I was actually looking for a green smoothie recipe when I came across this recipe in Ani Phyo’s Book, “Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen”. I’d been making almond milk and rice milk in the Vitamix, but today this one caught my attention. I didn’t follow the recipe exactly because I was too lazy to measure (I’m not sure why I didn’t use more water??), but to my surprise it was wonderful. My version tasted like a creamy “hot chocolate”. Yes I said hot chocolate. I guess it was the praline-ness of it that made it taste so good. The vitamix warmed it up, so that’s why it was warm (I didn’t add cold water or ice). But it was a frothy, warm, creamy and sweet beverage! I was going to save some for the kids, but that didn’t happen. I’ll have to make them some when they actually get home. AND best of all — it’s 100% raw. Like Ani states in her book, “dates have fiber, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, and patothenic acid. [All these vitamins give us energy and THEY ALSO MAKE HEMOGLOBIN!]“
Here is the original recipe (which I plan to make later and keep in the fridge as a milk substitute):
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup pitted dates
- 1 TBS coconut oil
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- Pinch sea salt
- 5 cups water
My version:
- 1/4 cup pecans
- 2 Mejdool dates, pits removed
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp coconut oil
- a few drops of vanilla extract
- 1 quick shake of salt (from salt shaker)
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup of water
Now, when the winter gets here I will add raw cacao (or carob) powder for a true hot chocolate. Carob has only 1/3 the calories of chocolate, it’s high in vitamins A and B and other nutrients. RAW is the way to go…support your health with good for you, healthy drinks that are yummy too! I dare you to try this if you like hot chocolate…you will crave “this one” in the future.
One Added Bonus: Did you know that coconut oil is not stored in the body as fat?
www.realfoodanddrinks.com
