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Sweet Potato Smoothie

Sweet Potato Smoothie 
Oh my this Sweet Potato Smoothie is like pumpkin pie in a glass! Sweet, creamy and with just the right hit of spice.

A great little gem of a recipe for making use of any sweet potatoes lurking in the back of the fridge.  Bake them up in the oven or air fryer, scoop the insides into a blender and puree up with plant milk, medjool dates, pumpkin pie spice, fresh ginger and ground flax.

The only thing that could possibly make this any better is some Gingernut biscuit crumbles on top.  (In case you didn’t know.. Ginger nuts are accidentally vegan biscuits!)

To Make this Healthy & Delicious Sweet Potato Smoothie…

Simply blend:

1/2 cup baked sweet potato flesh (could sub with pumpkin puree if desired)
1.5 cups plant milk of choice
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger (optional)
2 medjool dates, without stones
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tbsp ground flax
ice cubes if required
cinnamon or crumbled gingernut biscuits for topping.

Pour into a glass and enjoy!

OK now I need to go out and buy more sweet potatoes!

Did you know…

Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants and are good for balancing blood sugars?  They also contain a whole host of vitamins and nutrients quite unlike their white potato counterpart.  If you want to know more about this unassuming vegetable and why you might want to include more of them in your repertoire, have a look here.

For another delicious sweet potato recipe feel free to check out my Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chilli.

 

 

 

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Almond Milk

almond milkWhy should you bother making your own Almond Milk when you can just buy some at the store?  Because it is absolutely creamy deliciousness! Making my own Almond Milk is not usually high up on my list of priorities I’ll admit.  I did try making my own milks previously and found it too much of a faff to do regularly BUT once in a while a glass of fresh made nut milk just can’t be beaten.

almond milk

I have used almonds but you can use any nut, just refer to the soaking times in the recipe notes.  For the Almond Milk all you will need are some blanched almonds, filtered water, a blender and nut bag or muslin cloth to strain.  The vanilla and dates I have added are entirely optional but since this was a treat I popped them in.

almond milk

You will need to soak the nuts overnight first so they are easily digestible or you can do the cheat soak method of adding them to just boiled water and soaking for an hour.  Either way this delicious creamy milk is worth that little bit of effort!  And nothing gets wasted as the pulp can be used as almond flour in other recipes.

So without further ado…

Lets make some delicious Almond Milk!

Feel free to also check out my Strawberry Almond Milk Smoothie.  Super delicious, its like strawberry milk for adults!

almond milk
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Almond Milk


Keyword almond milk, non dairy, nut milk, vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes
Author Hayley Jarvis

Ingredients

  • 1 cup blanched almonds soaked overnight or quick soaked for an hour in just boiled water
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste
  • 6 dates soaked in water for 10 minutes

Instructions

  1. Soak your almonds for 8-12 hours (overnight) or quick soak them for 1 hour in a covered container of just boiled water.

  2. Add all your ingredients to a high speed blender and blitz for a couple of minutes until smooth.

  3. Pour through your nut bag or muslin and squeeze the milk into a bowl below.

  4. Keep the pulp to make almond flour if you like.  Just dry it out then mill in your blender and store in an airtight jar in the fridge.

Recipe Notes

The milk will stay fresh stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for a few days, if it lasts that long!

I have used almonds but equally you could use any nut, you would just need to adjust the soaking time.  

Almonds: 8 to 12 hours
Hazelnuts: 8 hours
Macadamias: 8 hours
Peanuts: 8 hours
Pine nuts: 8 hours
Pecans: 4 to 6 hours
Walnuts: 4 hours
Cashews: 2 hours
Pistachios/Brazils: no soaking needed

Brazil nuts: no soaking needed

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SPINACH CUCUMBER AND LIME SMOOTHIE

Spinach cucumber and lime smoothieSpinach cucumber and lime smoothie

“Beans and greens” is the vegan mantra because that’s where we get all our nutrients so a daily smoothie is a great easy and delicious way to keep the greens topped up!

Spinach cucumber and lime smoothie

Add celery, cucumber, mint, apple, pineapple and lime to your spinach smoothie and it turns into something reminiscent of a fancy cocktail.  Refreshing and hydrating with a sweet undertone and zingy citrus pop.

Spinach cucumber and lime smoothie

Just yum!

Spinach cucumber and lime smoothie

Gimme Greens!

A smoothie is also a great way to sneak in chia and / or ground flax seeds which are a good source of fibre, protein and most importantly omega 3s.

A note about flax seeds….

When using flax seeds do make sure they are ground first.  You can either buy the seeds and grind them yourself or buy them ground.  If you use the whole seeds you will be missing out on much of their nutritional benefit since they are not easily digested and literally just come out the other end!  Also when you buy them whole they will keep fresh for longer so you can just grind some up as and when you need.

Ready to get your green moustache on?  Walk this way….

Spinach cucumber and lime smoothie

Lets make a Spinach cucumber and lime smoothie!

Spinach Cucumber and Lime Smoothie
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Spinach cucumber and Lime smoothie

Course Breakfast, Drinks, smoothie
Keyword green smoothie, spinach
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2
Author Hayley

Ingredients

  • 2 big handfuls spinach leaves
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
  • 1/3 of a whole cucumber
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 apple
  • 1/4 cup mint leaves
  • 1/2 small pineapple
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 2 cups / 380 ml coconut or plain water

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in your blender and puree smooth.  Pour in glasses (over ice if you like) and enjoy!

