I used to be a morning person. I really did. A few summers ago, I remember being able to spring out of bed at 5:30 a.m., get my morning run in, go to the barn and ride a couple of horses, and be showered and on my way to campus for class before 10 a.m., without missing a beat. Maybe all of my late nights up studying are catching up with me, or maybe it's all of the miles that I've put on my legs over the years, but I can't do that anymore.
These days, my alarm goes off at eight, assaulting me through the fog of sleep deprivation, sore muscles, numbers and data spinning mercilessly around my head, and last night's wine consumption. Ten... fifteen minutes later, I'm dragging myself out of my grave of pillows and blankets -- grouchy, sluggish, and starving. Coffee is a necessity, yes, but it can't bring me back to life on its own! It takes more than that to get me through my workout, horse training sessions, and hours of schoolwork.
I like to eat healthily, but aside from my daily multivitamin, I'm not really a big advocate of nutritional supplements, and I'm especially wary of protein powders. I like smoothies, but with just fruit and yogurt, they quickly become too sweet. Thus, I had to come up with a different way to get some protein in my favorite breakfast recipe.
I have experimented with several different kinds of nuts, and pecans won my vote by a landslide. I like to roast mine in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 350, until they are browned and aromatic. If you are especially ambitious, you can use raw pecans soaked in water overnight for a healthier smoothie (soaking the nuts neutralizes the acids in them, making it easier for your body to absorb their nutrients). Coupled with a cup of strong coffee, this recipe can power me through the longest of mornings.
Makes about 3-4 smoothies:
10 large strawberries, chopped
3/4 cup chopped pecans (roasted or soaked)
3/4 cup almond milk
1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup crushed ice
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Extra smoothie can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
1 comments:
I'm making this tomorrow. I've stunned every man in my life (a.k.a. office) with my coffee habit. Let's face it "too sweet coffee" at 2yrs got us hooked. You know your family is from South Louisiana when...
Go Gals... Love the blog! When is daft punk playing at your house? yea!
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