Lately, my husband and I have been having meal planning fatigue. Instead, we just stock up on lots of vegetables at the farmer’s market on sundays, I make sure we have one or two types of beans (cooked in the rice cooker) on hand, we roast sweet potatoes a couple of times in a week (or, more occasionally, make some brown rice) and we improvise from there. This system works for us, mainly because we meal planned for a couple of years very regularly before that, which, for us at least, seems to have given us enough confidence to completely improvise, generating enough leftovers for lunchboxes. Sure, sometimes we eat far more simply than we would had we meal planned, picked recipes (whether old favorites or new discoveries) or thought the week through, but overall it works, probably because we also have a very well stocked pantry.
There is one problem with this scenario. It does not make us immune to impulse purchases, like the lovely bunch of mint we got at the market on Sunday. We used most of it in a recipe on Sunday night, and then Tuesday morning it was just starring at me, wilting before my eyes. I was thinking how our avocados were not ripe and so I could not make Kimm’s brilliant Vegan Avocado Shamrock Shake, but then my eyes fell upon some carob, and I remembered Kimm’s and Ricki’s Sweet or Savory Kitchen Challenge this month, focusing on carob, and I decided to improvise.
Side note: smoothie improvisation can yield some not so fun results, but in this case it worked out perfectly. The smoothie is more carob than chocolate (even though I used chocolate protein powder), and the complexity of the carob sets off the mint perfectly.
Carob Mint Smoothie (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Soy-Free) – Makes 1 16oz smoothie
- 1 Tbsp raw cashews
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
- 2 Tbsps carob powder (I used this one which is roasted but if you have raw carob powder, that would work too)
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/3 cup mint (I used leaves and stems, but you can stem the leaves)
- 1/4 tsp mint extract (I used this organic one which is alcohol free)
- 4-6 ice cubes
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
This was such a success, I am submitting it to the following blog events:
- The Sweet or Savory Kitchen Challenge this month, focusing on carob and hosted, as always, by Kimm of Affairs of Living and Ricki of Diet Desserts and Dogs.
- Seasonal Sunday, hosted by Real Sustenance. Mint is the ultimate Spring Vegetable, don’t you think?
- Diane’s Real Food Weekly at The W.H.O.L.E. Gang for today – all the ingredients in the smoothie whole foods except the protein powder, which is optional.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the idea of adding the nuts and water… quicker way to make a nut milk!!
I need to buy some carob too, I love the flavor, but always forget about it!
Have a great weekend!
Sounds wonderful! I go for smoothies, too, when I have meal prep "fatigue" (and it does feel that way, doesn't it?). I bet the combination of carob and mint is superb–and a little chocolate undertone never hurt! Thanks for submitting this to the SOS this month.
I identify with meal prep fatigue, too! And yes, a well-stocked pantry makes a huge difference. Usually after whining in my head, I put my big girl panties on and make something simple, but great. 😉 All thanks to the pantry!
This looks and sounds wonderful, Valerie. It sounds like you need to grow your own mint. You'll NEVER run out of it if you do … even if you grow some in a pot. The stuff just grows and grows! The only way I like mint is with chocolate or in mint chocolate ice cream, but I think I'd really like it with carob, too.
Shirley
I love carob and mint together. Thanks for the smoothie idea!
Ooh! I did the same thing – bought a bunch of mint with no plans for it. My smoothie options are limited right now because of an elimination diet – this is a great idea! I love mint in my smoothies.
Okay Valerie, I have (another) question for you! I usually have a fruit and greens smoothie in the am without non-dairy milk. In the pm I have a smoothie with almond milk and no fruit (I only eat fruit on an empty stomach). I've been wondering about adding greens to it. Is it noticeable in this type of smoothie? Geez make a long story short…
This was yummy but I did add a bit of dark brown sugar and did not use mint extract as I have never seen an alcohol free one but now I will look for it in the health food store. I actually used walnuts as that is what I had on hand, through in some extra, no chocolate protein powder but I added a small plain bar of chocolate from the freezer which sadly contained soy, a little less very baby spinach, mint from the garden, and no ice.