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Chocolate Hummus Smoothie

chocolate hummus smoothieSo I was wondering what to do with my delicious new Mylk (if you haven’t tried it yet, DO, its the best plant milk yet) and decided to go with this Chocolate Hummus Smoothie.   I mean chocolate ❤️ + hummus ❤️ = its got to be good right?  I popped a sliced banana in the freezer last night in readiness and went to bed rather excited!

chocolate hummus smoothie

And the verdict is… WOW!  Yes really.

So yes theres chickpeas and a banana in there but you don’t taste them at all, the main flavours are tahini, chocolate and the creamy undertone of the mylk.  

chocolate hummus smoothie

What a fab way to sneak the chickpeas in to your unsuspecting family!

Raw Cacao – Whats the Deal?

It tastes like chocolate BUT did you know raw cacao contains 40 times more antioxidants than blueberries? That pretty much makes it a superfood in my opinion, not forgetting it also contains good amounts of calcium, magnesium, iron and lifts your mood.  I know eating chocolate lifts my mood but maybe theres more to it than just tasting good!

chocolate hummus smoothie

Couple that with chickpeas, also full of fibre, iron and protein and calcium loaded tahini and you have one heck of a combination. 

In a glass. 

And yet it tastes like a delicious milkshake. 

Sip it slowly and its going to leave you full for hours.

chocolate hummus smoothie

This is a triumph. 

Its sensational!  

I was literally scraping the sides of the glass with a spoon to get every drop.   

I cannot emphasise enough how good this is.  Please try it.  Its so simple and may actually knock your socks off!

chocolate hummus smoothie

Right I’m off to pop a banana in the freezer for tomorrow’s smoothie 😉

Are you ready to make Chocolate Hummus Smoothie?

Lets do this!

chocolate hummus smoothie

For more healthy chocolate recipes please feel free to check out Sugar Free Chocolate, Chocolate Hummus, Tofu Chocolate Pots, Black Bean Brownies, Superfood Chocolate Overnight Oats and my Superfood Chocolate Smoothie!

chocolate hummus smoothie
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Chocolate Hummus Smoothie

Course Breakfast, smoothie, Snack
Keyword chocolate hummus, chocolate hummus smoothie, vegan
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Author Hayley

Ingredients

  • 1 cup non-dairy milk I used Mylk
  • 1 sliced and frozen banana
  • 3/4 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 2 tbsp tahini heaped
  • 2 tbsp raw cacao
  • 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or any syrup
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon and sesame seeds to garnish

Instructions

  1. Place everything except garnish in your blender or food processor and blend smooth.  Pour in a glass and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and some sesame seeds if desired.  Enjoy!

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Chocolate Hummus

chocolate hummusChocolate Hummus???  For real??

I wouldn’t  joke about chocolate.  Or hummus!

chocolate hummus

I know, I know it sounds wrong but actually I’m here to tell you IT IS SO RIGHT!!!  I first saw it in the hummus section of a large supermarket in the US.  There were many varieties of all delicious sounding savoury varieties and then I saw chocolate and immediately thought NO!

chocolate hummus

After I returned home to the UK I kicked myself for not trying this strange sounding chocolate hummus, I mean why wouldn’t you?  Fortunately I returned some time later and was able to buy some.  After much deliberation on what to buy to go with, I settled on some lightly salted thin pretzels and what a combination, the sweet chocolate and salted bread were a match made in heaven.

chocolate hummus

That pot didn’t last long.  I was so glad I bought another.  But then what.  I have never seen chocolate hummus on the shelves in the UK so there was nothing for it but to try and make some.  Fortunately it turns out its pretty easy.  I used the ingredients list from the shop bought, gave it a couple of tweaks and voila!

chocolate hummus

The BIG advantage of making your own chocolate hummus, apart from the fact that you might not be able to find shop bought, is that you can leave out the sugar.  Yes there is sweetener in the form of natural syrup but the syrups although adding calories don’t need to steal nutrients from you in order for it to be digested.  Did you know that about refined sugar? It has no nutrients of its own so it steals yours!  Theres more info on that here if you want to take a look.  You can also use raw cacao which is FULL of antioxidants so this dessert is actually good for you.  Guilt free if you will.  Indulge!

chocolate hummus

Are you ready to make Chocolate Hummus?

Lets do this…

For more chocolate/sneaky bean combinations please feel free to check out tofu chocolate pots,  black bean brownies and my superfood chocolate smoothie!

chocolate hummus
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Chocolate Hummus

Course Dessert, Snack
Keyword chocolate, chocolate hummus, dessert, hummus, vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes
Author Hayley

Ingredients

  • 1 can chickpeas, drained or 2 cups cooked
  • 5 tbsp raw cacao
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 tbsp water
  • a pinch of salt
  • Berries, sesame seeds & nuts to garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Place everything except the toppings in your blender/food processor and blend until smooth.

  2. Serve with fruits, berries, toasted sesame seeds, nuts, pretzels, toast or breadsticks.  Enjoy!


Recipe Notes

Tip: If you want your hummus completely smooth you can shell the chickpeas first by gently squeezing them from their skins.