Cashew Butter & Banana Green Smoothie
It's JUNE! You know what that means? Summer has arrived, and so has smoothie season. It's amazing how much of a shift I notice in my body at this time of the year... I start to crave more raw foods, more cooling foods, and lighter meals overall. And I begin to LOVE starting my day with a smoothie, which is something that I rarely do when it's cold outside. Maybe it's a mental shift once the temperatures rise, or maybe my body is really telling me what it needs as each new season begins. I like to think that my body knows what's up.
Over the next few smoothie-filled months, I'm going to share a few of my favourite recipes with you, along with a few of my tips and tricks when it comes to crafting (and enjoying) the perfect smoothie. To get started, today I'm talking all about using homemade nut mylks as the base of my smoothies!
It has become incredibly easy to follow a dairy-free diet with all of the new milk alternatives that are available. But when it comes to store-bought nut mylks, I like to keep my intake to a minimum. I definitely do purchase things like hemp mylk and coconut mylk (my two personal favourites), but whenever possible, I make my own in order to cut down on the extra additives that make their way into the convenient options (things like gums, thickeners, emulsifiers, etc.). Now, for those of you who are thinking "who has time to make homemade mylk for their smoothie base?!"... don't worry, I'm on the same page. I like quick and easy options. And that's why I make the mylk and the smoothie at the same time.
Easy peasy.
For this method, you'll want to stick with either hemp hearts or cashews. They blend the best, and neither one of them require straining through a nut mylk bag. But if you don't mind a little texture to your smoothie, you can really use any nut or seed that you would like! I'm lucky enough to have a Vitamix, so I don't bother making the mylk as a separate step - I simply add water as my base, along with hemp hearts (the choice in this recipe), plus the rest of the ingredients, and blend it up! If you have a slightly less amazing blender, then you can blend the water and hemp hearts first, and then add the remainder of the ingredients and finish off the smoothie. Simple as that! And it's a great way to get some extra water into your day... win-win!
Stay tuned for more recipes and tips & tricks! And if you try this one out, be sure to share (and tag me!) on instagram, I love seeing what everyone is crafting... happy smoothie making!
Cashew Butter & Banana Green Smoothie
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 cup water
2 heaping tbsp hemp hearts
1 tbsp ground flax or chia seeds
1-2 cups fresh kale or spinach
1/2 tsp true cinnamon
1 heaping tbsp cashew butter (can sub for any nut or seed butter)
1 scoop collagen or unflavoured protein powder (optional)
splash of pure vanilla extract
1/2 banana, previously frozen
2-3 ice cubes (optional)
Directions:
1. If you have a high powered blender, add all ingredients in the order listed and blend on high until smooth.
2. Alternatively, add the water and hemp hearts to your blender and blend for 30 seconds. Continue with adding the remainder of the ingredients and blend until smooth.