Blackberry Apple & Arugula Smoothie

For the past month my breakfasts have been more or less the same. Not out of laziness, nor lack of time. I simply love papaya and wake up nearly every morning craving it.

I recently became a frequent shopper at Pancho Villa, a Hispanic market on El Cajon Ave. after discovering that they were selling papaya at $.50/lb. When the price went up to $.69 I kept going--It's still a good deal.

The market isn't far from my house, but it's not exactly around the corner either, so I try to get enough papaya to last me through the week.

Then a couple weeks ago, as I unloaded four medium-sized papayas from my cart, the lady at the check-out glared at me as one would an alcoholic buying several liters of booze.

"You know there's a limit on the papaya, right?"

No, I didn't. The lady behind me shot me a disapproving glance.

"It's 12 pounds. You have to put one back."

In other words, quit being a melon hoard, lady.

I sheepishly paid for my three papaya and went on my way. Since then, I've been trying to limit my consumption.

But it wasn't until today that I woke up craving something completely different. Papaya sounded too sweet. I still wanted fruit--something plump and juicy, but at the same time astringent.

I wanted a smoothie. With arugula.



Blackberry Apple & Arugula Smoothie

This smoothie is not very sweet at all, but you can adjust it to your tastes. It's naturally high in fiber and antioxidants, and uniquely low-GI for a fruit drink. That makes it an ideal breakfast for people with diabetes or blood sugar issues.

The arugula gives it a little bite, but it's actually refreshing, not overpowering. Plus, being a leafy green, it contains a different spectrum of vitamins and minerals than fruit.

1 medium-sized apple, chopped

1 tangerine, squeezed

2/3 cup frozen blackberries

1/2 cup yogurt

3 tbsp hemp protein

1 tbsp flax seed

1/2 - 1 cup almond milk (preferably homemade)

2 cups arugula

Maple syrup or agave nectar to taste (optional)

Put everything in the blender and blend! If you need more liquid, add more almond milk or a natural juice for sweetness and/or tartness.

It makes a pretty large amount, so you might want to split it with someone, or leave some in the fridge.