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I was feeling sort of yuck one afternoon; I think it was the weather, raining one minute and sunny, hot, and desperately humid the next.  Then more rain. Stuck inside the house under those meteorological circumstances wasn’t doing me any good. I decided what I needed was a jolt of nutrition so I went out to the garden during a break from the rain for some green stuff.

Here’s what I picked and/or assembled:

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Clockwise from the top center: tulsi, spilanthes, lemon balm, French sorrel, blackberries/banana, peppermint, chamomile flowers & homemade yogurt (I make mine by the gallon using this easy method).

I thought, this is way too much to pack into a Magic Bullet, but I did it anyway, plus a little orange juice. Also, I used a frozen banana, represented in the photo above by a non-frozen one, (because no one wants to look at a frozen banana).

It blended surprisingly easily and tasted fantastic.

I also think it made me feel better!

Packed with vitamins A, C, and riboflavin (B2), French sorrel is great in smoothies because of its tangy, tart flavor and smooth texture. Lemon balm is calming and soothing as well as lemony. Mint has many benefits in addition to great flavor; it aids digestion and helps stomach woes. Tulsi is used to regulate blood pressure, de-stress, and promote healthy skin, among an almost endless list of other benefits. Spilanthes is known as an antibiotic and antifungal herb. I would have used more blackberries (good for the heart, brain, and teeth) but there were only two ripe ones!

Whether or not you’re a fan of smoothies, I urge you to grow every plant in this smoothie if you don’t already. Sorrel, for example, is also a good addition to salads, makes a delicious soup, and is a perennial that starts early and outlasts lettuce in the garden. Lemon balm and tulsi make the most delicious tea ever, and spilanthes is just plain fun as well as medicinal.

I was surprised by how good it tasted; the banana and oj was plenty of sweetener. If I had any fresh ginger I would have added that, too. Next time.

You can substitute other herbs and greens for a similar smoothie. Spinach would be good, too, other mints and basils, etc. Experiment with the herbs in your garden.

What is the most unusual smoothie you’ve ever tried?