RECIPE: Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

The incredibly warm weather we've been having has left me feeling puffy and craving cold food/beverage things.

There's not much I can do about the puffiness but there IS something I can do about my cold food/bevy cravings, and those "somethings" present themselves in smoothie form.

Lately, I've been drinking smoothies like it's my job.  As a result I'm starting to get sick of my strawberry-banana, tropical (mango, pineapple and banana) and berry (straw-, rasp- and blueberry) smoothie combinations.  I need something new!

Generally, I'm not a fan of fruit-chocolate combos but this smoothie was not too chocolatey so it was Laura approved!  It fed my craving (pun intended) but, unfortunately, did NOTHING to alter my self-perceived whale-ish-ness.

Here ya go!!!

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie


Serves 1 hungry girl or two normal-sized stomach adults


Ingredients:


-  1 c. vanilla almond milk
-  2 T. (heaping) organic* cocoa powder--I use Dagoba but feel free to use whatever brand you'd like!
-  1 1/4 c. frozen raspberries
-  1 ripe banana
-  3 prunes, soaked 20 minutes (I find 20 minutes to be a good amount--it softens the prunes a bit without totally depleting them of their sweetness)
-  1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
-  2 tsp. ground flax seeds


*The cocoa powder does not, of course, need to be organic.  I try to purchase organic as much as possible but I understand this is not feasible for all--so if you want to use your "on sale at Walmart" cocoa powder (still vegan, naturally), you go right ahead!


Directions:

Pulse ingredients on "ice blend" until frozen fruits break up and then blend on high, stopping every now and then to mix smoothie and incorporate any large fruit chunk stragglers.  Stop when desired consistency is met.  You DON'T want a soup--it's better to stop too early and have some chunks than to have an overly liquid-y puree : /

Bon Appétit