Chicago Skiing + Green Smoothie Base Recipe.

I went cross-country skiing this past weekend {in Chicago!} The Chicago Park District rents cross-country skis and snowshoes for a few weeks in January and February at Northerly Island, near the Museum Campus and Soldier Field. It’s only $5 for a two hour rental.

Please excuse the marshmallow coat {it was 15 degrees…} Northerly Island is a peninsula that goes out into Lake Michigan with beautiful views of the skyline and lake, at close to 100 acres in size. Adler Planetarium is located on the peninsula. I learned the area was originally built up for the second World’s Fair, held in Chicago in the 1930s. It previously held a small private airport until the mid 90s. Today, it hosts a concert venue and there is a long-term plan to create a nature/ecology learning experience.

The skyline was gorgeous – even though it was a very gray {and snowy} day. The ice on Lake Michigan was the craziest I’ve seen since living in the city. It was endless and you couldn’t see open water with the naked eye. Huge ice chunks have built up against the shoreline, in a beautiful icy blue color.

I have one more cold thing to share this morning – my green smoothie base recipe. I have been drinking one of these almost every morning lately, willing spring to arrive! You can mix this up by subbing any frozen fruit for the ice cubes, changing the type / flavor of yogurt, or using a different nut butter.

Green Smoothie Base Recipe
2 handfuls spinach
1 Tablespoon almond butter
1 cup almond milk {I use ‘original’}
1 banana
1/4 cup yogurt {I use lowfat vanilla}
4 ice cubes