Smoothies: Who Doesn't Love Them?

Wow, can you believe it? It's already been almost a month since summer has officially started!

From my visit to the University of Washington! Wow, great weather even in the rainy Northwest!

And what does that mean? SMOOTHIES EVERYDAY, FOR EVERY MEAL! Or so I wish, haha. With so many berries and other fruits being in season, this is the best for making smoothies!

If you haven't seen my previous post on blueberries and all their wonderful nutritional benefits, there are so many! So if you haven't gotten yourself some, or gone U-picking, go get some!

A sneak peak of these wonderful babies! <3 Click, Click, Click!

Alright, back to our topic of smoothies! Today, I have a simple recipe for you all! My Raspberry Chocolate Smoothie! Super delicious: creamy, refreshing, fruity, chocolatey.... you know, everything that makes you love smoothies! Just try it out :)

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie Makes enough for two (sharing makes the world go 'round!)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberry
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1 scoop Nature’s Bounty Complete Protein and Vitamin Chocolate Shake Mix
• Agave/honey (optional)

Directions:
Haha, only one: blend and serve <3

And of course, you can change up the ingredients however you would like. If you like a more chocolatey drink, add more cocoa; more sweet, add some agave or some honey! What ever fits your taste.

Now it’s time for me to sit in the sun, grab a book, and enjoy~

Blueberries, Blueberries, Blueberries!

Wohoo! It's the time of year again for u-pick blueberries! My family never fails to go at least a few times each summer, and every trip we pick A TON! In fact, we picked four tubs of blueberries this time, which weighed a little over 23lbs, AND we picked with the intention to come back within a week or so?

With so many blueberries, we basically eat a cup or so every morning and sometimes another cup as a snack! We also ended up freezing maybe a third of what we picked? Our family then uses these blueberries in oatmeal or smoothies as the year goes by and blueberry season ends. And the great news about freezing them is that freezing has no significant affect on the levels of antioxidants found in blueberries.

So in addition to their amazing flavor, what's so great about blueberries? Well let's find out~

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Nutritional Benefits of Blueberries:

• Great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, manganese, and fiber
• Low glycemic index, which means blueberries do not have a large impact on blood sugar levels post consumption. In fact studies have shown that consuming at least 3 servings of low-GI fruits per day (including blueberries) led to an improvement in the study participants' blood sugar over three months
• Has one of the highest levels of antioxidants among all fruits, vegetables, and spice. Antioxidants are important in fighting free radicals from the atmosphere, which can destroy cellular structures such as our DNA!
• Help improve cognitive function (memory, ability to learn new information, etc.)

Tips to prepare and store blueberries:

• Wash only when planning to eat (or freeze). Blueberries have a protective bloom (the grayish waxy deposit) on the surface of its skin that protects the berry from spoiling at room temperature
• When freezing the berries, wash and drain the blueberries. Then set on a clean surface to dry. Remove damaged berries and place in a freezer-safe bag or container to freeze. Can be stored for up to a year! However, texture and flavor does change slightly upon freezing
• Best way to enjoy blueberries is when they are fresh and eaten raw. Cooking/baking the berries causes many of the vitamins and antioxidants to become damaged and thus losing a lot of its nutrients

And yup! That's all for now. Hope you all enjoyed my little spiel on blueberries! (Btw, I had to google how to spell spiel! Oops, haha)

How do you enjoy your blueberries? Do you go to U-Pick farms as well? For what fruits/vegetables? Please share! I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

Camp, Red Bean Milk Tea, and Radish Juice?

Wow! It's been so long since I last posted. A couple weeks ago, I went down to NorCal to serve as a camp counselor for a week-long Christian high school camp. It was such a humbling experience as I saw my own weaknesses as a leader and comforter. Yet at the same time, the experience was an incredible blessing as I saw my group of girls become closer and more willing to be vulnerable with each other as the week progressed. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and if you want to hear more about it, feel free to ask me about it in the comments or via email!

View from the center of the camp!

Group of students for morning prayer :) What a blessing to see!

After camp, I had to the blessing of visiting a friend who lives in the San Jose area! We took a late night trip to Fantasia Coffee & Tea and each ordered a cup of their hot red bean milk tea. OMG, it was good! The drink wasn't too sweet and the red beans were cooked perfectly, a perfect way to end a long week at camp~

Hot Red Bean Milk Tea

And lastly... I got sick towards the end of the camp and lost my voice. As a result, when I returned home, my mom decided that it would be best for me to try some home remedies. She heard that radish was supposed to be good for colds/coughing/etc. so yesterday, she told me to juice a raw radish, and me usually liking radish (in soup at least) thought it would taste just fine. To make it even better, I decided to add in some ginger and a pear for some extra spice and sweetness....

BUTTT. OMG. I. Almost. Died. Don't try it. It tasted horrible! I admit I do feel better today, but I don't know if it was due to the radish mixture or just rest and lots of fluids...

What do you think? Does your family have home remedies for sicknesses? Feel free to share!