Healthy Mint Chocolate Smoothie

So, last week I rambled on about going green and getting Healthier. Well this smoothie is green and mostly healthy. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I was feigning for something BAD. At least it was not Margaritas and Pizza.  This was not bad and it tasted delicious. I was still out of my normal box for Smoothie Nation.

My Niece Gina does not like bananas or bananas in her smoothie. She may change her mind when she taste this one. This drink has a slightly thick, but it is not heavy to drink. The Avocado and Banana gave this drink a smooth consistency.  The Mint made it taste fresh and not some crappy Fast Food shake. Totally solved my sweet craving without filling me up with bad calories and no nutrition.

These are my cats. They are usually not on the counter top, but I was looking for a good shot.

It would have been nice if they wanted to participate and play along with me. 

Kitty treats solved my problem. Just like children, a little bribery once in awhile 

will get you the results you want.

(Black Cherry and Smokey)

Healthy Mint Chocolate Smoothie

adapted slightly from nourishandinspireme.com

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk

1/4 of avocado, skin removed

1 frozen banana

3 drops peppermint extract

1 tablespoon cashew butter or soaked cashews

1 handful fresh mint leaves

1/2 scoop of Chocolate Protein powder

Ice

Directions

Add all ingredients into a blended in the order listed. Blend away until smooth.

NOTE: A COUPLE SQUIRTS of CHOCOLATE SYRUP MAY ADD SOME FLAVOR

All ingredients are easy to find.
The fresh mint was in the Produce area near the Parsley and Cilantro
The Cashew Butter did come from the Health Store. But the last time I used it was
for my Cashew Butter Cookies featured on 7/17/13. Still delicious.
Everything else, I did have on hand

Black Cherry was giving it the look.
I do not think he like the straw

Kitty city, always curious. It is so much fun having a kitten in the house.
Smokey does make a nice prop.
(DISCLAIMER: My Husband did not like the cats on the counter around the food)

Cashew Butter Cookies

Well.... so much for my 4th of July post. Two weeks late. Good Governors, as my Grandma used to say. I came across this recipe at the end of June. I went on a search for Cashew Butter. Checked out all my local grocery stores, and no luck. Fruitful Yield (a health food, gluten free, vitamin, and other cool things store) had the Cashew Butter. It was a bit pricey. $9.25 for this jar. Use prudently and Refrigerate.

Well Cashew butter is amazing. I did not sit an gobble it down like Nutella. A couple of tastes, yummy. These Cashew Butter Cookies are lovely. A shortbread butter cookie with an fantastic undertone. Slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy and smooth on the inside. You could add ground Cashews if you wanted to. I did not have any on hand, so I stuck with the recipe. A fantastic tea cookie, or great for the beach.

Cashew Butter Cookies

adapted from bakingbites.com

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup cashew butter

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.

In a large bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cashew butter until combined. Add in egg and vanilla extract until mix in. Reduce speed of mixer, gradually blend in flour mixture until just combined.

Shape dough into balls and place on baking sheet. Either use a fork or damp spatula and smash down. 

Bake for 9-10 minutes. Until edges start to barely turn brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

This recipe was a snap to put together. You could always chill your dough. These were made on the fly. 

The Cookies will puff slightly on then settle. They are a very nice looking cookie for any event.

We went to the beach for a cook out. Brats and Dogs and loads of sides. The Cookies were nearly gone before we ate dinner. That is ok. My Mother made this FABulous berry cobbler. It was out of this world.