Organic Healing's raw chocolate blendie

For the launch of my Healing Raw blog, I thought I'd give you something that I'm constantly asked about: my crazy creations of super delicious smoothies and what I call, blendies. Usually when people try them, they gasp, as if shocked that such a creamy shake could exist (not having a clue as to what's in it) - but it does, and I'm here to share with you all about it! If there's an interest, I'll keep posting these scrumptious recipes that I've gathered over time as well as nutritional skooshes (sk-O-shiz) - (a silly way to describe advice, tidbits, info., fascinating facts) of all things related...

Chocolate Blendie - ingredients are always organic

* 1.5 cups coconut water
* 2 small/medium bananas
* 3-5 pitted dates
* 1/2 cup nuts (raw cashews are ideal for that creamy texture, then Brazil nuts/macadamia nuts)
* 2 tbsp raw chocolate powder / cocoa nibs (ok, you may use up to a couple handfuls if need be..)
* Optional: Vanilla pod, maca, 1 tbsp coconut oil, MSM powder (see below), tocotrienols/rice bran solubes (raw super vitamin E)

Blend like crazy in a high powered machine (Vitamix if available) until it's super creamy & well-blended. Resist the temptation to inhale this concoction, and put it in the fridge for an hour (or until it becomes all you can think about). Blendies taste best when their super cold.

Note: I'm not one to follow recipes exactly, esp w/ something that potentially has so many variations. Adjust to your liking (more banana to thicken, more dates to sweeten, more nuts for texture, more chocolate, for... more chocolate :)

Next time, use freshly made almond milk (insanely easy to prepare - I know, it first sounded waaaay too complicated, but now there's just no other option & you'll see why if you ever get around to doing it too), instead of the coconut water (which by the way, you can find at any natural health food store - Whole Foodies, PCC, etc - in the refridg. section in mini milk size cartons) - or crack open a real coconut (same stores or Asian markets)! You can source the best raw chocolate, truly raw cashews, MSM, and tocotrienols from Sunfood Nutrition (you may link from my site: http://organichealing.net/content.php?pid=7)

You can add a vanilla bean pod (slice open & scrape insides from the vanilla bean - found in the bulk section), maca extract or powder, and/or MSM powder (a beauty mineral - check my website http://www.organichealing.net/ for more info) - all of these which I typically do to enhance the taste/health-giving properties. The recipe here is just the start, and I must say I vary it each time for that surprising melt-in-your-mouth ('I can't believe how good this is'..) milkshake taste - yet, in the cold, dairy-free kind of way.

Tip: pour into ice cube trays and freeze for a tasty treat later.