Happy Friday, Next Gen family! Spring Break starts today (once you leave work/school!), but the weather sure hasn’t made me feel springy! Some of you may be off to tropical or other warm places for break, but for those left in a blistery cold Bloomington (which may just shape up a bit!), I thought I’d spend this week’s blog sharing some refreshing beverages to get you in the Spring Break mood. Bank these for summertime as well!

First up from http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/08/29/green-lemonade/ and Chocolate-Covered Katie, is a drink that’ll help you pack in those greens you may not always get in your diet:

Green Lemonade

• 1 to 2 large apples (200-400g)
• 1 to 2 cups kale (or another green) (40g)
• 1 to 2 stalks celery, broken into a few pieces, and bottoms cut off (80g)
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 3/4 cup water

Core unpeeled apples, dice, and combine all ingredients in a super-high-powered blender. Blend until completely pulverized. Pour blended mixture through finest strainer you own. Discard pulp. Use one apple for a more tart drink and two apples for a sweeter drink, but keep in mind more apple means more carbs. 1 large apple would likely make 2 carb servings so 2 large apples would make 4.

Next from a raw foods site I found (  http://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/smoothies-juices-nut-milks/assortment-of-juice-recipes/  ), another tasty fruit and greens recipe:

Pineapple, Grape, Green Smoothie

• 1½ cup spinach
• ½ cup grapes
• ½ cup pineapple
• ¼ cup filtered water

Blend/juice together. 2 carb servings.

Missing pop? Try making your own using diet club soda or sparkling water (like La Croix)! I found this recipe when I got on a big cardamom kick. If you don’t have cardamom, try cinnamon. Use this recipe as a starting point but feel free to mix it up with different spices – I’d love to hear what you come up with!

Homemade Ginger Cardamom Soda with Lime http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-ginger-cardamom-soda-with-lime-445235

• 1¼ tsp cardamom
• 1 T ginger
• 1 c Splenda
• ½ cup water
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1½ oz lime juice
• Club soda or sparkling water

Place first 5 ingredients in a pot on stove for about 5 min until Splenda is dissolved. Cool syrup. In cocktail shaker (or jar w/ lid), add 1 oz syrup (or to taste, refridgerate the rest for another time!) and lime juice. Add ice and shake to blend. Divide between two classes, filled with ice. Top with soda/sparkling water. Stir gently.

Missing Starbucks drinks? Give this one a whirl:

Healthy Frappuccinos http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/08/01/healthy-starbucks-frappuccinos/

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tsp instant coffee
• 1/16 tsp salt (don’t omit)
• 2-3 tablespoons Splenda

Mix ingredients together in 1 or 2 shallow plastic containers. Freeze. (You could also use an ice cube tray.) Once frozen, pop the blocks out of the containers. Thaw until just soft enough for your blender to be able to handle it. Blend each serving individually, until desired slushiness is reached. Add extra sweetener if needed, but do NOT add ice! It will dilute the flavor. Pour into two glasses and enjoy.

However, should you find yourself snuggling under a blanket seeking something warm to try, here’s another offering:

Crockpot Hot Toddy http://www.elanaspantry.com/crockpot-hot-toddy/

• 4 quarts water
• 8 herbal tea bags 
• 1-2 inches fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• ⅓ cup sugar-free maple syrup
• 2 lemons, sliced

Place water, tea bags, ginger, cinnamon and syrup in a crockpot on highest setting. Steep for a couple of hours until hot. Ladle into cups and add lemons when your guests arrive  (or when you’re ready for a warm up!)

Well I’m off to Arizona tomorrow to soak up some sun – with any luck! Be sure to stop by next Friday, when Coach Mindy Metzger will be guest blogging for me. Then on Friday, March 22, I’ll be taking the week off blogging to celebrate my birthday! Coach Jacquline Barrie will be guest blogging that day. These will be blogs you don’t want to miss! I’ll be back for the March 29 blog so until then, Meltdowners, Feast with Mindy, Feast with Jacquline, and as always…FEAST ON!!!

~Coach Lauren