A Toast: 2 years and 400 Posts!
I considered letting my two-year blogging anniversary go by without mention until I noticed that this post would be number 400, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to have the two mileposts occur on the same day. To toast the occasions, I've whipped up something delicious, healthy, and...um...green:
It's been two years, and what do I have to show for it? Well, obviously, there are the 400 posts, most of which are recipes. Beyond that, I'm older, fatter and, I hope, wiser. I've learned a lot more about cooking by researching recipes and ingredients, as well as by reading your comments and blogs. Plus, I believe that my photography has improved a little and if not, perhaps my eye for photography has improved enough to convince me that I need to take some actual classes; there's only so much you can teach yourself!
I started the blog on an impulse (don't most blogs get started that way?) but with each passing month I've grown more committed to improving it in every way possible while still keeping my original focus: low-fat, whole foods-based vegan cooking that tastes like it isn't good for you. Earlier this year, when the website hosting costs increased so much that I could no longer justify the blog as just an expensive hobby, I took on an advertiser. I hope that most of you don't mind this necessary evil--it was either allow advertising or get a job at Wal-Mart (and you can probably guess how I feel about Wal-Mart). As an added bonus, the income from the ad is going to help pay for the aforementioned photography classes, so perhaps the end result will be a more beautiful blog.
Since it is also the beginning of a new year, I decided on a few blogging resolutions:
plan all the time, not just when it's convenient. And since I'm combining it with Weight Watchers' Core plan (they're more alike than you'd think), you may start seeing WW points listed in the nutritional info. But don't worry: This isn't becoming a Diet Blog, so don't expect the D word to pop up here again.
Now about the drink we're toasting with: Green Smoothies (or Blended Salads) are all the rage on the Eat to Live program, and I resisted them for a long time. The first time I heard that people were blending spinach into their smoothies, I thought I was going to upchuck. But then I tried it, just a few leaves at first, and found that what they said was true: you really can't taste it. It's a great way to get a little more greenery into your...er...d-word. Some people use kale and other greens (mustard, ew), but spinach is about as far as I'm willing to go. If you haven't had one, give it a try. It's a great way to infuse yourself with a lot of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber--and you don't even have to chew!
Jolly Green Smoothie
Use whatever fruit you want in this. Banana will make it creamier, while berries will make it look muddier but taste delicious.
1 cup pineapple, frozen, unsweetened
1 cup frozen mango chunks
3 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 cups, packed, or as much as your blender will hold)
about 1/2 cup water or other liquid
Put all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Add more water if necessary to get the blades moving. Drink and enjoy!
One serving: 201 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (2% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 49g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 52mg Sodium; 7g Fiber.
It's been two years, and what do I have to show for it? Well, obviously, there are the 400 posts, most of which are recipes. Beyond that, I'm older, fatter and, I hope, wiser. I've learned a lot more about cooking by researching recipes and ingredients, as well as by reading your comments and blogs. Plus, I believe that my photography has improved a little and if not, perhaps my eye for photography has improved enough to convince me that I need to take some actual classes; there's only so much you can teach yourself!
I started the blog on an impulse (don't most blogs get started that way?) but with each passing month I've grown more committed to improving it in every way possible while still keeping my original focus: low-fat, whole foods-based vegan cooking that tastes like it isn't good for you. Earlier this year, when the website hosting costs increased so much that I could no longer justify the blog as just an expensive hobby, I took on an advertiser. I hope that most of you don't mind this necessary evil--it was either allow advertising or get a job at Wal-Mart (and you can probably guess how I feel about Wal-Mart). As an added bonus, the income from the ad is going to help pay for the aforementioned photography classes, so perhaps the end result will be a more beautiful blog.
Since it is also the beginning of a new year, I decided on a few blogging resolutions:
- I resolve to take more chances, get away from the tried-and-true seasoning and ingredient combinations that I've come to rely on, and experiment more.
- I resolve to delve more deeply, do more research, and write more about the background of the recipes and less about my family. (That one, folks, is going to be hard.)
- I resolve to post more bad recipes--because sometimes people learn just as much from what not to do. Plus, they're funnier.
