Orange Creamsicle Greens & Protein Smoothie

Green smoothies... All the rage right now.

While I try not to follow "new miracle" food trends. There are a few trends that have really improved my over-all health and wellness. I try to drink a green smoothie every single day.

My energy level skyrockets and theyreally lift me out of that tired early morning grogginess. When do babies and preschoolers sleep through the night again? Never? Oh right...so I guess I'll be drinking green smoothies forever.

 I've learned what my body needs to function and what my cravings really mean. Since the addition of RAW Fit protein powder to my daily green smoothie my cravings have almost 100% diminished. Now, I am a woman after all so chocolate cravings will never disappear but they aren't controlling my diet any more.

 Green smoothies on their own shouldn't be a full meal replacement but adding RAW fit makes them more satisfying and adds even more kicked up nutrients.

 My Cacao Berry Blend Protein Shake uses RAW Protein in Cacao flavor. All protein powders are not created equal, in that post I show you all the junk found in your average protein powder.
Finding an organic and GMO free verified dietary brand was a life saver!


RAW Fit is a USDA Certified organic, RAW, plant-based vegan high-protein powder that is an easy way to increase your protein intake.

One of the "trendy" ingredients in RAW Fit, is Green Coffee Bean Extract- It helps you maintain healthy blood sugar, boosts energy and naturally increase fat burning capabilities.

Between the duties of being a stay at home mommy, my business and all of the other things life throws your way, I missed going to my Barre Fitness classes for 2 whole weeks! I still managed to lose 2lbs in those 2 weeks and I'd like to think its with the help of my smoothies!

One thing to always remember is to keep trying new ways to make your smoothies so you don't lose momentum . I always buy different kinds of fruits, greens flavor and yogurts to keep it interesting.

This smoothie recipe is my favorite and most used! It reminds me of an orange Julius but greener, healthier and without the sugar.

You need:

8oz Organic 100% Orange Juice
4oz Organic Kefir  (I buy all different flavors but I've heard some amazing things about adding small amounts of pomegranate to your diet so I'd been buying the pom/acai blend
1 ripe medium banana(frozen) I let my bananas ripen and then freeze for smoothies. You can use a non frozen banana and add ice as needed instead.
1 scoop RAW Fit- Garden Of Life
1 individual packet/ 1 scoop Orange Blend Greens- Amazing Grass

Always add your wet ingredients first when blending with powders- otherwise it will taste grainy
add in fruit next and then RAW Fit & Greens

Blend on high until desired consistency. I prefer more of a juice beverage consistency but if you like more yogurty add more kefir, or Ice for a "granita" style =)

Drink up with a cute paper straw for added pizzazz :P

This Post was featured on Small Footprint Fridays

Real Food: Tropical Greens Breakfast Smoothie

I am not really a breakfast person. I LOVE breakfast food, but I am just not good at eating in the morning.

I rather drink 3 cups of coffee...

One thing that's easier for me is making smoothies. I posted the yummy chocolate one here.  Now its time for a yummy tropical fruit version. Except this one has GREENS instead of protein! Feel free to switch them out or use both! Breakfast is SO important to a healthy, active lifestyle, but for me it is one of the hardest meals to eat. Mornings with a 14 month old and a 3 year old are HECTIC and taking care of mama just takes a backseat sometimes! 

Smoothies are so easy, and PORTABLE! 

I have a love for Amazing Grass Goji Greens because they are so fruity and tangy I don't even taste the "greens" part!

In a blender goes 8oz preferred juice. I LOVE the orange, peach mango combination*. Very "tropical" =)

1 Kiwi Fruit*

5 Large Strawberries*

I sachet Greens*

1 cup of ice.

Blend on high for 1 minute and enjoy =)

* organic 

Chocolate Berry Protein Shake

Dieting...ugh even the word DIET stinks. I've been on the very slow process of "lifestyle change" for a good 7 years now.

I'm getting a little personal because I think reading a REAL story is more motivating.

