As this past week has been so beautiful with lots of sunshine and spring temperatures, I thought I’d post another BBQ recipe today. Bruschetta is one of my favorite BBQ side dishes, and I could actually just eat it until I’m full. Instead of grilled bread (which is obviously my #1 choice) I used grilled avocados in this recipe, and oh my, I didn’t even miss my beloved bread. The avocado base almost turns it into a salad equivalent – fresh and light. 

After I found out that you can actually bake avocados, I desperately wanted to try to grill them, too. It gives them kind of a smokey flavor that only a BBQ can achieve, and I think it tastes absolutely terrific. Of course if you don’t have a grill or it’s too cold for a BBQ, you do not have to grill the avocados at all, but I think it adds a nice delicious touch to it. I did a little calculation the other day and realized that I am spending more money on avocados in a month than I spend on going out with friends – foodie problems I guess. But hey, what can I say, I just love my avocados. They are the best way to get healthy fats into your system, and to protect your heart from chronic diseases. I consider my avocado intake as a form of health insurance, so I might as well spend some money on this.

What are your thoughts on avocados? Do you love them? Do you think they’re o.k., or do you actually do not really like them? I think I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like avocados, but I’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments below.

I hope you’ll love this bruschetta variation just as much as I do. It will definitely bring your BBQ game to a whole new level.

Enjoy!

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I know my YouTube channel has been a bit quiet lately, but this is going to change from now on. I just shot three brand new videos that will be uploaded to YouTube within the next few weeks, starting today with this green spring smoothie with mint and basil video. Smoothies are the perfect way to get nutrients into your system, especially greens. Some days I just don’t feel like preparing a salad or cooking large meals, so smoothies help me get my fair share of  vitamin K every day. One handful of basil, for example, gives you almost 100% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting and blood sugar regulation. 

Experimenting with herbs in smoothies is a fun way to spice up your smoothie, and basil and mint are great herbs to start with. You might want to take it slow with the mint leaves, as they can have quite a strong taste, but other than that I think this smoothie will please even the worst smoothie haters. What’s your favorite green smoothie flavor combination? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Enjoy!

The post Video: Green Spring Smoothie with Mint and Basil appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

I love spring and I love fall. I mean, don’t get me wrong, of course I like summer and winter, too, but there is something so magical about spring and fall that I would absolutely declare those two as my favorite seasons. I’m really sorry that I’m talking about the weather, but I needed a smooth transition into this smoothie, which I have declared to be a Spring Smoothie, because the  ingredients are a mix of winter and summer fruits. We have oranges, which are definitely more of a winter fruit, mangos, which I associate with summertime, and then we have bananas, which, well, let’s face it – are in season all year around in almost every country on the planet. What’s really making this smoothie special, however, are the mint and basil leaves that give it an incredibly fresh taste. 

If you’re not a big fan of mint in smoothies, then start out slowly and increase your mint leaves with time. I guarantee you that you will come to like it eventually. Both mint and basil have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which means that they help our body fight various diseases. So they literally turn smoothies into deliciously tasting medicine. One cup of basil contains almost 100% of the daily vitamin K intake, which is vital for healthy bones and blood clotting. Mint has been used to cure stomach or throat aches for years, so there’s the reason why people drink peppermint tea when they are fighting a sore throat.

The sweetness in this spring smoothie comes from the banana and mango. Bananas are one of the best sources for potassium, which is vital for a healthy heart and a regulated blood pressure. Mango comes with a good amount of vitamin A, which is important for a healthy vision. I like to use frozen mangos because they are already portioned, and function as ice cubes, but you can totally use fresh mango instead.

For an extra touch of creaminess, I always add a little bit of avocado to my smoothies. Another reason why avocados should be your number one smoothie ingredient is that avocados increase the nutrient intake of the fruits and vegetables that they are taken with by up to 200%. If that’s not the best excuse to have an avocado a day, I don’t know what is.

Enjoy!

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