Now about the drink we're toasting with: Green Smoothies (or Blended Salads) are all the rage on the Eat to Live program, and I resisted them for a long time. The first time I heard that people were blending spinach into their smoothies, I thought I was going to upchuck. But then I tried it, just a few leaves at first, and found that what they said was true: you really can't taste it. It's a great way to get a little more greenery into your...er...d-word. Some people use kale and other greens (mustard, ew), but spinach is about as far as I'm willing to go. If you haven't had one, give it a try. It's a great way to infuse yourself with a lot of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber--and you don't even have to chew!
Jolly Green Smoothie
Use whatever fruit you want in this. Banana will make it creamier, while berries will make it look muddier but taste delicious.
1 cup pineapple, frozen, unsweetened
1 cup frozen mango chunks
3 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 2 cups, packed, or as much as your blender will hold)
about 1/2 cup water or other liquid
Put all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Add more water if necessary to get the blades moving. Drink and enjoy!
One serving: 201 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (2% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 49g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 52mg Sodium; 7g Fiber.
Here's to another year of FatFree Vegan Kitchen and to all of you readers who make writing this blog so much fun.
To your health!
Tags: vegan recipes vegetarian cooking food fat-free
Labels: CORE, eat to live, gluten-free
posted by SusanV at 8:07 PM
72 Comments:
Congratulations on reaching such an impressive milestone!! I dearly love your blog and can't tell you how much I appreciate all of the work and humor you put into all of it. And I'm really looking forward to more ETL-friendly recipes, too, since I am also following the program (and I share your aversion to green smoothies, although this one looks pretty good!) Happy new year and thanks so much again.
Congratulations, here's to the next 400! In a short time you've become an inspiration to many, including myself, who are so lucky to have found your site.
congrats! i hope to one day have that many posts!
and yeah to better health. i am not the healthiest person but i love healthier living in theory ; )
i did weight watchers a few years ago and lost about 25 pounds. of course, i gained it back . . . but i am the pleasantly PLUMP vegan.
Susan - thank God for you! I look forward to getting back on the ETL path with you.
Thanks for all the work you do. You make my life easier.
- Maya
Congratulations on the two-year milestone! Many more to come!
Congratulations to you. I really, really enjoy your weblog. And, I enjoy reading about your family. Happy New Year.
Congrats, Susan! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog these past two years and hope you keep it going for many more years to come.
Thank you for being such a cooking inspiration!
-Julie
Many congratulations, Susan. About 200 posts a year? I can only write that on paper. I love green smoothie too. But only with spinach. Its surprising that you cannot taste spinach at all. Am all ears for healthy recipes. Good luck!
Yum! If I had some mangos, I go make some of your smoothie right now. I really miss the greens when they aren't there now. The Eat to Live plan is the best. It really does bring good health. I'm looking forward to what you will be writing next! Keep on posting!
Happy Blogiversary! Two years is no small achievement. And the time really does fly when you're having fun. Here's to another fat-free vegan year, with thanks for all you have written and shared.
yes, congratulations! your blog is a great inspiration - your recipes help me remember to try new things, and your writing is always so charming and funny. thanks a lot.
-sophia
Hi Susan, I love your blog and have been reading for almost a year. Congratulations on the milestones. About the green smoothies, I agree, they are great! But please try kale. You would be surprised, but the kale smoothies actually have less of a strong taste than spinach. Also the least strong flavor of green in my opinion is just plain romaine lettuce or mixed greens. I like those a lot with pear and/or apple mixed in as well!
I am so thankful for your blog! I, too, am trying to do Eat to Live seriously, and I agree that it's amazingly close to WW Core. The trick, of course, is finding ways to cook delicious food within those boundaries. You really help to inspire--thanks!
Congrats, Susan! I can't imagine how you can get your already fantastic looking photographs to look better, but if that's gonna be the end result, I'm all eyes (and ears, & tongue & drool...)!
Congratulations! I have only just started visiting your blog but I love it already : ) Here's to at least 400 more... good luck!
Congratulations on the milestone - here's to lots more cooking and blogging :-)
I like the idea of using the spinach in the smoothie without it being spinach-y tasting - a great way to pack in lots of nutrients. It also looks really refreshing.