Before my little munchkins I was a gym-going, kickboxing class loving powerhouse, but I still ate crappy food. With the excuse of course that I just burned 800 calories at the gym. This worked for awhile, I got down to my smallest weight, probably a year before I met my hubby. Which for me was a comfortable size 14.

After two kiddos, a galbladder surgery and other "bumps in the road" I've moved back up to a size 18.

My family and I have been on a natural and organic path for a long time. With the except of eating out or delivery pizza, our cabinets remain pretty healthy. My kiddos are on a much stricter organic food lifestyle than myself and hubby but it was time that I lived up to my own rules for them, for myself...

Now, am I ever going to get Mr. J to not have some tacos or pizza? NO am I ever going to give up tacos or pizza? probably not.. But we can make 99.9% of our eating choices healthy with the occasional splurge not throwing me off track.

I don't eat salad, Its gross to me, the texture, the wetness I'm not a rabbit. Sorry. So the salad "dieting" thing just doesn't work for me. But REAL food that I can enjoy cooking and enjoy eating does work. If I don't know what an ingredient is, I don't buy it or eat it. I also really try to  avoid GM ingredients. Almost impossible if you go to a restaurant but easy enough to accomplish if you do some research, know the foods and ingredients to avoid and make most meals yourself.

I wanted to share just a super simple, filling smoothie recipe that has really come in handy for me. Its 100% natural really helps me avoid "snacking" between meals.

Protein shakes are a tricky subject. Pre-made mixes are usually packed with sugar and chemicals.Its hard not to get caught up in THINKING you are drinking something healthy when indeed you are not. A friend recently told me about Jillian Michael's protein blend and I was SHOCKED at the ingredients..

I highlighted the ones that were the most shocking:
Nutrition Information. Proprietary Protein Blend 19G, %Daily Value Not Established: Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate). Bcaa Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine). Ingredients: Proprietary Protein Blend ((Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate), Bcaa Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine)), Buttermilk Powder, Inulin, Oat Fiber, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Fructose, Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Stevia Extract (Stevia Rebaudiana) (Leaf). Contains Milk And Soy Ingredients. Contains Small Amounts Of Soy Lecithin To Improve Mixability. Typical Amino Acid Profile (Milligrams Per 27 G Scoop****): Essential Amino Acids: Histidine 309 Mg, Isoleucine 952 Mg, Leucine 1,744 Mg, Lysine, 1,262 Mg, Methionine 302 Mg, Phenylalanine 463 Mg, Threonine 1,086 Mg, Tryptophan***** 232 Mg, Valine 915 Mg. Nonessential Amino Acids: Alanine 624 Mg, Arginine 418 Mg, Aspartic Acid 1,586 Mg, Cysteine 294 Mg, Glutamic Acid 2,005 Mg, Glycine 263 Mg, Proline 812 Mg, Serine 806 Mg, Tyrosine 423 Mg. ***Daily Value Not Established For Sugars. ****Approximate Values. *****L-Tryptophan Is Naturally Occurring, Not Added.

so this "health" food is #1 being sweetened TWICE, and #2 they aren't telling you the value of the sugar added? I know there are mixed thoughts on Stevia, but it is a danger to your health..For more info on Stevia, check this 100Days Of Real Food

I also wanted to add that, soy lechitin isn't the worst ingredient but if it's not organic its pretty much guaranteed to be derived from GM-soy. 

OK.. enough of my babbling.. I hope you guys share this journey with me and enjoy my take on a filling, yummy protein smoothie :)

You need:
1 scoop RAW protein powder.(chocolate is my favorite) PLEASE splurge and get this one 
1/2 cup almond milk (Silk is non GM and if you buy the sweetened vanilla version its sweetened with cane juice, not refined sugar)
1 Tablespoon ground organic flax
1 cup frozen organic berries. I've used strawberries, cherries, raspberries all yummy :)
1/4 cup organic yogurt
ICE

I used up my fresh cherries in this recipe & strawberries so it actually came to 1 and 1/4 cup of fruit. I also want to add that brewer's yeast is actually included in the RAW protein blend, but if you choose a different organic protein blend that does not contain it, its a great benefit, JAM packed with B vitamins.

