Green Monsters

So, have you heard about Green Monster smoothies? You know, those smoothies packed with spinach or kale that are incredibly healthy but do not taste healthy at all? Once upon a time they were a weird thing I saw on healthy living blogs that I was afraid to try. Drinking a salad? No, thanks. But then I tried it. And I was hooked.

Turns out... they look weird, but don't taste weird at all. In fact, I hardly notice the veggie part at all--I'm more into the fruit or chocolate that's added to the mix. :) Green Monsters are my favorite breakfast (or lunch... or dinner too, I admit!) in the summer. But when it's cold out... sometimes I'm just not in the mood. So instead, I turn to Green Monster Muffins!

These muffins are so full of juicy blueberries, zesty lemon, and warm spices that you'll forget they're healthy. Even if you're too afraid of a full-fledged Green Monster smoothie, don't be turned off by these muffins. Even my non-Green Monster-smoothie-drinking husband liked them. They're hearty enough for breakfast but not too heavy for a light snack. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

And if you do want to try a Green Monster... there are lots of recipes that you can find online for them here, here, and here. My favorite version is 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 3 cups loosely packed spinach, 1/2-3/4 cup skim milk, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 frozen banana (cut in chunks first!), and 1 tablespoon chia seeds (my one concession to the "weird" health food movement).



Green Monster Muffins (from The Chic Life)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
  
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (pastry or regular)
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup PACKED, triple washed baby spinach
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup natural/unsweetened applesauce
  
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon zest (depending on how lemon-y you want it)
• 1/2 cup blueberries (if using frozen, don't thaw)
  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. Process oats in a food processor or blender until fine. Pour in a large bowl and add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda. Stir together. Add spinach, egg, and sugar to the food processor, then process until spinach is chopped in very small pieces. Add applesauce, oil, vanilla, and lemon zest and pulse several times until combined. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Then gently stir in blueberries and fill muffin cups about 3/4 of the way full. Bake 14-17 minutes or until center is set and tops are golden brown.

Time: 30 minutes (15 minutes active).

Yield: 12 muffins.

So tell me... have you tried a Green Monster yet?

Sarah began blogging at The Pajama Chef in order to chronicle her adventures in and love of cooking and baking. Sarah is currently a graduate student at Indiana University working towards a Master of Library Science and a Master of Arts in African Studies. Sarah's efforts in the kitchen would not be possible without the assistance of her husband, Ben, and his stellar dish-washing and sous-chef skills. Sarah and Ben were married in May 2009 and enjoy running, reading, involvement in a local church, and spoiling their kitty, Sheba. You can also find Sarah on Pinterest.

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