Make your afternoon (or morning) protein smoothie exciting using fresh flavors and seasonal ingredients from the farmer’s market or your garden. This peach basil protein smoothie is a new favorite for this fitness-loving foodie!
I ran into a girlfriend at the gym this morning, and the topic of working came up thanks to an article we’re reading for book club this month. It’s a good read if you have a little time. Several points in the article really struck a chord with me, especially as someone who has always been ambitious and values a career, but not at the expense of my family. The author recognizes this and discusses the misconceptions about women like me – those trying to have it all – when we choose to step back or take alternative career paths (like entrepreneurship).
One which I found particularly upsetting is the assumption that we “lack motivation and the dedication to get things done.” Darlings, I may not work in an office with billable hours, but my work day starts before dawn most mornings and often doesn’t end until 11 at night. It’s punctuated by play dates, time at the gym, and the occasional tantrum, but anyone will tell you I’m ever present at “the office”, weekends included. I make time for family, absolutely, but am far from unmotivated when it comes to a professional life.
How does this have any relation to today’s recipe? This is relevant because not all days are sprinkle-coated, chocolate-drizzled sunshine, and when I’m pushing to meet a deadline, or we have to get an early start to the morning so I can squeeze in the day’s work and family obligations, I turn to easy yet nutritious recipes like a peach basil protein smoothie, to keep me going. A recipe equally at home in the carpool or commuter lane.
One of the things we love to do is head to a local farm to pick seasonal produce. It’s fun, we’re supporting a local business, and it’s a great opportunity to teach our daughter about how food is grown and the importance of locally sourcing your food when possible. When we pick peaches, we usually grill a few, eat plenty fresh, bake a few things and I stock our freezer to make smoothies!
This year, I got a little creative with my peach smoothies and started experimenting with herbs from the garden. I’m glad the basil worked out so beautifully because I planted 3 bushes this year, and they’ve done quite well. Dubbed “The Basil Bunch”, we can barely keep up with the amount they’ve produced! Next year, no more than 2 plants.
I also started adding protein to my smoothies after finding a non-GMO vanilla protein powder that I liked. If you have a warehouse club membership, check there, because that’s where I found this one and the price is better than at the area health food stores. I like the addition of the protein because it makes for a great meal replacement shake. I cannot do smoothies as meal replacement unless they have a good amount of protein and good stuff or I will be hangry in 90 minutes. This is counterproductive.
Put all your ingredients in a blender, blend, and you’re good to go! This recipe was so good, we actually ran out of frozen peaches this year. I hope you enjoy!
Peach Basil Protein Smoothie
- 1 cups to 1 1/4 frozen peaches
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (honey (vanilla, or plain – you may also use a non-dairy yogurt))
- 3/4 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
- 4 leaves large fresh basil
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- Combine all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth!
- Enjoy immediately.