You can use a smoothie shaker, like this one ( mine was free when I bought the protein ) I used the NINJA Euro Pro. I really like it so far but only time will really tell, it does crush ice and frozen fruit with ease, and even minced the cherry skins fine enough where they just blended right into the smoothie.

If you use a shaker cup, i suggest just cutting up and mashing fresh fruit instead of using the frozen berries :)

I decided to label my recipes on Myfitnesspal.com as "House Of J" and then the title of the recipe. If you are looking to track your calories/carbs/sugars its a good tool to use and I've enjoyed it in the past as well as recently. The only thing I noticed is that my brand of strawberries (wild harvest organic) was REALLY high in carbs, almost double of some other brands.. So be mindful of the frozen fruit you select. I also use Full Fat dairy products because of their health benefits and also because low fat dairy usually contains sugar that is NOT on the label.

Enjoy :)

Very Vanilla Iced Chai Latte

There is this little hole in the wall doughnut shop on the East Side in Manhattan called "Doughnut Plant". My friend and I used to walk all the way from the West Side, through crowded China town just for their iced chai's. You can't even sit and enjoy a doughnut and a drink in there without people knocking into you or giving you dirty stares that you are taking too long. Oh the joys of city living.

It was one of the stops that I tried to make one last time before leaving for the "country" sadly, no iced chai's that day (sad face)

One thing about coffee and lattes of any kind is how much "dough" you are forking over for one! I am still shocked when I order a coffee and a kids chocolate milk and its $10.00

Iced Chai's are so fun and easy to make at home. I've used so many recipes to blend my own but Oregon Chai concentrate is by far my favorite. It isn't too spicy and its just perfectly smooth. Even though it is sold back east, It took moving to Colorado to find out about it...YUM

In my new found eco-friendly fondness I also have a cute reusable coffee cup that I am in love with. It's 24oz so it does make one giant cup of chai(I got it on clearance!!) 

Here is a fun, fast and delicious recipe.

You Need: Makes 24oz

3/4 cup Oregon Chai Concentrate

Ice

1/4 cup vanilla soy milk

1/2 cup 2% milk

1 teaspoon madagascar vanilla bean powder ( a little pricey but it will last a long while, available at wholefoods in the baking isle)

Fill your cup half way with ice and pour in the chai concentrate. 

Measure out your milks and combine. Add in the vanilla powder, stiring until the powder has broken down and all you see is the tiny little black specks. Those are the vanilla beans :)

Add the milks & vanilla mixture to your cup, stir and enjoy :)

Dark Hot Chocolate

January is well under way and once the sun goes down its pretty darn cold around here.  Hot chocolate is always assumed to be a kids drink. You know the old story of the children playing in the snow and momma has a cup of cocoa waiting for when they come inside to get toasty. It's even been a cool trend for parties recently. Well, I love chocolate and I think it's time for a hot chocolate update. A more gourmet, grown up style cocoa that, with just a little effort could be a really delicious dessert drink on a cold wintery night.

There are a ton of cocoa mix recipes all over the web right now, and if you love Pinterest as much as I do, you've seen them.  Mine is just a little bit different, with ingredients you may not have thought to put in a cup of hot chocolate.

This recipe serves 1 but it is easily doubled or even quadrupled for great party dessert beverage. 

You need to start off with a quality unsweetened cocoa powder. I am all for buying budget friendly ingredients but when it comes to an ingredient being the main focus of whatever you are making, it needs to be quality stuff...save the grocery store cocoa for that batch of brownies you are planning for your next PTA meeting.

Just a quick side note:
I recently replaced all of my run of the mill spices for a full refresher from The Spice House . I've been very satisfied with the quality of every spice I've used from them so far, and if you have your own spice jars, their bulk options are more than reasonable. 

