Green Goddess Smoothie

Still working on the camera settings ... this smoothie is greeeen!

Many o' my childhood mornings were spent at my Mama and Pa's house. I have fond memories of opening up the lower cabinet door directly beneath where Mama's plastic cookie container always sits - full - and swinging out the pullout drawer to grab a prepackaged crumb muffin. Who am I kidding? They came in pairs of two, and you know I always ate both of them.

I've basically always been about breakfast.

But it wasn't until recent years that I started eating what you'd call exceptionally nutritious breakfasts. Crumb muffins, sugary cereals and white bagels with butter were my staples. And boy oh boy did I love Carnation instant breakfast shakes.

How did I ever survive?

Luckily I finally discovered I like shredded wheat and don't need that extra sugar in my cereal bowl and that whole wheat bagels are better than white - and that no one should really eat an entire bakery-size bagel for breakfast. Better yet? I realized one day during undergrad that eggs are not only good for you, but they taste great, too.

Mama couldn't believe it. I'd never ever eaten eggs. She. Was. Shocked.

I think she'd also be shocked to know I now like things like this for breakfast.

Green Goddess Smoothie (aka Power Gulp)

Inspired by Health Magazine January/February 2012

1/3-1/2 cup water

1/2 cup fresh baby spinach leaves

1/4 cup grapes

1/4 cup sliced cucumber

1/2 small Granny Smith apple, chopped

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder

Add all of your ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If things aren't blending too well, add a little more water.

Enjoy!