Thickalicious Christmas Cake Smoothie

Thickalicious Christmas Cake Smoothie

This Thickalicious take-off on a Christmas Cake as a smoothie
When designing this 'cake' smoothie, I wanted to get the essential flavour "idea" of Christmas cake but without having to expand the recipe to include all the not-so-healthy ingredients you might find in a typical Christmas cake (and I'm not referring to the commercial ones).  There is NO butter, so you don't have to worry about that... in fact, like all of the Christmas smoothies, this one is also vegan which means no yogurt either, or other dairy products.  Of course, if you are not vegetarian, you can go ahead and put in whatever you like from the animal by-product arena.  I'm hoping that the almond milk and the oatmeal carry the mouth-appeal for all the fats-- milk, butter, eggs-- in this smoothie.

I also have skipped most the rum or brandy and the raisins and/or currants.  Instead I'm using frozen  seedless grapes and I believe that these little gems do the trick as a much healthier, tastier sub.  Along with the grapes, the dates provide wholesome sweetness (I also added a packet of Sweet Leaf stevia, and you can opt for more sweetener of your choice, or just stick with the dates).  Too, I kept the spices to a minimum, using a small amount of nutmeg and a more pronounced portion of cinnamon.

I like it-- it satisfies my Christmas Cake urges in a more satisfactory way, and I don't have to start putting it together in October! (I vaguely remember that regimen from my long-ago Trudy Traditional days).

Thickalicious Christmas Cake Smoothie (serves 2)
Put the following in your blender carafe and whirl up:

• 1/2 C. Rolled Oats (Gluten-Free if preferred)
• 1/4 tsp. ground Nutmeg
• 1 tsp.   ground Cinnamon
• 9 pitted Dates (or more if desired)
• 1 C. Frozen Seedless Grapes
• 2. C. Almond Milk (or 1 C. Almond Milk and 1 C. Water)
• 1 pkt. Sweet Leaf Stevia powder (or sweetener of choice and how much you want-- optional)

Try these other Christmas Smoothies too!

Cranberry-Apple, Green Grape and Chia Christmas Smoothie

Cranberry Lassi with Coconut Milk, Cumin, Chia and Ginger Smoothie

Mandaringo-Ginger Smoothie

Luscious Eggless Nog Smoothie

Sweet Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Chocolate-Mint Smoothie

Chai Pumpkin-Spice Avo-Banana Smoothie

This is a significant birthday for my dear husband.  It is a "longevity" marker, and if I say that we have been married going on 45 years and married young, you likely can guess his age?  He has been taking a class from the local ElderCollege about Age Reversal with a focus on Ayurvedic (Indian) wellness and longevity.  So, we have re-introduced butter (as in "Ghee", clarified butter) into our was-vegan life, and lots of exotic herbs and spices (eg., Turmeric, Ashwagandha, etc.)  I thought that a sort of "chai" smoothie would be lovely for the morning smoothie (and he has a meeting, so it will give him a boost before he goes off to that and should keep him energetic, sharp as a tack, and not hungry until lunchtime).  Here it is (recipe for two people):

Put the following ingredients into a Vitamix, or in batches into a less workhouse blender:

1 ripe Avocado
2 C. non-dairy Mylk + Filtered Water (you decide how much of each)
2 frozen Bananas
3 T. Maple Syrup, or more to taste OR/AND 1 packet of Sweet Leaf Stevia (to taste)
2-3  tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp. Turmeric Powder
1 tsp. Ashwagandha Powder
(A cup of icy chai tea might be a great addition-- I haven't tried that yet)

Blend until smooth and silky like a really great Pumpkin Pie custard!  If a spoon stands up in it and you would like it a little thinner, then add more Mylk or Water.

Click HERE to scroll other luscious Smoothie recipes containing Avocado

Smoothie of the Week: ABC Smoothie

I was with a group of people last week talking about refreshments we would serve after a presentation we were hosting. We wanted the said refreshments to reflect upon our support for healthy living, so out went coffee, Black Forest cheese cake, and the like.

