What is it about this "all of a sudden" obsession with kale? Well, I'll tell ya. Kale is a super food! One cup of chopped kale contains 33 calories and 9% of the daily value of calcium, 206% of vitamin A, 134% of vitamin C, and a whopping 684% of vitamin K. (WebMD) Kale comes from the same family as cabbage, broccoli, collard greens and Brussels sprouts. Don't let that turn you away from it! If you eat kale raw, then you are going to notice a cabbage/Brussels sprouts flavor to it. The flavor changes in the different ways that you cook it! Click over here for instructions on how to make Baked Kale Chips
The other ingredients in this smoothie are also very healthy. Pomegranates are also a super food. They contain antioxidants that help slow the progression of certain cancers and help the blood flow to the heart. (WebMD) The peach and Old Fashion Rolled Oats are going to add fiber which aids in the lowering of cholesterol and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract. The frozen strawberries are being used as a sugar substitute (and helps add color to the smoothie so it doesn't look so brown), whole milk contains boat loads of vitamin D. Lastly, the Greek style yogurt has a tangy flavor along with protein, calcium and potassium. You can add a different type of yogurt if you want, but I go for the plain Greek yogurt over any other kind. One, because it does not have any sugar in it and two it has added protein.
What you will need:
1 Pomegranate
1 Peach
1 cup Frozen Strawberries
1/2 cup Old Fashion Rolled Oats
1 cup Whole Milk
1 cup Plain Greek Style Yogurt
1 cup Kale (I am using Organic Red Kale)
1 Blender
First of all, we have to peel the pomegranate. If you have ever peeled a pomegranate and ended up with a red-blood spattered shirt...you're doing it wrong. Below are step by step instructions on how to not ruin another shirt or stain your kitchen counters!
Fill up the kitchen sink with water and put a strainer inside
Next, cut off the belly button
Gently, slice the pomegranate like you are peeling an orange. Cut the skin enough that it cuts through the outer layer, but not too deep that your knife starts to turn red
If you cut it correctly, then the outer layers will come apart very easily. Before going to town to peel apart the layers, submerge the pomegranate in the strainer full of water in the kitchen sink.
Now start peeling apart the layers while the pomegranate is under water. If you happen to break open any of the seeds, the red from the seeds will be contained in the water. Brilliant, eh?
As you are pulling the seeds out (still under water) the outer layers will float to the top. It will make straining the seeds much easier if you move the peels outside of the strainer as shown below:
Once the pomegranate is fully peeled, lift the strainer out of the water. TADA!
Notice how gross the water is? You're gonna get that even if you buy organic pomegranates. No worries, we aren't going to be drinking that water! Drain it and discard the peels. If you have a piece of shit garbage disposal like I do, don't even think about it. Grab a Mullet-Mart bag and throw them away.
Rinse the seeds in cool water.
FLAVOR TIME!!
Gather up all your other ingredients and get ready to blend!
Since peaches are fibrous, make sure you dice them up before blending, so your blender doesn't take a beating.
Always add liquid first to your blender, the blades will thank you later when they last longer:
Milk
Greek Style Yogurt
Pomegranate Seeds
Diced Peach
Old Fashion Rolled Oats
And blend!
Oops, forgot the strawberries....
Lastly, add the kale to the mix:
You now have yourself, a pomegranate kale smoothie! Look at that rainbow of color in there! Beautiful! I like to chew my smoothie's, so I don't blend them for that long. If you like to actually drink your smoothies, then blend for a little while longer.
