Bohemian Kate

Trail Mix Smoothie Recipe

I've gone rogue in the smoothies realm.  Out is all that powdery crap and in is the real deal.  Real nuts and seeds and dates and just go for it and don't hold back (unless, that is you don't have a Vitamix).  This smoothie makes me think in a stream of consciousness, that says the hell with it and just do what you need to do.  Yes, I woke up feeling sassy today.

And this is a sassy smoothie!  This is like a big Trader Joe's trail mix bag of a smoothie and once you go trail mix smoothie it's hard to go back.  Okay, that didn't really have the flair I was looking for, but here's my point.  Whole foods and much better than processed powders so just throw it all in there and um, see what happens.

A bunch of whole food goodness is what happens!  Damn, I just cannot get off this sassy kick this morning.  My apologies.  Here we go..

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of the frozen fruit of your choice, but I prefer blueberries and strawberries.
• I like to add baked sweet potato to my smoothies just because, but a banana or avocado will do too (something to give it a creamy consistency)
• 4-5 Brazil nuts
• 2-3 dates
• 1 spoonful of raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 spoonful of cocoa nibs
• 3/4 of almond milk (may need more)

Directions:

Really easy, throw all of this stuff in a blender and blend.  It was still be chunky, but that's kinda the point.

Also, I would not attempt this with a regular blender bought at the grocery store or drug store because it most likely won't be able to handle the nuts and seeds.  I know it's expensive, but I recommend the Vitamix.  That's what I use.  Think of it as a long term commitment guys.  It will be there for you day and day not like some of the flaky blenders I've come across in my life.

So there you have it!  Easy peasy baby.

Raw Brazil Nut and Date Butter Recipe

Warning.  If you make this, you run the risk of wanting to eat the entire batch right afterwards.  Just sayin.

This is unbelievably tasty and it's so damn easy to make, well, you may never need candy again.  Yes.  It tastes that good.

And the best part is it's just two raw ingredients: brazil nuts and dates.

Here's how you make it:  Throw about a handful and a half of brazil nuts into a food processor (I use Cuisineart...I suppose a blender may work as well, but I recommend a heavy duty one like Vitamix or else you run the risk of breaking your blender) and about 4-6 dates.  Your measurements do not need to precise, this is a casual sort of recipe, if you will.  

Blend or process for a good amount of time, until it starts to have the texture of a paste.  Once you're about there, taste it to see if it needs another date or two.  Chances are it will be plenty sweet already since dates pretty much taste like sugar.

If it's still chunky, keep blending, but if it's already like a paste, you're good to go.  That's your butter!

Okay, I do not recommend you eat the entire batch in one sitting.  I was sort of kidding about that.  Although I could see how it could happen because, jeez, it's delicious.  You could use it in smoothies, spread it on toast or fruit.  Or you could just do like I do and eat it straight.  

It's perfect for late in the afternoon when you've had enough of work and just want something sugary and a nice little sweetness high.  Instead of reaching for candy, have spoonful of good old Brazil Nut Date Butter.

Simple as that.

Because I've been asked, the little teal cup is from Anthropologie.  Enjoy...

My Ultimate Morning Smoothie

To me there is nothing better than a smoothie in the morning.  I have to have it.  While usually I just throw in whatever it is that I have on hand, this past week I happened to create the most delicious smoothie ever by accident.  I don't know what else to name it besides the Ultimate Morning Smoothie which is heavy on the cheese factor, but so be it.

Ingredients:

• Handful of frozen organic blueberries
• 4 frozen organic strawberries
• 1/4 of room temp organic banana
• 1/2 cup of regular organic almond milk
• Handful of fresh organic spinach leaves
• 2 tablespoons of cooked organic sweet potato (still taste delicious without this)
• 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Egg White Protein Powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Cacao Nibs
• 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

Sounds like a hot mess, but turns into something magical.

Directions:

Throw in a blender and blend until it has a smoothie consistency.  I'm weird and like mine thick, almost like soft serve ice cream and I eat it with a spoon.  For a thinner consistency to drink, just add more almond milk or even water.

As far as blenders I use the Vitamix Professional Series 200 and I love it.  I freakin love it.  Highly recommend getting a high powered blender such as the Vitamix (I've also heard from friends that the Ninja is really good too) because it blends quick and can handle a lot of ingredients.  I've gone through my fair share of crappy blenders that have broken down on me and I think it's well worth the money to buy a reliable blender.  Especially if you're going to use it every day.  Feel free to email me with any questions about the Vitamix!