“Money talks.  Chocolate sings.”  Unknown

What is your relationship with “chocolate?”

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Ps 34:8 NIV)

This is the last day for smoothie recipes for a while, so I thought I’d be indulgent with this recipe.  Now, I’m not advocating drinking a chocolate smoothie for breakfast, although this smoothie may well be healthier than what many folks normally eat for breakfast.  Think of this as a treat or dessert smoothie. 

Almonds and cherries are actually from the same food family and taste great when combined.  And most of us would agree that chocolate goes well with many foods!  So, I’ve combined these flavors to make a healthy, yet yummy treat.

I use organic cocoa powder.  According to www.rawguru.com, organic cocoa powder is made by cold pressing high quality organic raw cacao beans into a dark brown paste called chocolate liquor. The paste is cold pressed at 112 degrees F to separate out its fat (cacoa butter). What remains is a “cake” that is then cold milled to become organic, unsweetened cocoa powder.  This has the highest level of cocoa flavonols because it’s the least processed. Also, because the fat has been removed and it contains no extra ingredients such as sugar, it’s the healthiest form of chocolate you can find.

No doubt you’ve read and heard that research now indicates certain health benefits in dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate is now considered a “superfood” due to the high content of polyphenols and phytonutrients which have potent antioxidant properties.

If you’re not familiar with almond butter, you’re in for a real treat.  We’ve used almond butter for years instead of peanut butter.  Peanuts are actually a legume (bean) instead of a nut, making them harder to digest.  They are also one of the most pesticide-contaminated crops.  Peanuts are also frequently contaminated with a carcinogenic mold called aflatoxin.   So, if you eat peanut butter, my suggestion is to buy an organic brand.  Almond butter is found along with peanut and other nut butters in the grocery store.

Frozen dark sweet cherries are also included in the recipe.  They’re not as abundant as other fruit but they are well worth the effort when you can find them.  Other frozen fruit such as raspberries or strawberries can be used as well.  Enjoy!

Prayer Power
Father, we thank You that You delight in our happiness.  We thank You that you have provided many healthy, yet special “treat” foods for us to eat and enjoy.

Link of the Day
Chocolate Cherry Almond Smoothie

Blessings on you as you enjoy a healthy chocolate treat!