Susan, I'm not a vegan but stumbled onto your blog while looking for CORE recipes! Have been a "corebie" lifetimer for nearly a year and often post links to your site on one of my core discussion boards! You'll love the Core plan! Bring on the bulgur recipes!
Congratulations from Columbus, MS.
Congrats Susan, and thank you!
congrats on the milestone! i have loved several recipes of yours and they have become staples in my repertoire!!
Congratulations, Susan!
Our family always start the day with green smoothies, and I also use pineapple and mangoes, with the addition of frozen bananas. Surprisingly, I very much prefer KALE over the spinach.
To our health!
About the kale...it's not that I don't think it would taste good in a smoothie (though it's interesting to hear that it's better than spinach). It's that I love kale, but it's hard to find here. So when I do, I like to savor it in something where I can taste it. If it were as plentiful as packaged spinach (and as quick to use) I'd definitely give it a try. But it's expensive and rare and tastes so good with cashew sauce.
That makes a lot of sense, Susan!
Interestingly, a big bunch of organic kale cost less than a bag of spinach here- I guess that's a blessing:)
Hi Susan! I want to say thanks for all of those posts! I've been reading your site for over a year now and thanks a lot to your recipes I've lost 30 lbs. Go FFV!
Mmmmm...smoothie looks delicious! I find that spinach has the least amount of taste in my smoothies. I alternate between spinach, romaine and bok choy. Yum!! I also add pomegranate concentrate which has a pretty significant flavor that masks the greens (although I kind of like how they taste).
Good luck with your goals!! I look forward to seeing some of your "bad" recipes :)
Here's to your good health! And more smoothies ... :0
Cheers, Susan! Congratulations!
Hooray! I've been a frequent reader of your blog for at least one of those four years, and it has been such an inspiration to my cooking and my body. Thank you!
oh wait. i've been following your blog for one of those two years.
and have read many many of your FOUR-HUNDRED posts.
haha. :]
wonderful blog, susan!
As intimidating as that bright green color is on a smoothie, I'd be willing to give it a shot! Since pineapple and mango are such strong-flavored (and sweet) fruits, I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't really taste the spinach. Like everybody else right now, I'm feeling the need to eat a little better, so thanks for always posting such good-for-you recipes!
I love your photography, Susan! And I love that you've been at this blogging thing for two years and you're still going strong! Your collection of recipes has become a great resource for me, so thank you. :)
2 years?? 400 posts?? INCREDIBLE!! here's to at LEAST two more years and 400 MORE posts, for your fabulous blog - congratulations, Susan!!
that smoothie looks just like the kind that my dad and I drink, almost every day!! Any fruit will work in this type of smoothie - try papaya or cherries or blueberries sometime! :0)
Happy Blogiversary to you! I'm anxious to hear about your ETL experiences. When I tried ETL is was very unsuccessful because I felt so spacey and ungrounded. Will you share how the food makes you feel too?
Also, I'm a big lover of green smoothies. My green of choice is collards. They seem to blend smoother than kale in my blender and you can't taste them at all. Even my husband who won't eat cooked collards really likes the smoothies.
Thanks so much for your blog!
Congratulations! Your photos are beautiful already; I can't wait to see what they will look like after photography classes. Thanks for a great blog!
congratulations! 400 posts! that's amazing.
I feel the same way abou kale you do: it's amazing, so why hide it in a smoothie? Although I'm tempted to try for the fun of it ^_^
Susan, I rarely post because you get so many....but I have your blog on my Google Homepage and always read it. I admire your creativity and "realness" factor when writing - makes people relate to you easily I think.
Oh, and as for the "D" word, maybe we can all just think of it as a "lifestyle change"? Perhaps that is simply pure semantics but I feel thinking of it that way doesn't feel so restrictive...sets you up for success rather than the other way around.
Hats off! You are a gem of an individual and have really fostered a nice community through your fantastic blog!
- Leigh
Hi I've never posted but I just wanted to say thank you for your blog. It's awesome and although I am not a Vegetarian let a lone a Vegan I do enjoy it very much.
Keep on blogging, cheers!
Congrats on 400 posts!
Can you add me to your blogroll? I don't mean to be overly persistent, but I'm asking again in case you didn't see my last comment (you get so many comments!).
