BY KRISTIN CELESTE SHROEGER
Special to the Record-Eagle
— Local pears, kale, ginger, bee pollen granules and honey are blended for a delicious and nutritious smoothie that will boost your immune system and keep those sniffles at bay this winter season.
This recipe features local produce from 9 Bean Rows Farm, Amon Orchards, Loving Dove Farm and locally produced products from Food for Thought and Champion Hill.
Red Russian Kale Smoothie
Lemon
Fresh local ginger
Fresh local bee pollen granules
Fresh local wild star thistle honey
Fresh local pear
Fresh local red Russian kale
Juice one lemon and add half the juice to the glass base of a blender. Peel and mince 1 inch of ginger and add to the blender base with 1 t. bee pollen granules and 1 t. honey. Blend on low until bee pollen granules are dissolved.
Core and slice pear and add to blender with ½ c. ice. Blend on low until smooth.
Remove 2 c. red Russian kale leaves from stems and add to blender base with ½ c. water. Blend on low until smooth. Taste and season with additional honey if desired.
Kristin Celeste Shroeger, of Traverse City, is the recipe creator, photographer, dishwasher and blogger of The Intentional Minimalist, a website encouraging farm-to-table cooking with local, seasonal and sustainable produce. Visit www.theintentionalminimalist.com.
