Ohhhh Summer! I do love you! Even if in fact British ‘version’ of this season can be more capricious than a teenager.But at least it gives us something to talk about, otherwise I really don’t know how I would start a conversation 🙂
But when the heatwave comes! Ohhh when it comes, nothing matters. Nothing is important. A stack of emails to reply? Nah! It can wait!
House that looks like it has been hit by the tornado. Oh no, no, no, that can wait for the storm! Running errands can wait for the rainy days too. Makes me wonder if I would ever have any work done if I lived in Spain, or Italy….
During these hot days I wave my oven goodbye and you can only find me in the kitchen blending fruits like a mad woman and then spending the rest of the day in the garden spreading my limbs on the lawn, sipping smoothies, munching smoothie bowls or smoothie popsicles and polishing off a smoothie cake. That’s a life, hey? 🙂 A HUUUUGE thank you to VITAMIX here for sending me their incredible machine and for making my life so much easier – honestly the best blender I have ever owned.
This little recipe is as easy to make as it sounds, doesn’t require switching the oven on, and it’s super creamy and refreshing! Just what you need when summer comes 🙂
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
For the base:
150g almonds
200g dates,pitted
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp almond butter
For the smoothie layer:
300ml milk of your choice
250g mascarpone cheese
500g mixed frozen berries(I used blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and blackberries) plus extra fruit for decorating
2 ripe frozen bananas, chopped
4 dates,pitted
PREPARATION
Place almonds in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, but don’t let them become too powdered.
Add pitted dates, followed by coconut oil and almond butter and pulse until the mix start to come together.
Place the mixture in a 23cm non-stick, loose-based cake tin and press it flat (I usually roll it with a side of a small jar to do so). Place in a fridge to chill.
Pour the milk in the Vitamix, add mascarpone cheese and frozen berries, chopped frozen bananas and dates and blitz it together, starting from the lowest speed, slowly moving the higher speed.Use the tamper to press the ingredients onto the blades. In around 60 second, the sound of the motor will change. Stop the machine, the mixture should be beautifully smooth by then. Scrape the mixture onto the base, smoothing it evenly with a back of the spoon, cover it in a cling film and place in a freezer for couple of hours , or until completely frozen.
Move it from the freezer for 20-30 minutes before serving (otherwise you won’t be able to slice it!) . Decorate with more berries and enjoy!
