Chocolate Smoothie with a Twist

Happy New Year and welcome to 2017! I know, I know…I am 12 days late on that greeting, but at least I’m here now writing a new post!

Last weekend we experienced winter. And it is now over and spring is here, at least for a few days. We had ice, snow, and sub-freezing temperatures for 3 days last week. Today, we are pushing 72 degrees! Tomorrow should be the same as today; Saturday will drop down into the 50s, but then we should have about a week or so with temps in the mid-60s every day! I just love life in the south!

I sort of fell off the proper eating path over the holidays when the hubby and others who shall be nameless brought delicious tasting, but oh-so-bad-for-you foods into the house! I am working hard at getting the sugars out of my system and eating right once again.

Although I was brought up in the south, there are some southern foods that I just never got a taste for. Black-eyed peas and collard greens make a traditional New Year’s Day meal, but not in my house! Okra is another southern staple that I just never enjoyed. However, now that I am trying to eat the Trim Healthy Mama way, I have discovered the health benefits of this southern veggie. If you are like me and need a little convincing that okra really is good for you, then read this article. You will be impressed!

The new THM cookbook has a few recipes in it using okra. I have made the brownies with it and was very impressed. Last week I discovered the chocolate smoothie! If you have the cookbook, you will find the recipe on page 415. Today I added a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Oh, my word! Ya’ll, this is amazing! If you didn’t know that there is a cup of okra in the smoothie, you would never guess it! I like it so much better with the peppermint than without!

Since I did change up the recipe some, I will share it with you here.

• 1 c. water
• 1 c. frozen, diced okra (I actually thawed mine some.)
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2-1/2 tbsp. Pyure sweetener
• 1 tsp. coconut oil, melted
• 3-4 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 10 ice cubes
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder

Put everything in the blender except the ice and protein powder. I added the peppermint oil to the coconut oil first, and then added it to the remaining ingredients. Blend well…very well! Add the ice and blend again. Add the protein powder last and blend one more time.

Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!

Chocolate-Peppermint Milkshake, THM Style

Today marks little Miss Mia’s 5-month birthday! I can’t believe my sweet darlin’ is this old already!  She is quite a character! I love watching her personality emerge!

Even though it is pretty cold outside, even here in the south, I’ve been craving a peppermint milkshake.  Unfortunately, the ones purchased at most of the fast-food drive-throughs, are loaded with sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup and totally bad for you.  The voice in my head yesterday was telling me to head for my favorite drive-through and get one. And I almost did! I actually turned in that direction when I left the grocery store, fully intending to stop and get one, but decided just in time to go home instead. Victory!!

Today I decided to make my own chocolate-peppermint shake. I followed this recipe found over at Gwen’s Nest.  Of course, I always seem to change a few things when I follow recipes, and this one was no different.

I used 0% Greek yogurt instead of the cottage cheese. I used 3 drops of food grade peppermint essential oil instead of peppermint extract. I also used 2 tbsp. of organic Stevia instead of erythritol.

Using my brand new Ninja blender made making this a snap!  It totally hit the spot for my choco-peppermint craving! Delicious!