Strawberry Mint Swirl Smoothie - Raw and Vegan

Strawberry Mint Smoothie

When I have a little extra time in the mornings I enjoy being creative with my smoothies.  I love to do layers with different fruits and greens, from simple to elegant.  This one was rather simple in looks, but the taste had a definite WOW factor!

Strawberry Mint Swirl Smoothie Mint

Cream Layer:
2 cold ripe bananas
3-4 mint leaves
1/4 cup hemp milk (or milk of choice)
1 tsp Matcha (optional)

Blend all ingredients, pour into a separate container and put in freezer while making the next layer.

Reddish Pink layer:
1 handful strawberries - about 1 1/2 cups
1/2 small beet
1 small frozen ripe banana

Blend all ingredients.

Alternately pour each layer in a tall glass and give a little swirl after each layer.  I topped mine with mint and a few nibbles of my fudge brownie, which is completely optional.

Peace☮
Rocki

Chocolate Crunch Smoothie - Raw Vegan Shake

Raw Vegan Chocolate Smoothie

Yesterday was an extremely busy hair pulling day for me and I do believe that I was going in several directions at once.  When I finally stopped, I was beside myself - literally.  We both looked at each other and agreed that there was just one thing on my (our) mind and it was one of my chocolate smoothies.  But this time with a crunch factor.  And more chocolate.

So I put on my mad scientist outfit and channeled Gene Wilder (from Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein).  My laughter and excitement overcame me while creating.  I'm sure my neighbors were wondering what was going on.  Then it was complete.  I.  MADE.  FIRE!  Oops... wrong movie. 

I initially named it Chocolate Crunch Stress Relief Smoothie.  It is out of this world and was exactly what I needed.  Rich chocolate taste - check.  Thick and creamy - check.  Crunch factor - check.

So now I present to the world my creation! 

Chocolate Crunch Smoothie - Raw Vegan Shake
1 healthy serving

1 cup coconut water
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbs cacao powder
1 Tbs cacao butter (approx 1" chunk)
1 Tbs coconut oil
2 large frozen ripe bananas
1 Tbs cacao nibs

Put all ingredients into vitamix/blender *except* the cacao nibs, and blend until thick and creamy. With the blender running, add the nibs for just a quick moment to break them down a little bit so that you still have the crunch factor.  Pour into a big mug, stick a straw in, find a cozy spot and let the stress melt away. Ahhhhhh... just what the doctor in me ordered.

Peace ☮,
Rocki

Raw Rocki's New Blog and Chocolate Shake Smoothie

Raw Vegan Chocolate Shake - Guilt-Free!



Welcome to my new blog!  My new home of raw vegan recipes and nutritional information for a healthy body and mind. You'll soon find recipes for green smoothies, juicing, and raw meals from breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks. Raw chocolate too! 

After 7 years of being on my other blog, and with the direction my life is taking me, I finally decided to start fresh.

I'll admit it was a little scary at first.  That's kind of odd really.  Scary?  It's not like I'm making a major life change or anything of that nature.  I guess it's because all my 'stuff' is over on my other blog and this one is naked.  Plus I'm known on that blog - well, not famously known, but people know where to find me.  I had given thought about changing my URL name, but apparently I can't do that without messing up the links to all of my posts.  Such is the blogging life.  I'll still post things over there that are not topic related to this blog though.

Change is good. 

Just to mention I have several recipes on my other blog that I'm going to be transferring to this one, as well as a ton more yet to post.  So I'll start with one of my favorite yummy shakes. You can't say no to a healthy chocolate shake in the middle of the afternoon, can you?  No way!  Especially since it is raw, vegan, gluten-free and nutritious with no processed sugar. 

Say it with me: "GUILT-FREE!"

Guilt-Free Chocolate Shake Smoothie

Step 1:
2 very ripe frozen bananas
1 cup pure coconut water
1 Tbs raw vegan protein powder
1 Tbs hemp heart seeds
vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla
1 cup ice

Blend the above.  Pour half or more of this vanilla mixture into a tall glass and leave the rest in the blender. 

Step 2:
Add 1 Tbs or more of cacao powder to the remaining mixture in the blender and blend briefly until combined.  Pour slowly on top of the vanilla mixture.  I garnished mine with coconut and cacao nibs, but you can garnish any way you want or not.

Note: if you do not have very ripe bananas and/or like it more on the sweeter side, simply add sweetener of choice in Step 1.

Peace,
Rocki