Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie

What could be better tasting than avocados, bananas, and peanut butter?  Nothing once you try this smoothie.  You can feel good about making this high protein and healthy chocolate smoothie for your family.  I know my family loves it!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocado Smoothie
makes 2 servings

1 cup of milk (any kind)
1 frozen avocados*
1 frozen banana*
2 Tbs peanut butter or 3 Tbs peanuts (in a high powered blender like a Vitamix)
1 tsp vanilla 
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
2-4 Tbs sugar or organic raw agave (add sweetener to taste)

*If using fresh avocados or fresh bananas, add about 1/4 cup of ice

Put everything into your blender and blend until smooth.  If using a Vitamix with pre-programmed settings, set to smoothie and then push the start button. 

Healthy Avocado Chocolate Ice Cream

Frozen Chocolate Ice Cream

One thing I LOVE about owning a Vitamix is that I can make healthy desserts for friends and family.  No artificial preservatives, no unnatural ingredients, just fresh healthy whole foods. 

I first made this dessert last weekend.  We had some friends over and I wanted to try something new.  Avocados are extremely healthy and contain in excess 25 essential nutrients, including potassium, magnesium, phosporus, iron, copper, vitamins A, B, C, E, and K.  They also contain fiber, protein, and many other important nutrients that help protect against a number of diseases and illnesses.

This is one fruit that would do your body good to eat one once a day.  You can throw them in salads, on top of sandwiches, make guacamole and make dessert.  Here is the easiest and most delicious chocolate avocado ice cream you can make.  I would really recommend getting a Vitamix if you don't already own one as it really makes this ice cream silky smooth.  This makes 2-3 servings.

Avocado Chocolate Ice Cream with Vitamix

1/2 cup milk (any kind)
2 frozen avocados
1 frozen banana
1 tsp vanilla 
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa
2-4 Tbs sugar or organic raw agave (add sugar to taste)
2 Tbs coffee, regular or decaf (optional)

Blend until four peaks form, about 1 minute.  Or use frozen dessert setting on your Vitamix.  Enjoy!

Put everything in the blender

This is what it looks like when 4 peaks are formed

Tart Cherry Peach Smoothie

Tart Cherry Smoothie

Tart cherries are extremely healthy.  I'm naturally not a cherry person.  I think it was because as a child I would occasionally get a cherry coke and at the bottom was a pruney chewy cherry.  I also did not like any cherry flavored medicine as a child.  Yuck!  As an adult I have learned to like and appreciate cherries, especially fresh or frozen cherries.

You can buy frozen tart cherries at most major grocery stores.  They make an excellent smoothie.  

Tart cherries are high in beta carotene, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. They also contain potassium, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, B6, E, magnesium, and folic acid.  Tart cherries virtually have no fat or sodium.  Eating a diet that includes foods such as tart cherries can help fight cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and digestive disorders.

Vitamix Tart Cherry Peach Smoothie

makes 2 servings 

1/2 milk (any kind - cow, almond, coconut, etc.)

1 cup frozen tart cherries

1/2 cup frozen peaches or half a frozen banana

1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 Tbs sugar or agave (optional)

Put everything in the blender according the how it's listed and blend until smooth. 

Carrot Ginger Soup with Vitamix

Carrot Ginger Soup

If you like carrots, you'll love this soup.  It's nice and creamy thanks to the almonds. It's also a healthy and quick soup you can make in your Vitamix.  I took the original recipe and adjusted it for the Vitamix.  I hope you enjoy it!

Carrots are extremely healthy.  They help your vision, clear your skin, prevent cancer, prevent heart disease, and slows down the aging of cells.

Besides helping with morning sickness and motion sickness, ginger is known to help prevent a number of cancers, relief migraines, and help treat and prevent colds and flus.

Vitamix Carrot Ginger Soup

• 1 1/2 lbs. carrots
• 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger or 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-4 cups vegetable broth (if you like it thin use more, thick use less)
• 3-4 Tbsp. slivered almonds
• Half the juice of a lemon

1. Put the vegetable broth in the Vitamix. Scrub and chop carrots, put in Vitamix. Add the onions, garlic, almonds, and ginger.
2. If your Vitamix has a soup setting, set to soup and start.  If not, start on 1 and go up to 10 and blend for about 5 minutes or until hot.
3. Serve immediately or save and heat up later.

How to make Walnut Milk

Walnut Milk

Walnuts are one of the 5 healthiest nuts you can eat according to Shape Magazine.  Studies show that people who consume walnuts have better cognitive function and healthier hearts.  Walnuts have the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids, contain the antioxidant ellagic acid (which supports the immune system), and contain 16 disease-fighting polyphenols.

Typically my family drinks Almond Milk and I plan on making my own Almond Milk, eventually, but first I wanted to give Walnut Milk a try because walnuts are so healthy!  Here is my personal recipe for Walnut Milk.

Walnut Milk Recipe

4 cups of water (5 if you want it thinner)
1 cup of walnuts
4-6 dates (more or less depending on desired sweetness, or you can use an alternative sweeter)
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Put everything in a blender and blend away! I have a Vitamix and it blended everything nicely. If your blender doesn't blend it as fine, put it through a strainer or milk bag. I put my first batch through a strainer since I had never made nut milk and everything went through. You can also add vanilla for taste. Pour into a glass container and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days (if it lasts that long).  It was delicious and goes great on cereal and in smoothies!

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

This nutritious juice only takes a few minutes to make.  You can use any kind of cabbage you want, Chinese, Savory, Green or Napa.  The pineapple, peach, and dates give this juice a nice sweetness. If you don't have a powerful blender and want a thinner texture, pour drink mixture through a colander. If you want to turn this into a smoothie, add some ice or frozen pineapple.

Pineapple Cabbage Peach Juice

1/2 cup of pineapple
1/2 peach
1-2 handfuls of cabbage (any variety)
4 dates
1 Tbs flax seeds
1 handful of walnuts
1 cup of water

Blend until smooth and enjoy!  Makes about 3 cups.

Peach, Strawberry, Apple, and Banana Smoothie

Blue Rock enjoying the smoothie!

My family really enjoyed this smoothie.  We drank it for dessert after a kale, broccoli, and chicken stir-fry.

Peach, Strawberry, Apple, and Banana Smoothie

1 cup almond milk (or any kind of milk)
1 peach
4-6 strawberries
1 apple
1 frozen banana
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup ice
protein powder (optional)

Blend until smooth and enjoy!