This orange date smoothie is the perfect breakfast smoothie. Part creamy, part juicy, and a great way to start the day.
I have a slight obsession with orange juice. As in, if I don’t have it (no pulp Tropicana preferably) every morning, I get seriously bitchy. It’s one of the few times I deem liquid calories worth it.
I hoard half gallons of it when they go on sale and stock them in the freezer, keeping a mental inventory so that when we’re down to 2, I replenish because a morning without my OJ is just miserable. The only problem with that little scheme is that you have to remember to defrost one the night before if you’ve run out.
Guess who forgot to do that the other day? The most annoying part is I can’t even blame Ulysses for finishing it and not taking one out afterwards since he’s not here anymore. That’s how this little orange date smoothie concoction was born.
I had 1 orange which isn’t nearly enough for a full glass of juice so I experimented. Some dates, coconut cream and almond milk later, I had this. It may look like baby food, but it tasted delicious. Sort of creamy, sort of juicy and perfectly sweet. I drank it and then took a half gallon out of the freezer.
In other news, this week has been kind of crappy. The whole reality of not having a spouse for 6 months is starting to set in. Last week, it was new. A novelty of sorts. Only a week. I cleaned the entire house during the week so we could “enjoy” the weekend together, had dinner waiting for him upon his arrival Friday night, cooked a big send off meal Sunday afternoon before he left, happily did his laundry and ironed and starched his shirts while he studied.
This week, I’m realizing that while this 6 months definitely sucks for him way more than me, I’m the one stuck with every single responsibility of owning a home, having a dog and just plain being an adult for 6 freaking months. This includes trivial things like remembering to take the garbage cans out (and back) every Wednesday and being responsible for all the grocery shopping without someone to just “pick up some milk on the way home” to slightly more important things like pay every bill and manage every rental property (we have a few).
And then there’s things like bathing the damn dog that rolls in shit twice this week by yourself with one hand because you effed up your wrist last Friday cleaning a barbell and you can’t bend it forward without serious sharp pain. I might’ve lost my shit yesterday when she trotted back into the house all nonchalantly covered in some other animal’s feces.
The other part is that even though he comes home on weekends, he’s not really home. He’s studying. And obviously I want to (and will) be supportive of that, this is his career, but is there a part of me that’s annoyed he can’t/won’t come to our CrossFit holiday party this weekend? Yes. And I feel like a selfish bitch admitting it.
So yeah, the reality of all that being my life until May is starting to sink in and it sucks. It’s going to be a long 6 months for both of us, for very different reasons.
On a completely different note, these are all other people’s recipes I’ve made recently and I keep meaning to tell you about. I haven’t had the time to make them into Bookmark to Blog posts but they all deserve a shout out because they rocked. So with absolutely no context, here you go.
1. Double Chocolate Energy Bites You know I love a good ball.
2. Roasted Butternut Baked Penne
3. Oktoberfest Stew Yum. Seriously, yum.
4. Apple Cider Baked Chicken Thighs (–> site no longer around, no link, sorry) When people say paleo is boring, I wish I could shove this dish in their face. The flavors are outstanding.
And lastly, who the hell thought WebMD was ever a good idea? Clearly, I’m going to die from sharp wrist pain.
Anywho hope you enjoy this easy orange date smoothie. It’s great with a freshly baked orange muffin on the side too — perfect afternoon snack!
Orange Date Smoothie
Ingredients
- Flesh of 1 large orange
- 2 tablespoons coconut cream from a can
- 1/4-1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
- 2 medjool dates, pitted
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
That smoothie looks really good, could you post a recipe?
I can so relate and I am sad for both of us that this is something we even have to relate about. Paul has been at work until 8 or 9 every night this week and is gone this weekend and it doesn’t seem like its gonna let up any time soon. And here I am at home every day by myself having to do all the adult grown up things. Ugh. 6months is a long time. I don’t think I have it quite as bad as you, but I just wanted you to know that I feel ya. I’m with you in spirit! ;-) I’m also doing a week of giveaways over at my site to celebrate my blogiversary. I’d be honored if you would check them out if you get a chance. ;-)
I just started reading your blog and am lovin’ it. You have some serious wit :-)
thanks ;)
Ugh I couldn’t imagine having someone gone for 6 months. You can do it thought. Or you can possibly hire someone to do it. that’s what I would do.
I’m seriously slacking on reading your blog. You post so much food porn that my eyes glaze over the rest of the details. I seem to have missed where Uly (yes, Uly haha) was going to be gone for 6 months, and what the hell happened to your hand. :/ Anyway, hang in there! Lots of ME time. Cherish it (and I almost said you’ll want it back when you have kids, and remembered you’re a member of the no-kids club too).
Those chicken thighs sound incredible! And now I think I know what to do with the bag ‘o’ dates I have sitting in my pantry…
Brent’s been teaching full-time and grad-schooling it (on top of coaching and racing and whatnot) for the past 2 years, and it was/is a pretty big adjustment for both of us. We’ve kind of gotten into a rhythm with it, and there are times (like right now) that I’m still busier than he is, but there are still flareups every now and then – and I think we’re both counting down the days until late July. Like you said – it’s definitely been rougher for him, but it was a reorientation for us both.
I also love OJ, but I like LOTS of pulp. I know that grosses some people out.
With regard to the next 6 months, hang in there. You’ll eventually get into a rhythm, although it would be nice if Ginger stopped rolling in shit! I’m in a similar situation right now with Aaron launching his new business – he’s home at night, but for the last year he’s been working 7 days a week and really long hours. That, on top of having a puppy for that entire duration (Olive and now Barley) sends me over the edge sometimes. It’s not the big things that make me lose it, it’s more like all of the little household chores that eventually lead to a meltdown.
Anyway, fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for your wrist so you can get back to your regular workouts! And maybe lay off the WebMD. :)
I think it’s the time of year for orange cravings! Last night before bed I was watching Big Bang Theory and I was thinking boy could I go for an orange. I ate four mini ones. Woke up at 2:00pm in the morning crying because I drempt my co-worker died. Last week I was craving oranges and I had a couple before bed and woke up in the middle of the night freaked out because I thought the world was coming to an end. Love oranges, but not before bed!! Crazy huh? Oranges are one of the only foods to give me a nightmare!
I think though with all this talk, I have some time before work, think I’m going to make your smoothie! Have a great weekend!!
The orange date smootie sounds pretty good, but in relations to the “other things” it is survivable. After my husband and I were married he got a job 3 hours away while I finished my degree. After that his Army National Guard was activated for a year and a half… during which time I was pregnant and then had our first son. We’re still married 9 years later. :-)
It IS survivable, but yes, it sucks. Just keep busy. And remember that at the end of six months, when he comes home, you’ll probably both want to be in charge. If you discuss it and have a plan, life will be easier. Good luck!