Chocolate Brownie Smoothie {Recipe ReDux}

Dear Winter,

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with you.  You see, your snow is pretty and on some days it’s nice to curl up with a good book while you whirl around outside;  that’s when I like you.  But this year, I think you’ve been going a bit too crazy.

I don’t meant to be cruel, but I’m completely done with you.  I’m done with your freezing temperatures, buckets of snow, and bleak days.  Please go away, and soon.  I do believe it’s high time for your friend, Spring, to take over.

Consider the smoothie I’m sharing today as a going-away present.  The theme for the month’s Recipe ReDux was beverages, and I thought it would be perfect to create something that reminded me of warm weather and sunshine.  I think that if you taste how good this smoothie is, you’ll realize how wonderful the warm seasons are.  Maybe then you’ll give Spring and Summer a chance to shine.

I really hope I’m right.

This smoothie I’m offering you, it’s very good.  I call it a Brownie Smoothie, and I promise you it tastes even better than it sounds.

I started by making a batch of super chocolate-y brownies.  They tasted amazing and were packed with protein, thanks to the yogurt I added to the batter.  But once the brownies were baked, I decided to do even more.  I really wanted to offer you something good, Winter. 

And good this smoothie is.

 I kept things quick and easy, using only two ingredients, if you don’t count the brownies.  This smoothie is also quite easy to customize.  I wasn’t quite sure of your favorite fruit, and I wanted to give you the chance to decide.  Spring and Summer have some lovely fruits to offer.  If mixed berries aren’t your thing, feel free to use only strawberries, raspberries, or even banana.  As for the milk, any kind you like works: non-fat, low-fat, soy, almond.

I hope you accept my peace offering, Winter.  As you sip this refreshing smoothie, please consider raising your temperatures, brightening the sky, and decreasing the amount of snow you drop of us humans.  I speak for anyone living in a cold climate when I say it would mean a lot.

Much Thanks,

A girl who is completely and totally tired of you (in the most respectful way)

Chocolate Brownie Smoothie

Brownies:

• 2 (5.3 oz) containers of Greek yogurt (300 g total) (I used vanilla flavored, but any flavor that pairs well with chocolate will work)
• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup special dark cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda

Smoothie:

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (or frozen strawberries, frozen raspberries, frozen banana, or another frozen fruit that pairs well with chocolate)
• ¾ cup milk of choice
• 1/3 cup baked brownies (from recipe above)

Preheat oven to 350F.  In the container of a high-speed blender or food processor, combine all ingredients for brownies.  Blend until mixture is completely blended and smooth.  Make sure the oats have broken down completely.  Grease an 8x8 pan (or a loaf pan, for thick brownies) with cooking spray and pour brownie mix in.  Spread into an even layer.  Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until brownies are firm.  Once fully baked, let brownies cool completely and then set aside.  Rinse blender or food processor quickly, and then measure frozen fruit and milk into the bowl.  Blend quickly, until a smoothie-like consistency is reached.  Add brownies and blend again until incorporated.  Top with crumbled brownies, if desired.  Recipe makes 1 large smoothie or 2 small ones, with leftover brownies.  You can use leftover brownies to make more smoothies or you can just eat them on their own.

   

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Tropical Green Smoothie

It may be after Labor Day, but summer is not over.

I know Labor Day is considered the unofficial ending of summer, but can we just forget about that?  'Cause summer is very much still here and that's why you should make a cool, refreshing Tropical Green Smoothie and then sip it while out in the sunshine.

Don't try to tell me that it's out of season and that what I should be posting is some pumpkin thing because pumpkin is for fall and it's summer right now.  Smoothies are for summer, not pumpkin.

As you can, summer is very much still here in my mind.  I'm not accepting that it's fall until it's actually fall, and that will be on the 22nd of September.  Until then, I'm going to be throwing plenty of summer recipes at you, and they're awesome recipes so you're gonna be plenty happy.

Just forget about that pumpkin for a couple days, k?  I love pumpkin too, god knows I do, but I'm doing my best to keep it to a minimum until the actual season begins.  Buuuut maybe I'll throw in some pumpkin earlier too.  We'll see.

