Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothies

Since my recent discovery of multiple food allergies, I've been trying to incorporate more smoothies into my diet. My reason's are simple.

1. The probiotics from the yogurt will help my tummy heal. At almost 45 years old and having no idea of when these allergies started, that's a lot of healing that needs to happen.

2. I have a freezer stuffed full of Italian plums, sliced peaches, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. And summer is just a short 3 months away.

3. Making a smoothie allows me to get in and out of the kitchen quickly so that my children are able to make their glutenous, meat-filled, inflammatory lunch creations. I can't watch anymore, my drooling makes too large of a puddle on the floor, and that in fact, is just dangerous for us all.

4. Smoothies are good.

Really, the only reason I actually need is #4, but in the spirit of justification...

Today, I had a craving for something different. Something chocolaty. Something Mr. Reese's would be proud of. Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothies. With a raw twist.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but my one try at going raw was a total and complete bust. Not only was I cranky, I was hungry. There are only so many things you can actually eat in their raw state. And by the end of that one day of raw, I was starting to eyeball the beagle.

"I'm not listeniiiiinnnnngggg."

Fine specimen that she is, I have an aversion to hair in my food a deep respect for one of our favorite family pets and would never think to eat our beloved Maisie. *ahem*

For some reason that I can't recall (and age has nothing to do with it!), I have 2 jars of raw cacao powder in my fridge. I'm sure they were there to serve some important purpose, but for the life of me I don't remember what. In fact, until I opened the jar, I really had no idea what cacao powder was. My only knowledge up to that point was that it is pronounced "kuh-kah-oh", not "cake-oh". (Personally, I think someone is just messing with us.) Cacao smells chocolaty, but I've been fooled before by carob powder. Try as it might, carob powder ain't no chocolate. (Yes, I am aware of my grammatically incorrect usage of a double negative!) For all I knew, cacao powder was just another fancy chocolate impostor. So I swagbucked it. 

Cacao refers to the tree and beans it produces.

Cocoa refers to the product taken from the plant.

Well, that clears it up.

To recap~it's unsweetened, raw, going-to-be-someday chocolate. I suppose that would have been too easy.☺

~Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothies~

Disclaimer: Not all of the food used in this smoothie is raw. Just in case the store-bought peanut butter and Nancy's yogurt didn't give it away.☺

~The Players~

1 c. whole plain yogurt (You can use raw/homemade)

2 Tb. *organic peanut butter (see below)

2 Tb. raw cacao powder

2 organic bananas

4 Tb. organic maple syrup

1/4 c. (or less) raw milk

1 c. ice

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy. Top with freshly whipped cream, if desired. Just in case you remembered to pick some up at the health food store even though your children called on the cellphone to remind you but you were just so excited to be out of the house and communicating with other adult-like people you just forgot. 

Something like that.☺

Serves 2-3

Enjoy!

*I only use organic peanut butter after finding what appeared to be rat hair in a different brand. And not just one, but a small clump of hair. I'm no scientist, but either some poor hairy factory worker lost a chunk of back hair or....????

Go organic. Trust me.