Super Choconana Shake

[Carmella]

Here's a chocolate drink I've been enjoying these last few days. Not only because is it yummily addictive, but it is a pretty rare occurrence around here. See, we've fallen into the routine of Don preparing a green smoothie every morning with whatever fruits are on hand. As a result, we hardly ever venture to try something new in the beverage making department.

Inspired by Ginger's fantastic Best Coffee Ever, this superfood shake will leave you fueled up and crying for more.

Super Choconana Shake

Yields about 3 cups

1 banana
2 cups almond milk
1 medjhool date
2 tsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp carob powder
1 tsp maca
2 capsules Fo-Ti (also known as Ho Shou Wu)* (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Dash nutmeg

* Fo-Ti/Ho Shou Wu is a Chinese herb and can be found at natural stores.


Blend all ingredients until smooth and frothy in high power blender.

Carmella's Notes:
~ If you don't have almond milk already made, you can quickly whip some up by blending 2 tbs of almond butter with 2 cups water.

~ Depending on the ripeness of your banana, you may want to add a touch of agave nectar for sweetness.

~ If using fo-ti, open the gel caps and empty the content (powder) into the blender.

[wyjoz]

Carmi: can you handle these now? the fo ti does ja !

anyways I enjoy mine; Leah did not trust me when she was here when I offered it to her and Amy did not either !

What can I say ??


Joz

[Carmella]

To be honest, Jozzie, I'm not even sure what fo-ti is supposed to be good for!

[Pansy]

This is REALLY good, Carmi!

Thank you!

Next on the list is Eva's....

[Pansy]

Originally Posted by Carmella

To be honest, Jozzie, I'm not even sure what fo-ti is supposed to be good for!

Here ya go:

Fo-Ti herb by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health Benefit of Fo Ti extract

According to Chinese herbal medicine, Fo Ti is used to invigorate the kidneys and liver, and serve as a tonic to increase overall vitality. In China, Fo-Ti is known as Ho Shou Wu (or He Shou Wu) and has a reputation for enhancing longevity and energy.

Fo Ti herb (Polygonum multiflorum) is known in China as He Shou Wu. Considered one of China's four great herbs, it is used on an alternating basis with Ginseng.

Benefits of Fo Ti
Fo Ti has several properties, including the ability to lower triglyceride levels and can also act as a good antioxidant. Fo-Ti can enhance memory.

[lavendarj]

Originally Posted by Carmella

Here's a chocolate drink I've been enjoying these last few days. Not only because is it yummily addictive, but it is a pretty rare occurrence around here. See, we've fallen into the routine of Don preparing a green smoothie every morning with whatever fruits are on hand. As a result, we hardly ever venture to try something new in the beverage making department.

Inspired by Ginger's fantastic Best Coffee Ever, this superfood shake will leave you fueled up and crying for more.

Super Choconana Shake

Yields about 3 cups

1 banana
2 cups almond milk
1 medjhool date
2 tsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp carob powder
1 tsp maca
2 capsules Fo-Ti (also known as Ho Shou Wu)* (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Dash nutmeg

* Fo-Ti/Ho Shou Wu is a Chinese herb and can be found at natural stores.


Blend all ingredients until smooth and frothy in high power blender.

Carmella's Notes:
~ If you don't have almond milk already made, you can quickly whip some up by blending 2 tbs of almond butter with 2 cups water.

~ Depending on the ripeness of your banana, you may want to add a touch of agave nectar for sweetness.

~ If using fo-ti, open the gel caps and empty the content (powder) into the blender.

I knew I could count on you for having a version of this...Last night, I wanted to make a chocolate banana shake before my switch to MC-ing.....I was wondering how many teaspoons of cacao people typically use-THANKS. I'll be making one with some hemp seed milk, 3 bananas and the cacao and may carbo too, might have to sweeten a bit...we'll see (those are all the ingredients I have so here we go......

[lavendarj]

Amazing...

I'm not really a chocoholic (like my niece) but hey...this is grrrrrrrrrreat. I'm glad I saw your measurements for the cacao... I don't always measure exactly with most things but wanted to see about how much cacao to use. I did:
3 bananas
16-20 ounce of hemp seed milk
little squirt of honey (didn't want it but ran out of agave)
3 heaping (meaning I didn't measure them perfectly) teaspoons of cacao

Now I know why I've read of people in the past starting their day of with this kind of shake....it is waaaaaaaaaay sweet...feel like I need water

I think I've got a winner for my nieces and nephew on mornings before we take our trail walks

[Carmella]

Oh cool, glad you enjoyed your shake, Lavendar. That reminds me, I haven't made this one in a while... Perhaps once my appetite returns... I'm on a 'forced cleanse' right now - my body decided it wanted to detox BIG TIME a couple of days ago. (Maybe too many of these yummy berries? )

[Velvet]

I used all raw cacao, raw almond butter and water as indicated, none of that special herb/ingredient I have never heard of , and scrapings of a vanilla bean instead of extract. It was delicious, thank you

[Carmella]

Mmmmm... Looks lovely, Velvet.

That is too funny though... Would you believe I'm sipping on this right now! We're in sync!

[Velvet]

Most definitely
Your post on raw chocolate was most welcome today as well!

Could be because we're both Cancers?

[wyjoz]

Just having one right now! Yum ! yes Fo Ti for me is in there!

Cheers!

[Velvet]

Fo Ti sounds interesting, I might get it sometime. Does it have a strong taste?

[Velvet]

I really love this, I make it about twice a week, with a few modifications:
- 2 T raw almond butter
- 1 cup water
- 12 raw cacao beans with the skins, ground in coffee grinder
- a few squirts of raw agave nectar
- a little less than an inch of vanilla bean
- a nice tablespoon of maca (I love maca!)
- 1 1/2 frozen banana

I blend until frothy and no longer cold (it's getting cold here!).
Thank you

[Carmella]

'Morning Velvet!

Oh, that sounds yummo! Almond butter is so perfect when you don't have milk already made. My HFS had a great sale on Marathana's butter so I loaded up. Yay!

Sorry I missed your question about Fo-Ti. I've never tried to taste it on its own, but my guess is that it does. However, you use such a small amount (this is potent stuff!) in your smoothie that you can't really tell.