Keep cool and cherry on
Summer calls for cooling foods and what is a better moment to put a little extra effort in your breakfast then weekends? Swap out your traditional Saturday pancakes or Sunday croissants for a gluten-free, sugar-free, cruelty-free nutritious, fully raw, half frozen smoothiebowl!
I have an on and off relationship with smoothiebowls and nicecreams (the healthy version of ice creams) and different variations have been considered in our kitchen: the green version, the tropical version, the plain version, the extraordinary version and obviously, this particular cherry-choc version.
Superfoods in my superbowl
One of the sweet highlights of summer is fresh, locally grown cherries, and the combination of cherries and chocolate is a classic and unbeatable marriage. Since superfoods are popular, they’re smartly packaged and slyly marketed by corporations. But don’t let them fool you, superfoods aren’t defined by their exotic origins or unpronounceable names. Our good old cherries are also considered a superfood. They are nutritious powerhouses, packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which combat cancer and high blood pressure and according to a Michigan State University research, also relieve pain as effectively as aspirin…!
Another superfood is raw cacao (not to mistaken for the processed cacoa powder). Cacao is one of the most nutrient rich and complex foods. It is also the highest source of magnesium (an electrolyte lost through sweat and depleted by stress hormones, processed sugars, caffeine and pharmaceuticals), one of the most deficient minerals among Western populations. You can buy raw cacao beans or cacao nibs and make your own powder in a coffee grinder or of course feel free to use a cacoa powder of your own choice, available at your store. Just make sure it isn’t sweetened or mixed with other ingredients.
B’nananananannnannna!
For this recipe you need only three ingredients. The first two are obvious. The third ingredient is banana. Bananas are a (raw-)vegan’s best friend and a key element in smoothies, smoothiebowls and nicecreams. It gives these kinds of recipes the right softness, richness and sweetness. Bananas are nutrient dense, potassium rich, cheap and easily available throughout the year. But make sure to use bananas when they’re ripe. And that doesn’t mean when they just have turned yellow. Ripe means spotted, with a nice leopard skin, rrraawwww…!
Recipe
Equipment
(immersion) blender or food processor
Ingredients
– 2 bananas
– 2 cups frozen cherries
– 2 tablespoons cacao powder (preferably raw cacao)
– Topping of choice
Blend until smooth and sprinkle with topping of choice. If you want to use fresh cherries instead of frozen ones (they are, after all, in season), make sure to use frozen bananas instead. Enjoy!
With love from the happy earth kitchen