 Someone suggested fruit trays. Another pointed out that people get as much of a glycemic surge with several pieces of fruit as they do with a cookie.

It got me thinking about fruity smoothies... and today's recipe is for a smoothie that is sweet, without being cloying, but made with blackberries and mostly greens. There is no banana-- just an apple and an avocado. It is smooth, flavourful, and creamy delicious... isn't that what one wants in a smoothie? Oh yes, and extrememly healthy!


Put the following in the carafe of a Vitamix and whirl up together until smooth and creamy:

• 2 C. frozen organic Blackberries (or other low glycemic berries)
• 1 handful fresh organic Cilantro
• 1 small, very ripe Avocado
• 1 4" piece of fresh Aloe Vera (if you have it- and peel off/discard the outer layer of skin)
• 1 small organic Apple, cored
• Stevia to taste (if desired)

Smoothie of the Week: Cool Northern Front Green Smoothie

This morning I was looking for something that was clean and crisp, not sweet, but kind of like our West Coast climate, and using some of our high octane (read: antioxidant) berries-- especially some of the mass of frozen blackberries I have from picking last fall. lol

So, I combined the following, and it IS the best smoothie I have had all week... has a lovely fruity flavour, but not cloying, just West Coast (haha).  Put the following in your Vitamix canister:

*1 organic Apple, cored and chopped (skin intact)

*1 organic Lemon, peeled (leave the white) and seeded, chopped

*1 C. Frozen Cranberries

*1 C. organic Frozen Peaches (alas, farewell...all gone!)

*1 C. Frozen Blackberries (or other berries of choice)

*2 T. Organic Traditions organic Stevia powder (or similar-- no additives)

*1 narrow head organic Romaine Lettuce 

*Filtered Water to level 

Smoothie of the Week: Pumpkin Howl

courtesy of JillWellington at Pixaby

Pumpkin Howl is just a real scary name for a delectable 'pumpkin pie' type smoothie. I think you'll love it:

Put the following in your blender canister:

• Meat and Liquid from one Young Thai Coconut (or 12 oz of Coconut Water)
• 1/2 C. of canned Organic pumpkin puree
• 4 soaked dates (pit removed) or Stevia to taste or Maple Syrup to taste
• Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon or as desired)

(makes enough for two adult portions)  

Bwahahahahahah

Smoothie of the Week: Lemon-Blueberry Bliss

        

This smoothie is so tasty and SOOO healthy-- I was looking for something with a little zing (lemons!), antioxidants (blueberries!), energy, protein, and omega3s ('new superfoods':hempseed protein and chia seeds!), but also sweet (stevia drops!). 

This is a winning, thirst-quenching, energy-building, good-feeling-making smoothie. You can add other ingredients if you don't have the ones that I used (eg.,flaxseed for chia seeds) but I would really suggest you try this one if you have the means....

Add to the canister of the blender (I use a VitaMix) the following:
~1-2 Cups Frozen Wild or Organic Blueberries
~1/2 Cup Hempseed Protein
~1/4 Cup Chia Seed Gel*
~1/4 Cup to 1 Cup Fresh squeezed Organic Lemon Juice
~Filtered Water to blend (as much as required) & Stevia drops to sweeten (I used about 1/2 teaspoon)
~1 packet of Stevia sweetener (or sweetener to taste) (optional)
Blend up and drink up and enjoy!

*to make Chiaseed Gel, place 1/4 Cup of whole chiaseeds in a quart mason jar and add water to the top. Stir until the seeds are dispersed. Let absorb the water for at least 15- 20 minutes. Stir again. Put on lid and keep in the fridge to use with other recipes. Provides a high source of protein (4 gm in an ounce), fibre, calcium, magnesium, and more Omega3's than any other plant source, including flax seed. Use the "whole seeds" and not milled seeds. There is some indication that milled seeds lack the nutrients.

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This smoothie information is for you-- it's my bias-- so please see your own health care professional before making any health-related decisions. 

 To your better and better health, 

 ~Cynthia