You need

1 tablespoon+1 tsp dutch processed cocoa powder

1 teaspoon espresso powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup milk

1/4 tsp orzata (almond syrup)

1 heaping teaspoon sweetened condensed milk.

House of J homemade vanilla bean marshmallows-optional 

Start with milk in a small sauce pan on low heat and gently whisk in cocoa,espresso and sugar until the mixture starts to simmer and bubbles form around the edges.

Add in your almond and sweetened condensed milk and let it come to a very slow rolling boil. 

Pour into  your favorite mug, get cozy and enjoy.

House of J now on Etsy!!

House of J is now on Etsy.com!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/HouseOfJParties?ref=si_shop

I am so excited. I have the most supportive and amazing hubby in the world. I love creating and I love to cook and bake.

This blog is about helping you do things yourself with easy laid back instructions but I get that sometimes you don't have the time,patience or energy so I'll do it!


I am just starting out professionally but it has been a passion of mine for a long long time. I love planning kids parties and I just cannot wait an entire year for Jacob and Julia to have a birthday, so please let me help with yours!

I only have a few things listed at the moment, but the possibilities are endless. Email me @ cutiepieevents@gmail.com and we can dream something up together. I can make you a private listing with a prototype of whatever it is you are looking for. 

Help support mom-owned and mom run businesses.

PS. if you are local and have a party related talent lets team up and do an event of some kind- I.E photography or face painting, makeup, whatever.

Drink gourmet this summer without the $$$

I love coffee.

The #1 money sucker of the summer has got to be iced coffee. It's delicious and refreshing and costs between $2-$8 a cup depending on what you get and where you get it. You can have a cup brewed from home just as great, if not better than what you can buy.

If you want to go all out, cold brewed coffee is especially great because it loses its bitterness, but if you can't wait 12-15 hours for a cup of coffee I totally understand. You can even go as far out as making your own flavored syrups. It can be as easy or as time consuming as you like. I'll give you the choice.

Easy:
Brew your coffee and pour over 1 half cup of ice.
1 Tsp sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup of milk

Stir and Drink up!
*note*
I'm a lightly sweetened strongly brewed coffee gal, if you need it sweeter, adjust the sweetened condensed vs the regular. Such as 1 Tblspoon condensed and 1/8 cup milk.

Cold brewed coffee requires water,coffee filters,coffee grounds, a strainer and patience. If you dont have these, see recipe above.

1 lb ground coffee.
8 quarts of water
mix together in a big canister or bowl and leave on the counter overnight. In the morning, take a fine mesh strainer and line it with coffee filters and pour coffee through the strainer into a pitcher, replacing the filters when the coffee starts to pour more slowly. This is considered "coffee concentrate" and a little goes a long way.

My Perfect Glass:
Hand full of ice in a tall glass
fill with coffee half way
1 heaping teaspoon sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup milk.

Syrups are easy. I will give you two that can be done in no time at all.
1 cup water and 1 cup sugar boiled until sugar is dissolved
turn down heat to medium and simmer 4 minutes.


This is a basic simple syrup, too it you can add vanilla or almond extract or both! 1 tablespoon added in once at a boil and left to simmer along with water/sugar combo.


I have about a gazillion coffee recipes, so look out for more in an upcoming post because now we are moving on to a great-

Raspberry iced tea recipe:


4 quarts boiling water
1 cup sugar
Zest of 1 lemon 
1 tsp Raspberry Agave syrup
1pt raspberries
5 lemon tea bags
5 lipton tea bags


After the water is boiled, add in ingredients and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Once cooled, add in ice and refrigerate. I keep the raspberries in the water. It looks pretty in the glass and the longer the raspberries sit the better the tea tastes.. Don't be shocked when they turn white!

I served this for Julia's 2nd birthday and it was so delish we made it about 4 more times just for ourselves that same week. I'd like to say I only serve fresh brewed but I can't. I do buy the powdered mixes out of busy mom necessity but once Julia no longer says MMMM to a 90% watered down apple juice, If I'm too busy to make fresh teas and lemonades for my family we will all be drinking WATER!