The Mean Green Recipes

MEAN GREEN SMOOTHIE

Steps:

• Add the spinach, grapes, tea, kiwi, mint and apples to the bowl of a blender. Blend until smooth, adding water if needed to get the desired consistency. Drink with a straw.

MEAN GREEN PASTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• For the pureed greens: Meanwhile, add the spinach, arugula, basil, mint, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and garlic to a food processor. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil and puree. Stop before the mixture is completely smooth; you want a bit of texture. Set aside.
• For the cheese sauce: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and mustard powder, whisking to combine. Cook, whisking constantly, for a minute or so. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Cook the sauce until thick and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the half-and-half, salt and pepper. Add the Cheddar, fontina and Monterey Jack. Stir until the cheese all melts.
• For the assembly: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
• Combine the melted butter, breadcrumbs and parsley in a small bowl.
• Add the cooked penne to the cheese sauce, making sure every noodle is covered in sauce. Next, stir in the pureed greens until barely combined. Pour the pasta mixture into the buttered baking pan and top evenly with the breadcrumbs. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• If you are serving later, top the assembled casserole with aluminum foil and pop in the freezer. When you are ready to serve, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight and bake the following day at 350 degrees F until golden brown and cooked through, about 1 hour covered and an additional 15 minutes uncovered.

MEAN GREEN JUICE (FOR JUICER)

Steps:

• Wash all ingredients thoroughly.
• Run through juicer and enjoy! Great over ice.

LEAN AND GREEN

Steps:

• Blend spinach, banana, apple, strawberries, mango, milk, protein powder, and honey together in a blender until smooth.

MEAN GREEN GUACAMOLE SALSA

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil and stir in tomatillos and jalapenos. Boil until tomatillos turn bright green and soft, about 10 minutes.
• Place cilantro, avocados, cooked tomatillos, and cooked jalapenos into a blender, working in batches if necessary. Blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add about 1 tablespoon of tomatillo cooking water, or as needed, if salsa is too thick.
• Stop the blender, and season the salsa with garlic powder and salt to taste. Blend again briefly to mix in the seasonings. Transfer to a bowl for serving.

MEAN GREEN FUSILLI

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to the package instructions.
• Meanwhile, place a skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the chiles, garlic, onion and jalapeno. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes to start softening the onions. Add the cilantro, broth and wine. Turn up the heat and cook for 3 minutes until the sauce has boiled and reduced slightly.
• Drain the pasta and stir it into the sauce. Add the cream, then the Monterey Jack. Stir to coat the pasta and add salt and pepper. When the cheese has melted into the sauce and everything is combined, serve with a sprinkle of cilantro.

MEAN GREEN SMOOTHIES

Steps:

• Combine the kale, yogurt, flaxseed, if using, bananas, apple and orange in a blender along with 12 ice cubes. Pulse a few times, then puree until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Divide among 4 glasses and serve.

MEAN GREEN SCRAMBLE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the hardy greens, scallions and jalapeños. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the greens have wilted, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the half-and-half, pesto and eggs to a pitcher or bowl. Whisk with a fork until well combined.
• Add the egg mixture to the skillet and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until creamy curds begin to form, about 2 minutes. Add the Monterey Jack and continue to cook, stirring, until the eggs are just cooked and the cheese has melted, another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve the eggs on top of the tomato slices and garnished with the chives.

MEAN GREEN TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the chicken stock and water to a bubble with the reserved corn cobs and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Place the corn tortilla strips onto a baking sheet and spray them with some cooking spray. Transfer to the oven and bake until crispy, 10 minutes.
• Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat with some EVOO about 2 turns around the pan. Add the chicken, browning on all sides, then place into the oven for about 7-8 minutes, until juices run clear and no pink remains in the center. Once the chicken is done cooking, remove from oven and let rest before cutting into strips. (I'd just cook the chicken in the same pot I'll cook the soup in- why mess up another pan?).
• Preheat a heavy-bottomed pot with remaining 2 tablespoons of EVOO. Add the onion, garlic and cumin, and cook till soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the corn kernels along with the jalapeño.
• While the veggies are cooking, puree the tomatillos in a food processor until somewhat smooth. Add the purée, stock and chicken to the pot along with the veggies.
• Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and add in the cilantro, lime zest and juice, and serve it up garnished with a big handful of jack cheese, tortilla and avocado.

SCREAMIN' MEAN GREENS

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine onions, 2 cups water, oil, and jalapenos, if using; bring to a boil over high heat. In batches, stir in greens, allowing greens to wilt between each addition. Add turkey wing, covering it with greens. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, reducing heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, just until greens are tender, about 30 minutes; do not overcook greens.
• Remove turkey wing from pot. Pull off meat, discarding skin and bones; chop, and stir into pot. Using a slotted spoon, transfer greens to a serving dish. Serve immediately.

MEAN GREEN SMOOTHIE BOWLS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients except toppings in a blender; cover and process until blended. Pour into chilled bowls; top as desired. Serve immediately.