A Festive Smoothie: Mango and Raspberry Smoothie with Hemp Seed Oil

It's that wonderful time of year when the cicadas trill in high pitched notes in the gumtrees, and hot, sunny days are broken by the distant rumble of the approaching storm clouds. Claps of thunder boom across the sky, as white strobe-like flashes of lightning light up the dark clouds.

We can smell the rain before it arrives. Fresh, sweet and cool.

Each afternoon, heavy drops begin to fall before sunset, making 'ting-ting-tang' sounds on the corrugated tin balcony cover. The late showers nourish the earth, turn the rapidly growing grass a vivid green and water the various vegetables and herbs we have scattered about our steps and front garden in odd shaped terracotta pots. The passionfruit flowers begin to bloom as their long, curly vines reach out to claim the fence.

Long December days at our seaside home are always hot, sun drenched and occasionally humid before the storms arrive. The storms themselves are frequent, occasionally interrupting the power but usually they make the lights blink and the little dog pant.

Growing up by the sea during the summer was a magical time. We had six weeks of school holidays packed with long beach days, surfing at our local 'secret spot', scuba diving from the beach or boat, snorkelling at the entrance to the lake, enjoying summer barbecues, and fresh, sweet fruit. Rainy afternoons were spent crafting away bringing two dimensional pictures to life with paper tole, making Christmas decorations, listening to carols, eating dripping watermelon, sucking on mango cheeks and drinking smoothies.

Here's a little festive smoothie to brighten your Christmas morning. It's healthy, organic, vegan and filled with all the sweetness of summer fruits.

Mango, Banana and Raspberry Smoothie with Hemp Seed Oil
Serves 1 (but make more to share, it's delicious!)

Mango Smoothie:

2/3 cup fresh mango (frozen)
1/2 large very ripe banana
1/2 - 1 Tbs hemp oil
1/2 cup organic soy milk

Blend until smooth, pour into a large glass or jar.

Raspberry Smoothie:

2/3 cup fresh (frozen) raspberries
1-2 tsp light organic agave nectar
1/2 cup organic almond milk

Blend until thick and smooth. The frozen berries turn into a dark, rich magenta drink, the icy consistency of a thick slushie. The flavour is quite tart, and slightly nutty due to the addition of almond milk.

Spoon a small amount of the raspberry smoothie over the mango smoothie, just enough to cover the yellow fruit layer, then pour in the rest. Decorate with raw almonds, chia seeds and fresh blueberries. Enjoy with friends and family after a long day at the beach.

It's important to use frozen fruit for a lovely thick drink. When I first made this smoothie, I had to leave several times to tend to Baby Love and so my raspberry smoothie melted... Needless to say, I wasn't able to 'build' the two different layers (it still tasted a treat though). Watch the YouTube link for the fun blooper at the end, if you feel like a bit of a laugh...

Hemp seed oil: packed with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
Chia seeds: loaded with fibre, quality protein (about 14% by weight) and fibre
Almonds: contain the highest calcium content of any nut, are high in fibre and add the perfect crunch for this smoothie
Blueberries and raspberries: contain vitamin C and phytonutrients, which support our body systems.
Mangoes: rich in vitamin C (this mango serving contains approximately 2/3 of your recommended daily intake)
Bananas: contain high amounts of potassium and low amounts of sodium, making this fruit excellent for heart health.

Merry Christmas dear friends! May your day be filled with joy, laughter, music and the company of your loved ones.

Oceans of love,

Bella xx

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Raw Chocolate Smoothie

Raw Chocolate Smoothie
Serves 1

Smoothie:

1 heaped Tbs Cacao powder
1 frozen banana
1 Tbs raw almond butter or raw almonds
3/4 cup icy cold almond milk
1 heaped tsp ground hemp seeds/ hemp powder
1 heaped tsp maca root powder
1 vanilla pod, split lengthways and deseeded

Garnish:
1 tsp chia seeds
1 Tbs raw almonds

Smoothie: Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender, pour into a serving glass or jar.
Garnish: Sprinkle chia seeds and raw almonds over the top.