-ChocolateCoveredVegan
(howtogainweightonavegandiet.blogspot.com)
and here's to you, susan. way to go :-)
Yay, I'm not the only one pairing Eat To Live with the WW core plan! :-)
Congrats on the anniversary, and keep up the great work... it's one of the best blogs around!
Hi - lurker, coming out. :)
Anyway, I have very sensitive taste buds, so the only way I can drink green smoothies is to add a bit of vinegar. It does something to neutralize the bitter taste. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of vinegar. Kombucha works nicely too. ~1 Tbsp of either, per quart of smoothie.
I remember when I was growing up, my mom taught me to add vinegar to cooked spinach. Many years later, with my first green drink being horrible, I tried the vinegar trick. And now I can drink green drinks. :)
Nice looking green smoothie. May I suggest you include more raw vegan receipes? I know your blog is not a raw recipe blog but raw recipes are vegan and low fat (if you make them that way). You also mention that your recipes are whole foods based but many of the ingredients you use are far from whole foods. Anything that is from a glass bottle, a can, a box, etc. is not a whole food. This is just an observation and not critisism. I am a whole food low fat raw vegan but I like to see what the cooked vegans are up to.
Congratulations! I've been reading your blog for about a year now, and it's been a huge help to me in transitioning to veganism and learning to cook.
Come check out my blog sometime--I'm sure I'll be making some of your recipes.
Packaging does not determine whether a food is whole or not, Anonymous. Quinoa comes in boxes and beans can be canned or jarred, and both are perfectly whole foods.
In my experience, many raw recipes are actually high in fat. If you have a blog where you give low-fat raw recipes, I'd really be interested in seeing it. I'm especially interested in raw recipes that don't involve expensive equipment like dehydrators or Vitamixes.
Kudos on hitting 400! You're an inspiration to us all.
Susan...
love your blog!
I am etl but having a hard time with some of the stuff since I like food!!! I use spinach in my smoothies every morning, most of the time I use a banana, some kind of berry and this week I am using apples to use them up along with water and flax seed...
My downfall is my traveling and wanting to try things. My dream has always been to travel and taste across the country so I have a hard time with saying no but I am at 130 and comfortable with that!!! Keep up the great recipes!
Congrats on your successful blog, it is my absolute favorite! I am on day 12 of Eat To Live, and although I can't imagine your blog getting much better, it's nice to know we'll be of the same d*** mind-set. I hope the stories of your wonderful family do not disappear altogether because they are a part of what makes this blog so homey! Best of luck on improving your health.
Tina
Congratulations & Happy New Year!
Congratulations! Whoo-hoo!!! Very exciting :)
I LOVE GREEN SMOOTHIES!
Cheers,
Kristen's Raw
Congratulations, Susan! I've been reading your blog for over a year. I've been following ETL for a couple months, but have yet to get into green smoothies. I didn't have much fruit in mine and it set off a gag reflex - I'll try the fruit so it isn't too green tasting! Here's to two more years!
Karen
your site has been very inspiring, even for a non-vegan like me. cheers!
I love green smoothies! I've tried them using spinach and parsley but found that kale was the best because of its neutral flavor and high vitamin/mineral content.
Congrats on your 400 posts!
Hi Susan,
Congrats! I've just discovered that my kitchen has more functions than just a telephone for ordering in food. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes. Raising a green glass of frozen smoothie (I found frozen fruit with baby spinnach works best for me) to say cheers!
I don't think I've posted here before, but I check your blog everyday and try your recipes at least weekly. Thanks for the work you do.
Many congratulations on your two year blog veganiversary. I have admired your blog for the past two years after stumbling upon it searching for low-fat vegan recipes to recommend to some friends who were involved in a "Biggest Loser"-type contest at work. You pictures are stunning and your recipes tasty. Thanks for the inspiration.
Congratulations! Wow, that is huge.
I was so surprised to see that smoothie, it is the one I make most days ... but with a little less of the green stuff. If it is too green it scares off my husband. Just a little pastel, and he is good to go : )
Congratulations on your anniversary! I read your blog regularly and love it.
