



I've linked this post to some wonderful recipes at City Wife / Country Life's Tasty Tuesdays. Why don't you head over there to check it out? She has a fabulous recipe for homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dip with none of the fillers and gums you find in the stuff from the store.

Broth Pictures

I thought I would share some pictures with you. I took these during the broth making process today.





After straining the "rib broth"

Ready to cool before going in the freezer

After straining the turkey neck broth and picking the bones clean!



The wonderful, tender, flavorful meat from the turkey necks





Making broth is an easy thing to do and so good for you and your family. It is not really time consuming. The stove (or crock pot) does all the work for you. You just throw everything in and wait for it to finish!



* I always use a good quality sea salt.

* I sometimes simmer just bones, an acid (any kind of vinegar, citrus juice...), salt and enough water to cover the bones by a couple of inches.

* Sometimes I add herbs that compliment the stock I'm making. Sage can be added to a turkey broth. Thyme or Oregano to chicken. Onions, Garlic, Celery, Carrots, Bell Peppers can all be added to flavor your broth, if you choose. How ever you want your base to taste is completely up to you.

* Isn't that easy?

Why don't you try your had at making broth and let me know how it turns out?

By the way, this post is participating in "Real Food Wednesdays" over at Kelly the KitchenKop's Blog. You should really stop by and check out her blog, it is one I read all the time and is full of great ideas and information... then there are all the comments and links that follow each post. It is an absolute treasure trove of information!