We had to make the difficult decision to put our sweet 13-year-old kitty, Ollie, to rest this past week. My daughter Elena just left to catch her flight, and fortunately, Maya was still here to help keep our two dogs calm while the vet came over to help Ollie pass peacefully at home. We were grateful to keep her home with us, instead of having her endure the stress of hauling her to the vet. I remember doing that with my kitty many years ago, and learned there is a better way. I know she’s in a better place now; the last 6 weeks were pretty rough on her as she developed squamous cell carcinoma in her eye. We loved her so much and she will be sorely missed. Remember to hug your babies tonight. XO
I’m glad I had this post ready to go before Ollie passed.
With the hot summer we’ve been having, I’ve often been looking for simple, cold things to eat or sip on, especially in the peak heat of the afternoon. This easy banana-orange and matcha smoothie is one of Maya’s favorites and she made it almost every day she was here. The only thing I changed was the addition of an orange for a little more citrus flavor, and I swapped the flax seeds for hemp hearts. It’s so simple to prepare (you don’t even have to worry about freezing the banana beforehand!), yet the addition of the healthy fiber and fats from the flax/hemp seeds makes it surprisingly satisfying. Best of all, the ice cools you down and the matcha powder offers a mild kick when you get hit with the lethargic afternoon heat of the season.
A quick shout-out to matcha, or powdered green tea leaves: Matcha has a moderate amount of caffeine but it also has L-theanine, an amino acid that delivers a sense of calm. So, if you’re like us, very sensitive to caffeinated coffee and the jitters that ensue, matcha is a great option. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants. Though the slight vegetal taste may be odd at first, it is easily mellowed with other flavors, like banana and orange! Always choose organic matcha when possible. I like this one.
Enjoy and stay cool!
- 1 ripe banana, fresh
- 1 small orange, peeled and quartered
- 1 heaping cup ice
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds (chia & flax work fine as well)
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1-2 pitted dates or stevia to taste
- ½ tsp vanilla (optional)
- Put all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.