I sealed my jar and took it on an early morning tropical adventure with Byron through the green mountains. We shook the jar after sealing it to ensure the chia seeds were evenly dispersed throughout the smoothie. Blended frozen bananas perfectly thicken the smoothie and add the much needed energy and sweetness for a beautiful day hike. Hemp seeds are packed full of protein and contain natural Omega 3, 6 and 9; the maca root is a mood enhancer and the chia seeds add extra fibre for dietary balance. This smoothie is the grown-up natural alternative to a cappuccino or protein shake.

Cacao contains caffeine, so this may not be the best option for kiddies, especially with nuts.

This smoothie tops my list for cool, slightly sweet, rich raw cacao flavoured chocolate smoothies. Mmmm….

This smoothie is delicious, just what you need to fight those Hump Day blues away!

Happy adventures friends!

Bella xx

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The Green Kitchen: Apple Spinach Smoothie

The clock ticks by as if a cog is broken but instead of slowing down, it accelerates. Each time I glance at it, I am aware more time has passed. Five minutes. An hour. Suddenly I'm looking down the barrel at Friday when it was only Monday a few moments ago, wasn't it?

This week has blurred right by me. If I stop to think about all the tasks I have completed or at least started I can somehow account for the lost time but it doesn't seem to make me feel any kind of reassurance. Time is time.

I'm calling it. This is the moment to recharge with a healthy meal on the run. Sure I'm busy and off to work on the next project in a few short hours. Who cares? This girl must eat and what I put into my body, the fuel, the sustenance is what is most important when all other systems are flashing their red warning lights and blaring their alarms.

It's time to nourish.

Apple Spinach Smoothie
Serves 1

1 Red Delicious apple, cored, skin on
1 large handful of baby spinach
1 Tbs unsweetened Greek or natural yoghurt
1/2 cup chilled, unsweetened organic almond milk
1 tsp ground hemp seeds
1 tsp maca root powder
*1/8 tsp Spirulina (optional)
*small handful of ice cubes (optional for a chilled smoothie)

Place all ingredients into a blender, pulse until smooth. Savour on the go.

Be kind to yourself. Drink this. You'll feel better, I promise.

Bella xx

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Strawberry Chia Seed Fruit Popsicles

Spring is here but it feels like summer. The days are getting longer and our flannelette sheets, comfy jeans and ugh boots have been replaced by crisp, clean cotton sheets, denim shorts and flip flops. What better way to enjoy the change in seasons than with healthy fruit and chia seed popsicles in the warm sunshine by the beach.

Organic Fruit Popsicles

Strawberry Chia Seed Fruit Pops
Makes 6-8 popsicles

3 Tbs chia seeds
1 cup organic unsweetened almond milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
* 1 Tbs honey (optional)
6 organic strawberries
1 ripe banana
1 Red Delicious apple, skin-on
* Blueberries (optional)

Add chia seeds to a bowl, pour in almond milk and stir with a fork. Grate in fresh nutmeg, cinnamon, and drizzle honey to sweeten (honey is optional), stir again and stand for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the chia seeds to swell.
Add strawberries, banana, and apple to a blender and blend until thick. Stir chia seed pudding, add to the blender and pulse to combine. Pour into popsicle moulds, add your popsicle sticks (my popsicle moulds came with these funky ends that catch the liquid and allow you to sip it through the built-in straw) and freeze, preferably overnight. What to do if you excess fruit mixture? Eat it will a spoon, it's like a thick fruit smoothie!

* I pushed a few blueberries into the top of the moulds prior to freezing for a sweet burst of flavour to savour at the end of of the popsicle. These are optional but can be used to replace the honey.

