This week…
I hit the discount produce jackpot.
I don’t know if your local grocery store does this, but in my area, several of the big name grocery stores frequently offer a variety of very ripe or near-spoiling produce for a steep discount.
Some days this discount produce stand, located in the far rear of the store, is a real bust. There will be nothing but some brown lettuce or completely mushy avocados.
But other days…
It’s like the sunlight streaming down from heaven with a chorus of angels singing.
Bananas, perfectly ripe for smoothies or banana breads; pears with a minor bruise or dent; cucumbers; zucchini; bell peppers with a slight soft spot; and so much more.
This week, I found the motherload of juicing items (pears, limes, and cucumbers) plus roughly 15 pounds of peaches, two bags of mandarin oranges, and 5 pounds of strawberries.
So I went home, juiced two pitchers of green juice (using the ingredients from the store and our garden-fresh kale), and then made a brand new smoothie bowl!
Ingredients
- Two-three frozen bananas
- One sliced peach
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1-1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh spinach (you can use frozen, but I much prefer fresh)
- Toppings: granola, chia seeds, coconut flake, cacao nibs, fresh sliced strawberries, honey
Blend all the ingredients (except the toppings) until smooth and creamy. Add only enough almond milk to blend. The color will be a little ugly because of the spinach, but just think of all the extra micronutrients.
Top with your choice of toppings and enjoy!
Does your local grocer offer discounted produce? Let us know in the comments below!