Heart health juices for LOVE week: Raspberry Surprise

Well, sadly, it's the 5th and final day of our celebration of love and heart healthy juices. It's been lovely working with the fabulous Omega Juicers on this little project. I adore my juicer and all the healthy, tasty juices that have come out of it. Some of the fun of owning a juicer is just throwing things in to see what they taste like combined!  For example, this crazy concoction!  Who knew you could get such a decadent treat out of a juice?!  I admit, the dark chocolate is taking the juicing thing to a different, slightly unorthodox level, but it's good for cardiovascular health!  Who am I to argue!  : D

Knowing that raspberries and dark chocolate are both heart healthy, of COURSE I had to combine the two in a juice. But, the raspberries by themselves don't add a ton of juice.  What little juice they do add though, is full of flavor, so you really don't need much anyway.  By adding the greens (spinach and romaine), not only did it increase the heart healthy factor of this juice, but it increased the volume without adding much flavor. So, you'll be surprised at how much this drink tastes like raspberry, even though it's green!  And the chocolate adds just a touch of sweetness and compliments the other flavors nicely.

Raspberry Surprise

6 ounce container of red raspberries

2 cups spinach

1 head romaine lettuce

Good quality, dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage

Juice the berries, spinach and romaine, then shave a little of the dark chocolate on top. Enjoy!

Makes 10 ounces

Recipe is my original creation.  Feel free to share, but please link back to this original post.  Thank you! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Spinach Smoothie!

I was taking a study break one day last week and was really craving peanut butter and chocolate!  But, since I have finally broken my weight loss plateau, I wanted to keep it as clean and healthy as possible.  So, I created this ridiculously yummy and healthy smoothie!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie (with chia and spinach!)

Serves two-three

1 cup simply hemp milk (any milk would do)

3 heaping Tablespoons of all natural peanut butter

1 T chia seeds

2 T cacao powder

4-5 slices frozen banana

Two big handfuls of spinach

5-7 ice cubes (to your texture preference)

1 t. vanilla

4 medjool dates

Pinch of salt

Add all the ingredients into your Vitamix (or high powered blender), and blend until smooth and to your desired consistency. Top with a tiny dollop of whipped coconut cream and chocolate shavings. You'll think it's a fancy milkshake, but without the extra calories and sugar!

Whipped coconut cream
1 can of coconut milk, refrigerated for 4 hours or more (I keep a can in the refrigerator at all times so I can make this any time I want)

1 t. vanilla (or fresh vanilla bean is even better!)

1/2 t - 1t.  sweetener of choice, to taste (I have used organic raw agave, maple syrup, and coconut sugar, you could also use cane sugar or honey, or of course powdered sugar. I would like to use dates, but haven't had the time/patience to do it just yet.)

Open your can of refrigerated coconut milk, scoop out JUST the top white part that has firmed up. You don't want any of the water that's left in the bottom.  Use a mixer to whip the coconut cream until it is soft and whippy looking. Add vanilla and sweetener.  Start low on the sweetener, taste your whipped cream, add more if you want a sweeter cream.  And, done!  You could add cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, etc for a spicy kick.

Chocolate shavings, optional, but pretty!