To serve, loosen the popsicles from their mould by running warm water over the mould, the popsicle will come away from the edge of the mould easily.

Enjoy your sweet, natural, organic fruit, nut and chia seed popsicles on a hot day as a perfect afternoon snack. We enjoyed ours on our front veranda in the warm sunshine. Delicious and healthy.

What a guilt-free, kid-friendly way to enjoy an 'ice-cream'.

I'll be back with more healthy fruit popsicle recipes soon and would love to hear your favourite frozen ice-block/ popsicle/ creamsicle ideas!

Bella xx

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Raw Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Raw Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Serves 2
2 ripe, peeled bananas
2 Tbs raw cacao powder
1 Tbs maca root powder
1 Tbs honey*
1 tsp hemp oil
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chilled soy or almond milk

Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender. Serve with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and enjoy this thick, smooth, delicious drink for breakfast or brunch. This is a great drink to give you energy and is a variation on my other fave raw chocolate smoothie that has subtle hints of vanilla, avocado and spirulina. The most notable difference however is the incredible chocolatey flavour that comes from adding two tablespoons of raw cacao powder.

*For a vegan option, substitute one tablespoon of agave nectar instead of the honey.

maca root powder // raw choc banana goodness

Throw in a handful of washed baby spinach for a splash of green or if you're after a really thick smoothie, blend up the smoothie with a tablespoon or two of chia seeds. It's best to leave the smoothie in the fridge over night or at least whilst you go for your morning beach run before drinking the chia seed version. This allows enough time for the seeds to swell to the their trademark tapicoa-like consistency, just remember to shake well before drinking. Delicious and oh so healthy... Now that's a superfood chocolate smoothie.

I have another variation that I'd love to share with you soon that includes raspberries. More recipes to come and don't forget to enter my giveaway to be drawn August 10th.

raw cacao beans and powder

I'd love to hear your favourite nutritious whole food cacao meal and drink recipes!

Bella xx

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Raw Chocolate Smoothie

Most of us aim for good health through the nutrient-rich food we eat in moderation and regular exercise. Our diets are comprised of seasonal, whole foods that tend to change with the transition of the climate. Lately Byron and I have been dining on slow-cooked soups from my crock pot but on the occasional warmer morning, I have been boosting my energy the natural way, with raw food smoothies.

Raw food: Energy the Natural Way

This is a vegan superfood smoothie, inspired by the benefits to be gained from raw-food living. It is filled with organic, raw ingredients and loaded with magnesium from cacao. The naturally stimulating energy from the cacao and rich green spirulina will help you to focus, to create or in my case, to study for university exams.

This smoothie beats a black coffee for longer lasting energy and takes less time to prepare. If your morning is golden and warm or perhaps you intend to go for a run along the beach today, then I would wholeheartedly suggest you try this smoothie for it's cool, delicious flavour.

Raw Chocolate Smoothie
Serves 1-2

1 ripe banana or avocado
1 Tbs raw cacao powder or nibs
1 tsp hemp oil
1 tsp agave nectar
1 tsp maca root powder
1/2 vanilla bean (seeds only)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp spirulina
1/2 to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (homemade if you have it to avoid heat-treated milk!)
1/2 cup ice

Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth. Taste and add additional agave to sweeten if required. Pour into serving glasses and sprinkle with additional ground cinnamon or cacao nibs. Enjoy on a verandah overlooking the sea.

Did you happen to notice my new indoor plant? I took a picture of it outside on our timber deck for these smoothie photos, however it is now sitting proudly on my small coffee table in the downstairs lounge room. I was so sick of being indoors with the recent rainy weather and seasonably cooler temperatures and was craving a little bit of nature inside my home. Although I may be cooped up for long hours of study in our small, warm seaside cottage, I now have a beautiful green Peperomia plant to brighten my day. I can feel the subtle, positive energy that comes from growing living plants inside my home and it cost less than ten dollars.

Money well spent.

Bella xx

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