The Sweetheart Smoothie

Now that it's February, it's officially Valentine's season!  I've always loved Valentines Day, probably because it's characterized by all things pretty and pink.

This Sweetheart Smoothie is also pretty and pink.  On top of that, it's nutritious, with all sorts of antioxidants and healthful whatnot.  I mentioned in this post that I rarely saved a smoothie recipe- this is one of the ones I've saved, simply because every time I've made it, I've said, "Wow. That's a really good smoothie."  Creamy and yet refreshing, this one's a keeper.

This is not strictly a Valentine's smoothie- I'm pretty sure it's good year-round.  However, its little-tart-little-sweet flavor is just the right all-natural addition to your Valentine's Day festivities.


Sweetheart Smoothie
1/2 cup greens (optional- doesn't change the smoothie's flavor or color, but adds nutrients)
1/2 cup strawberries (about three large berries)
1/2 cup raspberries
2 dates (For best results, soak in lukewarm water for at least 1/2 hr beforehand)
1 banana
3/4 cup cold water/crushed ice
A dash of cinnamon (about 1/2 tsp)

Blend all ingredients until smooth!

This smoothie is 100% better if it's cold.  By the time you blend it, the cold water might not be so cold, but a half hour in the fridge will fix that up.  Or, slice then freeze either the banana or the berries before use in your smoothie.


Note: While this smoothie is awesome and full of natural nutrients, it has very little protein, so I wouldn't recommend eating only the smoothie as a meal.  However, it makes an energizing snack or a nice addition to a breakfast.   
Or, make it a bowl:

1/2 cup greens (optional)
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced and frozen
1/2 cup raspberries, frozen
1 small banana or 1/2 banana, sliced and frozen
2 dates, soaked
1/2 cup cold water
Dash of cinnamon (about 1/2 tsp)

Blend until smooth.

Top with:
crushed pistachios
crushed cashews
cacao nibs*/dark chocolate shreds
matcha
strawberry (Cut the top off of a strawberry at two angles, so the strawberry looks like a heart! Then you can either slice it into lots of little hearts or leave it as one big red heart. :D)


*I know, I'm such hypocrite.  In this post I complained about how ain't nobody got time for all the fancy silly health foods.  Then, for Christmas my aunt got me a hot cocoa sip that was made from cacao nibs.  It was really good on the smoothie bowl.  But dark chocolate does the trick just as well.  :)


As I write this post, I'm sitting in my school library, across from a weeaboo and a history enthusiast.  The history enthusiast wanted a shoutout on The Blergh, and the weeaboo wanted the world to see his cute potato.  Here's his cute potato.  It's pretty cute.


World peace and love,
Heather <3