Simply Laura Lea. Laura Lea

an underripe avocado, store it in a

       brown paper bag on the counter with a piece of cut

       fruit to expedite the ripening process. You can store

       perfectly ripe avocados in the refrigerator for a

       couple of days without them ripening further.

      Peeling Fruits and Vegetables: If I am using

       produce that is on the Dirty Dozen list, I always

       peel as the skin holds a high concentration of

       pesticides. If it’s organic or not one of the Dirty

       Dozen, I usually don’t peel.

      Prepping Kale and Collard Greens: To slice the

       leaves into ribbons, first rinse the leaves and pat

       dry. Lay a leaf flat on the cutting board. Holding

       the leaf with your non-dominant hand, use a sharp

       knife to slice on either side of the thick part of the

       stem (usually almost to the top of the leaf). Remove

       stem. Repeat with remaining leaves. Then layer a few

       leaves on top of each other, and roll into a log shape.

       Slice crosswise into ribbons.

       49 LL’s Daily Morning Elixir

       50 Coconut Lime Macadamia Smoothie

       53 Maple Tahini Date Shake

       54 LL’s Daily Fruit-Free Green Smoothie

       57 Low-Sugar PB&J Smoothie Bowl

       58 Almond Chai Latte

       61 Creamy Cashew Iced Coffee

       62 Crash-Free Hot Chocolate

       65 Chamomile Ginger Turmeric Latte

      Chapter 3

      BEVERAGES

      + SMOOTHIES

      Perhaps more than any other chapter, this first chapter reflects the growth in my personal wellness journey since my first cookbook. First, you will see some lower-sugar smoothies here. Do I still love fruit and believe that fruit can be a healthy part of your breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Yes, yes, yes! However, I wanted to offer y’all a few sugar-conscious smoothies, which may give you more sustained energy throughout the morning and help minimize sweet cravings in the afternoon. As a result, I recreated my famous LL’s Daily Green Smoothie with avocado instead of banana, and I truly find it equally delicious. In addition to smoothies and a smoothie bowl, you’ll also see a handful of “fatty” drinks in this chapter. Don’t run from the word fatty! The healthy fats in these beverages are wonderful for your brain, hormones, and, of course, that crucial satiation factor. My Almond Chai Latte, Creamy Cashew Iced Coffee, and Crash- Free Hot Chocolate can even serve as a meal replacement if you’re not super hungry in the morning. I hope this chapter serves as a happy welcome to the second LL Balanced Cookbook.

      L L’s Daily Morning Elixir

      | HANDS-ON TIME: 5 min | TOTAL TIME: 5 min to overnight | YIELD: 1 serving |

      Juice from 1 lemon or lime

      (2 tablespoons)

      1 to 3 teaspoons raw apple

      cider vinegar (start with 1 and

      increase gradually)

      ½-inch piece ginger, peeled

      and grated

      4 cups filtered water

      2 to 10 drops liquid stevia

      Pinch sea salt (optional)

      1 scoop collagen peptides

      (optional)*

      Combine all ingredients in a large jar or pitcher, and stir well. Serve

       immediately, or refrigerate overnight, and enjoy first thing in the

       morning. (I prefer to make this the night before because 1) I don’t have

       to think about it in the morning, 2) I like that it’s chilled, and 3) if using

       collagen peptides, I find they dissolve better with more time.)

      I don’t remember exactly when I started making my Daily Morning

       Elixir, but I do know that it has been an absolute game-changer for me.

       Lemon juice helps move food through your digestive system quickly

       and efficiently. This flushes out toxins, a process that benefits your

       whole body and will show up as brighter, healthier skin. Raw apple cider

       vinegar is rich in gut-friendly probiotics and enzymes, and it helps kill

       bad bacteria. It has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and

       reduce blood sugar levels. I only recently began adding ginger to my

       elixir, but it is incredibly anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative, and it

       can soothe an upset stomach. In addition to all of these health benefits, I

       personally love the combination of flavors, particularly with a few drops

       of liquid stevia added. I feel incredible after drinking my Daily Elixer, and

       I look forward to it each morning.

      * Consuming high-quality collagen peptides made from the collagen of 100 percent pasture-raised, grass-

       fed cows can noticeably combat the signs of aging, as well as improve joint health. For more information

       on the health benefits of collagen peptides, see K. L. Clark et al., “24-Week Study on the Use of Collagen

       Hydrolysate as a Dietary Supplement in Athletes with Activity-Related Joint Pain,” Current Medical Research

       and Opinion 24, no. 5 (May 2008): 1485-96, abstract, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416885; and E. Proksch et al., “Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study,” Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 27, no. 1 (2014): 47-55, abstract, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23949208.

      NOTES

      If you have any leftover fresh

       herbs like mint, basil, or

       even cilantro, throw them into

       your water as well,