Delicious Pineapple Ginger Almond Milk Smoothie

I have been kicking it up a serious notch in the smoothie department. Flavor. We need more flavor and anti-inflammatory smoothies made in my kitchen that will have healthful beneficial ingredients that are no dairy and no grain. The myth that seems to be prevalent is that anti-inflammatory is not flavorful. The truth is that you can add lots of flavor with some of your favorite spices and you will be LOVING your smoothies. Below the recipe learns how to grow basil. It’s a strong flavor ingredient for smoothies and truly takes the flavor to new levels.

Making the Smoothie Recipe

Start by growing some yummy fresh sweet basil for your delicious pineapple ginger almond milk smoothie. Frozen pineapple gives your smoothie an ice cream-like consistency. You could even freeze your almond milk into ice cubes for a frostier version. Use almond milk or coconut milk – both non-dairy milks work extremely well in the blender and taste delightful.

Growing Basil

Want to know how to grow basil? With a strong aroma, basil can contribute to your garden with aroma as well as bold foliage. An additional benefit is that it is useful for adding seasoning to Italian, Greek, Mexican, and tomato dishes. Basil looks attractive in cut flower arrangements. Beyond making a gorgeous statement in your garden, basil is also a nutritional powerhouse.

Growing Tips

Basil prefers a sunny location that gets at least 6 hours of sun per day. Grow from seeds or transplants in well-drained soil that is richly amended with rotted manure or compost. To start from seed, wait until two weeks after the last frost, and then place seeds onto prepared soil and cover with 1/8 inch of soil. Basil requires organically rich, well-drained soil, part-shade to full-sun conditions, and consistent watering. Kellogg Garden Organics All Natural Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables is a good choice that I used last summer (right and soil below).  If basil bolts in late spring and summer, simply cut off the flowering stem at the base of the plant as the flower can get quite tall, but is not attractive.

Advice and Care

Store fresh basil sprigs in a glass of fresh cool water on the counter, out of direct sunlight. To freeze basil, chop the leaves and place them in an ice cube tray, then drizzle olive oil over the tops of the leaves until you have a full tray. Freeze. Use the basil olive oil cube for flavorings in sauces and stews.

Special thanks to Kellogg Garden Organics for providing soil to me this season – the soil worked very well with my herbs, particularly the basil. Those beautiful bamboo cutting boards were provided by Totally Bamboo. The featured board is the ‘Pro Board Long’ and I love the cross-hatch design. Glassware is from the beautiful La Rochere bee series. Spices are from Frontier Co-op – the pepper and turmeric are wonderful additions to a flavorful smoothie. Thrilled for all your help in putting together this delicious pineapple ginger almond milk smoothie ever.