When I stopped by today, I thought, "this must be the 100 monkeys phenomenon, or something," as I also just posted on green smoothies yesterday (I didn't know about yours at the time, I swear!). I've never done it without the blueberries, though, as I don't think I could drink it otherwise without keeping my eyes closed (mine is sort of purple).
Thanks for your great blog, and I'll look forward to the next 400.
Hi Susan!
Congratulations on your 400th post and two successful years of blogging. I really enjoy your recipes, research, and family anecdotes.
Today I made my second green smoothie. The first one, which included kale as the green, orange juice as the liquid, and other ingredients, was yucky. Today, I tried spinach, and the results were so much better. I guess I like spinach for raw greens and kale and chard for cooked greens (and dislike collards). I put 1.5 cups of organic frozen strawberries, a bit of water to blend the strawberries, and 1 ripe, unfrozen banana in the blender. Once these ingredients were blended, I filled the blender with baby spinach. It was not quite sweet enough, so I doctored the mixture with just a dash of agave and then it was delicious and creamy...definitely one of my favorite smoothies. And this is a great way to use up spinach before the expiration date (I often buy spinach for one recipe, but end up with half a bag leftover, but no more!).
Thanks!
~M
Congratulations on your milestones! Thank you so much for posting the green smoothie. I am the biggest skeptic in the world when it comes to adding greens to smoothies. After reading your post I said to myself, "If Susan can do it, I can do it!" and am happy to say I love, Love, LOVE green smoothies!!! I have a new breakfast favorite now. And the best thing is, I can blend it up and throw it in a mug to drink on my way to work.
Congratulations!!!
Your smoothie looks strange but delicious and I plan on giving it a try!
Congratulations and celebrations, Susan!
Your mission, food and photography have been so inspiring to me over the past couple years. Thank you for building and maintaining such an awesome website :)
Cheers to you!
That sounds like a really good green smoothie!
~Allie
http://aveganlife.blogspot.com
Congratulations! I love hearing about your family and seeing your photos, esp when its the cat!
I also love all the recipes, you've introduced me to some new ingredients, and lots of yummy new meals I'd never heard of. Thanks!
Congratulations Susan, I really enjoy your blog, the recipes (like the pupusas!), and hearing about your family, so you don't have to cut that out completely;).
Green smoothies: my favorite is with kale and frozen bananas. Kale is cheap around here compared to spinach, and so full of nutrients too! I posted about it on my blog in my breakfast series.
I look forward to reading more great recipes and trying them out!
Happy belated anniversary! Thanks for all the work you do- I look forward to reading your blog all during this year.
oh, and add me to the green smoothie fan club!
Congratulations and keep on blogging! I love your beans'n'greens recipes. Thank you for introducing me to Eat to Live.
Wow, it's been two years already? I've been lurking around on this site since the very beginning, but this is cause enough for me to come out of the the woodwork and congratulate you! Also, I came up with a formula that helps me make tasty green smoothies every time (http://www.micronutrientgourmet.com/?p=42), I've been using it for years now to make breakfast for myself every morning...thought it might be helpful!
Thanks for the idea of a spinach-based smoothie, Susan! I tried my own and loved it!
Hello -- I can't believe I never left a comment on this post (I don't see one from me anyway) as I forwarded it to everyone! And as I wrote my first post for the new Raw Diva Green Smoothie Blog, I realized that THIS is where it all began!! I included a link to this site/post in the blog post which is scheduled to be published some time today I think. http://www.greensmoothieblog.com/
I know you may be swamped w/ comments to look through so I'll also try to contact you another way, possibly via twitter as I just saw you're on there. :-)
A huge THANK YOU to you!
I've been reading your blog for a while now. Let me just say, your recipes are proof that veganism can be fun, delicious and healthy!
I just saw this one and made myself a shake and was even daring enough to try it with kale! :)
Ever since I stumbled upon your blog I've been in love with your recipes!
I have to say, I've always been one to throw stuff in a blender when I wasn't into eating my veggies. I had no idea spinach would be so tasteless in a smoothie (tasteless in the literal sense, of course)!
Now when I crave ice-cream (I'm not vegan just a health nut) I throw in a little soy milk, splenda, vanilla bean, ice, and tons of spinach in my Bullet. Presto! Instant healthy indulgence!
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