Breakfast

Blueberry Superfood Smoothie

Makes smoothies for 2.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup kale leaves, loosely packed
1½ frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
¼ cup coconut milk (full-fat from the can)
1½ cups almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a blender, starting with the liquids (this will help blend everything together).

Blend until smooth.

Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes

Chorizo, Potato, and Kale Hash

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups jewel yam, chopped into ½" pieces*
1½ cups chopped red onion
½ pound ground turkey or chicken chorizo
4 cups tightly packed chopped Russian red kale
Eggs for serving

*You can also use russet or red potatoes.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large skillet, heat oil to medium and add the chopped yam.

2. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes before adding the red onion. Continue to sauté until veggies are softened, about 10 minutes.

3. Add the ground chorizo and continue sautéing until chorizo is cooked all the way through, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the chopped kale leaves and cover skillet to allow kale to soften and cook.

5. Once wilted, stir kale into the hash and serve with over-easy, fried, or poached eggs on top!

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes

While breakfast hashes are typically chock-full of greasy bacon or sausage and potatoes, I love making hashes using leaner chorizos, such as ground turkey or chicken chorizo. Replacing russet potatoes with yams or sweet potatoes and adding kale makes this breakfast a healthier alternative to your typical hash. You can also use this hash to make breakfast burritos and tacos, or an omelet.

Green Apple Ginger Smoothie

Makes one large smoothie.

INGREDIENTS:

1 green apple, cored and chopped
2 handfuls kale leaves
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 (¼") nub fresh turmeric, peeled
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, optional
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup coconut milk
½ cup almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until a uniform consistency is achieved.

2. Test the smoothie for taste and add honey as necessary.

3. For a creamier (less gritty) consistency, add one frozen banana to the recipe.

Prep Time: 8 minutes Total Time: 8 minutes

This green apple smoothie with ginger is full of nutrients and flavor! The texture of the kale and apple results in a somewhat gritty smoothie, so I would caution that the recipe as stated above should be for seasoned green smoothie drinkers only. If you're new to green smoothies, you can achieve a creamier texture by adding a frozen banana, if desired. This simple smoothie is perfect for a detox or for simply adding vitamins to your daily diet.

Huevos Rancheros Bake

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 head kale, chopped
1 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 to 4 corn tortillas, chopped into bite sizes
2 cups of your favorite salsa
4 eggs
Avocado and cheddar cheese for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large skillet, heat the oil to medium and add the chopped onion.

3. Sauté, stirring consistently, until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté another 2 minutes. Add the kale, black beans, and chopped tortillas, and continue sautéing until the kale is bright green and softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the salsa.

4. Divide the veggie mixture between four ramekins.

5. Make a small well in the center of the veggies for each ramekin and carefully crack an egg into each well.

6. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the egg whites set up.

7. Serve with shredded cheese and avocado.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes

I can put away Mexican food every single day of the week, and that includes eating it for breakfast. Huevos rancheros is one of my favorite breakfast items, and I like to lighten it up and add nutrition by incorporating homemade salsa, black beans, and kale. To take the fun a step further, you can bake your huevos in the oven instead of scrambling or frying it on the stovetop.

Mango Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

Makes smoothies for 2.

INGREDIENTS:

1½ ripe bananas, frozen
1 cup ripe mango, chopped
1 cup tightly packed kale leaves
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon matcha green tea powder
1½ cups unsweetened almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Add more liquid as necessary to get everything blended.

Prep Time: 8 minutes Total Time: 8 minutes

Matcha green tea is packed full of antioxidants! Combining matcha with kale and delicious mango and banana makes for an incredibly flavorful and nutrient-rich smoothie.

Orange Creamsicle Kale Stem Smoothie

Makes smoothies for 2.

INGREDIENTS:

4 small (or 2 large) ripe navel oranges, peeled
Zest of 1 orange
2 frozen bananas
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
4 kale stems
3 ice cubes

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Peel the navel oranges and separate the sections.

2. Chop the kale stalks in half or quarters.

3. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes

If you enjoy orange creamsicle popsicles, you'll love this smoothie! It bears close resemblance to the popsicle, but is full of nutrition, and a perfect way to start the day. While most people throw away kale stems, there are many uses for them! I like to put them in my smoothies in order to add fiber and vitamins and to avoid waste. While kale stems are fairly gritty, blending them well with other ingredients makes the texture nearly undetectable.

Peach and Kale Stem Smoothie

Makes smoothies for 2.

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe peaches, pitted and frozen
2 ripe bananas, peeled and frozen
2 kale stems
1 leaf kale, optional
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
8 ice cubes
½ cup almond milk
¾ cup orange juice
¼ cup coconut milk (full-fat from the can)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If necessary, add more almond milk or juice to help the blender process the frozen fruit.

Prep Time: 8 minutes Total Time: 8 minutes

Pear Avocado Ginger Smoothie

Makes 2 thick smoothies.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ripe Bartlett pear, cored and chopped
1 frozen banana
1 cup tightly packed kale leaves
½ avocado
1 teaspoon...