Chocolate and Zucchini Smoothie

Oh, look! A recipe.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything food related around here, besides the odd note on what we’ve been eating in my Happenings posts. As you know, I’m busy caring for Walt, who is now three months old, and Joan, who is heading into a big year, with Kinder and swimming lessons about to begin. Unsurprisingly, then, my first recipe for you is an energy-rich smoothie. This chocolatey concoction is precisely the sort of thing I crave in the afternoon to help me get through those final hours until Ben gets home. It also goes down a treat first thing, especially if you’re a bit groggy upon waking, which is how we’ve all been feeling of late with this hot weather.

The zucchini addition is a random one, I’ll admit. But, being mid-summer, our fridge has been full of them and I thought a small one would slip into the mix rather seamlessly. I was right. Ben and Joan detected nothing, even after I informed them of the mystery ingredient. Oooh, that reminds me. I must make chocolate and zucchini brownies before the season is over.

Chocolate and Zucchini Smoothie

Serves 2 adults and a child

2 large frozen bananas
1 small zucchini
2 medjool dates, pitted
1 & 1/2 cups milk*
2 tablespoons hemp seeds or chia seeds
1 heaping tablespoon almond butter
1 & 1/2 tablespoon cacao powder**

* I used Barambah organic cow’s milk here (if I’m buying cow’s milk, I buy Barambah to support their better farming practices). If you use a non-dairy milk keep in mind your smoothie will be sweeter and you may not need the second date. I suggest adding one date, then tasting the mix to see if you wish to add the second.

** I removed Joan’s portion before adding the cacao powder. Occasionally I will give it to her, but because it contain stimulants I limit her consumption (for a chocolatey hit, we love carob. It sounds boring, but that brand is DELICIOUS). If she’s going without, I’ll tell a white lie and say mine is darker because I added coffee powder. Oh, and regarding this portion of cacao - it makes for a super rich, chocolatey smoothie. If you don’t like such a strong cacao hit, add a touch less.

Method: add all the ingredients to a blender (ensuring you’ve removed the pits from your dates) and blitz until smooth.

Heidi xo