Chocolate Chai Smoothie!

There is nothing like Chocolate to make you feel really good! Okay, okay -- there may be other things that can make one feel good but for me I am in heaven when I have chocolate!


David Wolfe's Chocolate Smoothie: I decided to try David Adocado Wolfe's "Chocolate Smoothie". My first attempt at making David's version was a major disaster! The chocolate did not blend at all and the cashew nuts were all chunky. It was a total mess and not a very good experience. However, I am not one for following any recipe wholesale so I decided to retry David's recipe using my own approach and my unique twist on things -- so here goes!


My Approach: First, I broke up and melted the block of chocolate in warmed up Coconut Milk and Almond Milk with Vanilla Extract. This worked out great! I stirred in the spices and chocolate powder, and poured the melted chocolate and spice mixture into the blender with the bananas, yogurt, ginger, honey and aloe vera gel. I then blended all the ingredients into a smoothie. The result was wonderful! One of the best smoothies I have ever had! The "Chai" effect comes from the spices.


One can actually make ice cream or sherbert out of any smoothie. If you freeze the fruits before making the smoothie, you will get a soft-serve or sherbert type smoothie. Just experiment to find out what works best for you.


Here is the recipe for my Chocolate Chai Smoothie:


Ingredients
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Almond Milk
1/2 cup Nonfat Yogurt
2 peeled Bananas (cut into large slices)
1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel or 4in piece of freshly peeled Aloe Vera fillet
3/4 oz solid Dark Chocolate (70% or more cocoa or cacao)
2 tablespoons Cocoa or Cacao Powder
1 or 2 tablespoons Honey (optional to taste)
1 tablespoon freshly peeled and chopped Ginger
1 teaspoon freshly cracked Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon powdered Cayenne Pepper
1 teaspoon Turmeric (optional)
4 pods green Cardamom (optional -- crack open the pods and remove the seeds)
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt (optional)


Alternative ingredients when not using Coconut or Almond Milk
(Coconut and Almond Milk are good for people that are lactose intolerant):
1 cup Non-fat or Low Fat Milk or Soy Milk
1 tablespoon melted Organic Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Roasted Cashew Nuts (add when using a blender, such as Vita Mix, with powerful blades)
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (to taste)


Tools
Blender
Measuring Cup
Small glass or metal mixing bowl
Small glass container (for melting Coconut Oil)
Cutting board
Chef's Knife
Measuring spoons


Steps
1. Break up and place the block of dark chocolate into the mixing bowl.
2. Warm up the Almond Milk, Coconut Milk and Vanilla Extract and pour the warm milk into the mixing bowl with the chocolate chunks. (If you are using a Microwave to warm up Coconut and Almond Milk just add the milk in a glass bowl with the chocolate. Be sure to use a low heat setting such as "Defrost" or microwave for just one minute until the milk is warm. Do not boil the milk! The purpose of the Smoothie is to get the beneficial properties of the ingredients. Microwaving or heating the milk at a high temperature will destroy the beneficial properties so just take your time!)
3. Gently stir the warm milk and the chocolate chunks until all the chocolate is melted.
4. Add the powdered chocolate and all the spices and stir until thoroughly mixed.
4. Add the sliced bananas, ginger, cardamon, yogurt, honey and aloe vera gel to the blender
5. Pour the melted chocolate and spice mixture into the blender and blend all the ingredients into a smoothie. (Start the blender on "Stir" or "Mix" and then increase the speed!)
6. Serve the "Chocolate Chai Smoothie" in a tall glass! Enjoy!


(You can pour any remaining "Chocolate Chai Smoothie" into a Thermos-style "BPA-Free" flask and store in the fridge for a snack later or the next day. Do not keep smoothies in the fridge for more than one day!)


Notes:


1. Aloe Vera: If using fresh Aloe Vera fillet, be sure that it is "Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller" and remove all the skin since the skin has laxative properties. You can freeze the remaining aloe vera fillet and use it in another smoothie as soon as possible. I am growing my own Aloe Vera plant so I can use the fresh fillet but I have a full-grown plant, I am using the Lily of the Valley Certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel which I obtain from a Super Supplement store or Pharmaca. I particularly like Pharmaca because there are trained Naturopathic specialists that were trained at Bastyr University that can discuss supplements in an intelligent way.




Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.