After nearly a 2 month hiatus, I’m back ya’ll. It’s hard not to feel guilty for not being consistent posting on the blog but I’m trying not to make this a “chore.” Cooking is not a chore for me and neither is sharing my recipes. I want this to be fun, enjoyable and share some random stories I have for you. I have intentionally created time and space (I got da power!) for, well, recipe creation. I’ve been focusing on simplifying my life even though it seems there are more things filling the space from the things I’ve released. Does that make sense?

Okay, I’ll explain teehee. I recently resigned from my job as a nutrition educator at an elementary school. Around the same time (like less than a month ago) I started my work as a Doula (a birth worker, advocate for mamas) and now I’m working towards completing requirements for certification. I get to nerd out on everything about prenatal, birth and postpartum care. I’m literally reading ALL the time and have hit up the library weekly for books on books on books. While researching up the wazoo (as my husband would say), I’m finding different ways to tie all my passions together. Writing. Cooking. Holistic Wellness. Self Care. Birth. I mean, who said we have to CHOOSE ONE THING. We can do it all without having to do it all, right?

Anywhoooo…even while my brain is on overload, I’m ready for a summer of adventures (and hopefully some births, if ya’ll need a doula holler over here). After a week of weird October feeling weather, it finally feels like June and that heat, is absolutely delicious. Any other heat lovers out there? Or am I alone?

A common theme for me in the glorious heat is to sip on smoothies. I’m really not too big on heavy eating when it’s hot, so anything slurpable and grabable (yes I just made up 2 words) is da bomb dot com. And I don’t know about you but I like things that taste good and keep me feeling AMAZEBALLS as I attempt to get shit done. AMIRIGHT?! lol

Fresh strawberries (they’re in season right now and so damn good) combined with dark sweet cherries and coconut butter, this very cherry coconut smoothie is cooling, hydrating and rejuvenating with high antioxidants (from the berries, YAAAS) collagen (check out Further Food, Vital Proteins or Reserveage), and healthy fats for a gorgeous glow from the inside out.

Very Cherry Coconut Smoothie

Serves 2, Total time 5 minutes

What you need:

• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries (get ’em in season while you can from the garden, side of the road, farmers market, neighbor, somewhere FRESH), keep the greens on
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1 tablespoon coconut butter
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or if you dig it, MCT oil (but wait wtf is that? Click here)
• 1 handful baby spinach
• 1-2 scoops collagen (plant based but want the benefits? Check out Reserveage, it’s awesome! But if not, Further Food Collagen is da best)

How you make it:

1. Combine green, coconut milk and coconut water in your blender. Blend until no bits of green remain. We don’t want it chunky 😉
2. Add remaining ingredients. Blend until creamy.

I think I made myself crave this smoothie once again.

So.

Dang.

Good.

Peace, love and NO Beef 😉