GREEN KALE SMOOTHIE WITH PEACHES (V+, R, ChF, GF, NF, P) + A GIVEAWAY!
By the time you read this it'll be 2017, so happy New Year everyone! I hope your year is filled with love, happiness and health. And fact is, if you're here for the amazing vegan green kale smoothie with peaches recipe, you're off to a pretty good start if you ask me ;).
2016 for me was one of the craziest years of my life. Now, I told you a little bit about some major developments that have been going on for me in my last blog post (please do give it a read if you've got a minute) and today I'll reveal a tiny bit more about what's been happening for me and why I was quieter on social media towards the end of the year ...
Well, through luck, hard graft and the strange workings of the universe, in late 2016 I got hired to do my ULTIMATE dream job: work as a prop stylist on a cookbook! And not just any cookbook, British instagram phenomenon Madeleine Shaw's third cookbook. So what does that actually mean? It means that I had artistic freedom and the responsibility(!) to choose all the plates, bowls, glasses, napkins, backdrops and cutlery for her cookbook AND decide how they would be used during the shoot. Of course my choices were heavily influenced by her wishes as well as those of the publisher, but I was fortunate enough to work with a team who not only appreciated my sense of aesthetics, but also trusted me to do a good job, giving me lots of creative freedom. The book comes out in April and I am so, so, SO excited to share it with you. Tons of love has gone into the book, so keep your eyes on the blog in Spring for more details ;).
To have been part of a cookbook shoot was one of the most wonderful, eye opening experiences of my foodie career thus far and I can tell you, being on site in a professional studio, alongside the industry's best food stylists and food photographer for 10 full days was me at my happiest. Never in a million year did I ever expect to be offered this opportunity and not only did I totally LOVE it – though it was bloody hard work let me tell you ;) -, it also made me realise with much more clarity what it is I want out of food blogging and out of 2017 as a whole. So what do I want,...
After hella soul searching, I now know that I DON'T want to be a full time food blogger. Much as I love it, I think my heart craves something more 'specific'. Now, just so you know I TOTALLY intend to keep blogging bi-weekly until blogging is no longer fun and as it stands I can't see the joy of blogging leaving me anytime soon ;). But I want to pull back a little bit on social media and spend more time working as a prop stylist and as part of a team and be more present in 'real life'. For me the blog will continue to be my online diary, vegan food sharing point and a creative outlet, but I feel prop styling is what I'm best at and what brings me more joy than any other aspect of food blogging. Hence it is that which I want to focus my energies on.
THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED! Now, I have two other 'goals' for 2017, which I'll talk about in another blog post ;). But in the interim, I want YOU to enjoy the benefits of following someone who is food prop obsessed and totally immersed in the world of prop styling!!! How? Well, having my eyes firmly on all things beautiful I spotted Enrich and Endure's new linen napkins a mile away, whilst blindfolded and distracted by my 6.5 year old!!!! Yup, they're so gorgeous they begged to be noticed! In fact I used 2 of their napkins in this week's blog post (Light grey and oatmeal ;)). Fortunately for you, co-founders and brother and sister team Sarah and Lorcan have given me a pack of 4 Still Water linen napkins to give away (STUNNING!) to 1 lucky winner. All you need to do is comment below, telling me your main new year's resolution for 2017. But be quick with your answers, entry to this give-away closes at midnight (Greenwich Time) on Monday, January 9th. The winner will be picked and notified within a week of the closing date. Please note that this competition is open to UK residents only though even if you don't live in the UK, I'd love to hear from you below ;). I can't wait to read your answers. LIA IS THE LUCKY WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS!
Thanks for reading everyone. See you in 2 weeks.
Recipe below...
GREEN KALE SMOOTHIE WITH PEACHES (V+, R, ChF, GF, NF, P) + A GIVEAWAY!
Preparation Time: 5 - 10 minutes
Serves: 1-2
INGREDIENTS:
1cup/240ml (homemade) almond milk (see tips for nut-free alternative)
1.5 cups kale (I used dinosaur kale, but any kale will do)
1 - 1.5 peach, pit removed
1/2 a ripe avocado, stone removed, peeled
1 tbsp almondbutter (see tips below for nut-free alternative)
1tsp ground cinnamon
1 date for sweetness (optional, read tips below)
Toppings (optional):
a handful of seasonal fruit
a tsp of almond butter
edible flowers
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place all the smoothie ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately and add the toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
Tip 1: You can use a seed milk (recipe here), soya milk or rice milk if you would like to make this recipe nut-free.
Tip 2: I cut the kale into smallish chunks so that it fit in the measuring cup. I think it was about 1.5 large leaves
Tip 3: It's really important to use ripe and sweet peaches so that the smoothie tastes great. if not, you may have to use a date for sweetness.
Tip 4: Please use tahini if you'd like to keep the recipe nutfree
Looking for more quick and easy vegan breakfast ideas? Then just click here.
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