rose-berry smoothie
For many years in my childhood, on or around the summer solstice, my oldest friend Rachel and I would celebrate Fairy Day with a group of our siblings, cousins, and friends. The sweetest dreamed-up holiday imaginable, Fairy Day festivities included nature-themed crafts, endless hours spent pretending to be witches and wizards in the swimming pool, the yearly "Fairy Play" written by Rachel and myself (thank you to our parents and grandparents for enduring those), and of course, whimsical treats enjoyed under the gentle glow of fairy lights strung through the jasmine vines. The floral flavor of this frosty potion captures the ethereal spirit of Fairy Day, while several wellness-boosting ingredients make it incredibly nourishing for the body. Young, old, or young at heart; female, male, or other; muggle, fairy, both, or neither, the Rose-Berry smoothie is for you, and I hope you love it as I do.
As one may guess from the name, the primary flavors of this concoction are rose and raspberry. Rosewater has been used for culinary and beauty purposes since the time of Cleopatra, and while there have been few clinical studies to date, rosewater is having a moment in today's wellness movement for its possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin content, and stress-relieving potential. I incorporate it in this smoothie because it tastes simply magical. Raspberries are my favorite fruit at the moment (largely because they make for great lazy snacking; just rinse and munch!), and in addition to being scrumptious, they have a low glycemic load, and are high in vitamin c, manganese, fiber, and antioxidants.
For the creamy-dreamy base, I utilize an unfiltered nut milk blend of raw almonds and my beloved hemp hearts. This provides a nice base of plant-based protein, but if you desire more than this approximately 10 grams of protein, you could probably substitute vanilla protein powder for some of the nuts. (I say "probably" because I have not tested this method.) If you are accustomed to extremely sweet, fruit-forward smoothies, you may prefer to reduce or skip the hemp hearts and utilize an all-almond base. While I specifically developed and tested this recipe to maximize pleasure and wellness, whatever adjustments optimize it for you, I hope it brings some whimsical positivity into your day.
RECIPE: Rose-Berry Smoothie
(serves one)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/4 cup raw almonds (soak overnight if you have a weak blender)
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts
- 1 teaspoon - 2 tablespoons culinary rosewater (*I use such a range because the strength of rosewater blends varies dramatically. As too much can make your smoothie taste like bath soap, I suggest beginning with one teaspoon and adding more gradually until the rose flavor is present but not overwhelming. With the rosewater I currently have in my cupboard, 2 1/2 teaspoons is the perfect amount for my taste buds.)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
- 1 1/2 cups cold water or filtered plant-based milk
- 3/4 cup frozen raspberries
- 1 handful ice cubes (optional; strongly recommend if you choose to use fresh raspberries)
METHOD:
- Blend the almonds, hemp hearts, rosewater, vanilla powder, and cold water until creamy, frothy, and smooth.
- Blend the raspberries until they are about halfway combined. Taste a tiny bit to check the rosewater flavor, and adjust if needed. Add the ice cubes if using, and blend until smooth but still frosty.
Serve with love.
☼ VLGL
