50:50 split = 100% success

we went through a ton of spinach.

here is my belated report on how mac's 3rd grade class liked the "holiday party" green smoothies!

i made two types and talked the whole time to the class while i was prepping and blending.  i made them giggle, asked them questions, talked to them about real food and cooking with their families... it was a riot.  i told them that they didn't have to try it if they didn't want to... nobody declined, even though most of the class agreed i was a "crazy nutball" to be putting spinach into a drink.  i love calling myself that, it makes the kids laugh so hard they give you hugs at the end.

i made two types:

1st batch of green "holiday" smoothies:
2-3 handfuls of packed spinach
1 banana
1/2 pear
1/2 apple
(if you only have one or the other, just use the whole apple/pear)
juice from 1/2 orange
juice from 1/2 lemon
water (to fill line- which almost covers all of the fruit and greens)
zoom zoom

2nd batch of green/red (kinda brownish/purplish) holiday smoothies:
same as above + frozen mixed berries/mango in place of the apple and/or pear

no additional sweetener was needed (i brought organic stevia just.in.case... so happy it's totally unnecessary!)

i passed small sample cups to each student and then they got to pick which type they wanted for a "big" glass.  11 students wanted the 2nd batch and 10 students wanted the 1st batch.  the majority of the class asked for seconds!!!  i whizzed up smoothies the entire time (i made 6 full batches!!!!!) while mary (the other super party mom who is in the middle of our picture) ran games and activities.  there were a handful of parents who also came to the celebration and i was so excited to surprise them at how delicious a green smoothie can be.  by the end of the party, the class could recite the ingredients... i wonder if anyone taught their families how to make them over break?!

miss mekaelian, thank you so much for having me - you and your class rocks!!!!

i can't wait to do it again.  



ps

our morning challenge: drink these smoothies every morning for breakfast... so far so good, today is day #3.  go team shife-dog.

xoxo

dark chocolate peppermint popcorn is to.die.for

it's holiday party tiiiiiimmmmmmeeeeeeeee!!!

this popcorn is super crazy fantastic.  it combines my three loves:  popcorn, dark chocolate and peppermint.

so you can do one of two things:  shake and bake some popcorn on your own (it's so fun and delicious and i prefer hot and homemade) or cheat like i did this time and buy some great quality popcorn (with no fake ingredients please!).

the best dark chocolate peppermint popcorn ever
(this makes about 20 sandwich bag size servings)

3 bags trader joe's organic olive oil popcorn
2 bars high quality organic dark chocolate chocolate (i used trader joe's dark chocolate truffle)
1 handful (about 25 pieces) trader joe's peppermint candy (no artificial red thank.you.very.much!)

make a double broiler to melt your chocolate:  fill a small saucepan with water and place a bowl on top over medium heat.  put the chocolate in the bowl and melt away.  spread out your popcorn on five cookie sheets.  muddle & crush the peppermint candies until you have a nice chunky, powdery consistency (no mortar and pestle?  put it in a sturdy gallon plastic bag and pound it good).  once chocolate is creamy take a spatula and just wiggle waggle the chocolate over the top of the popcorn, all over the place.  with your hand, pinch up the crushed peppermint and evenly dust the top as much as you want...  it's your popcorn!!!  let it dry and try not to eat the whole damn tray... i dare you.

be warned, this stuff is amazeballs and you really must make it for your holiday parties.

now i have a 3rd grade party to crash.  i hope they like what i have in store for all of them:

dark chocolate peppermint popcorn
gluten free banana chocolate muffins
clementines
green holiday smoothies:  2-3 handfuls of packed spinach, 1 banana, 1/2 pear, juice from 1/2 orange, juice from 1/2 lemon, frozen mixed berries/mango, water - zoom zoom

that's right, i'm making green smoothies for them for them to try.  i did this in abbie's halloween party and it was a huge.monstrous.hit.  well, for most of them;)

i'll report back, you filthy animals.

xoxo


ps

have you ever played chubbie brussels?  you really must try it:)