Back to the smoothie.  I've had a love-hate thing going on with green smoothies for a while now, I've had some really bad ones, and I've had some really great ones.  So, ya know, I was on the fence.  But that I just had to make one for myself and it was so pretty and delicious that I've decided green smoothie are my new best friend.  Plus, I just got a vitamix (!!!!!) so there's gonna be some intense smoothie making going on now.

As for this recipe, it's sweet and just slightly sour from the lemon juice.  It's got a gorgeous green color and it's super easy to make.  Here's a tip:  If you don't have a high power blender, blend the water and spinach first and then add everythign else.

Get blending!

Tropical Green Smoothie

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup frozen pinapple
• 1/4 cup frozen mango
• handful of fresh baby spinach
• juice of up to 1/2 lemon (use more or less based on how sour you want it)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  If you don't have a super powerful blender, add just the water and spinach first.  Blend until the spinach is completely broken down and then add remaining ingredients.  Pour into a glass and serve right away.  Makes one serving, or two smoothie "shots".

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Strawberry Blueberry Protein Smoothie

Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie

This smoothie with transport you to the tropics.

You will feel like you're on the beach, with the waves lapping at your heels and the sun beating down of your face.

Don't blame me if you actually end up in Hawaii.  Because this smoothie tastes so good, I bet you just might.

Fresh pineapple, frozen berries, and a healthy protein boost make it the perfect breakfast or snack for a hot summer day.

Or, the world's cheapest plane ticket to paradise.

Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie - based on this recipe
(makes one serving)

• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
• 1/3 cup egg whites (or, for a vegan version, omit and add an equal amount of non-dairy milk)
• 1/3 cup milk (I use soy milk)
• 1 tbsp ground flax

Put all your ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.  If your blender is not strong enough you may need to thaw or cut up the strawberries first.  Once blended, enjoy!

Lather on some sunscreen, grab a towel, and get ready to relax because just one sip of this refreshing and delicious smoothie will magically bring you to your dream location spot.

No, really.

You'll be basking in the sun before you even know it!

Strawberry Blueberry Protein Smoothie

Fact: Smoothies are awesome.
Another fact: I don't like the taste of protein powder.

A little while ago, I was faced with a problem.

With the weather getting warmer, in order to cool off in the mornings, I really wanted to make some smoothies for breakfast, in place of my usual oatmeal, which just wouldn't do on hot days.

However, in order for a smoothie to officially qualify as breakfast, it needed to contain enough protein to keep me going all morning.

Needless to say, an all fruit smoothie was not the answer. And, after trying, and disliking, a recipe with protein powder, I knew that it wouldn't do either.

 

I was genuinely stumped for a while, until one morning when, while rummaging around the fridge, my eyes fell upon an All Whites carton. There, written on the side of the box, was just what I was looking for; an egg white smoothie recipe.

Using that recipe for guidance, I created my very own egg white smoothie, complete with at least 5 grams of protein, depending on what type of milk you use.

And the best part? It's a perfectly acceptable, healthy breakfast that has everything you need to get through the morning!

Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
(makes one large serving)

• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
• Around 1/3 of a frozen banana, cut into chunks
• 1/3 cup All Whites
• 1/3 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
• optional: a couple ice cubes

Combine ingredients in blender, and blend until smooth.  Serve while still cold.

 

*yes, it's the same smoothie in all the pictures, the lighting is just different in some, making the smoothie look two different colors.

 

Mango Smoothie (with a protein boost)

I think it's fair to say that smoothies are one of the best foods in the world.

I love that they can be customized again and again to fit anyone's needs.

And then there's the fact that they taste great.  That's definitely a plus.

Wanna know another plus?  The smoothie being featured in this post also has a secret protein boost!

Mango Tofu Smoothie
(makes one serving)

• 1/4 cup silken tofu (firm would probably work too)
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• 3/4 cup milk (almond milk is what i used)
• Honey, to taste

Thaw your mango first.  I actually left mine in the blender, all ready to go, all night, but you can always leave the mango out at room temperature for a but or just heat it up quickly.  Then, blend everything together.  It's as easy as that!  That's another plus about smoothies, they're really easy to make.

I  could go on and on with the pro's of smoothies, but i think i'll spare you the time.

I'm sure you'll be able to think up plenty on your own once you're drinking this delicious smoothie.  It should definitely help to get your "good things about smoothies" creative juices flowing.

So what are you waiting for?