Healthy Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothie

Food blogging professional that I am, I made due without a blender for so long by (A.) pulling out the ol’ food processor when I otherwise would have used a blender, or (B.) borrowing a spare blender from my in-laws when only a blender would do. But borrowing was inconvenient — and it was pretty messy trying to pour smoothies from a food processor bowl — so eventually I gave up on the dream and my kids have been sadly smoothie-less for the better part of a year now.

I know, you’re right…I could have just bought a new blender months ago. But I couldn’t decide which brand to go with…so many options, so many opinions! So Santa ultimately decided for me, God bless him. And today we’re celebrating my new toy with some Chocolate Almond Banana Smoothies!

This smoothie has a couple of things in common with some of my other favorite smoothie recipes on the site. It starts with oats, which the blender finely grinds and incorporates into the smoothie to thicken its texture and boost its nutrients. It also includes frozen fruit — bananas, to be exact — which naturally sweeten the smoothie while eliminating the need for ice.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oats (quick or old-fashioned)
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 bananas, broken into chunks and frozen
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons creamy almond butter
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon pure almond extract

Instructions

1. Measure oats and chia seeds into blender. Blend until ground into a fine powder. Add the frozen bananas, milk, yogurt, almond butter, cocoa powder, honey (if using), vanilla, and almond extract. Blend on high power until completely smooth, scraping the sides of the pitcher halfway through if any ingredients are sticking. Serve immediately.
2. .....................................

for full instruction please see ; www.fivehearthome.com

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