Weekend Cooking: Smoothie Project by Catherine McCord

Whether you're a daily smoothie drinker or are new to smoothies, I bet you have some questions, like these:

• Help! I'm in a smoothie rut and need more recipes.
• Help! I'm new to smoothies and need some tips.
• How do I prep ahead for a week's worth of smoothies?
• Which ingredients will help me at my stage of life?
• What kind of blender do I need?
• What are the pros and cons of the different kinds of milks?
• What are the benefits of specific add-ins?

Well, wonder and ask no more because Catherine McCord (from Weelicious) has all the answers in her new book, Smoothie Project (Abrams, Dec. 17).

I was particularly excited to receive a copy of this cookbook from the Abrams Dinner Party because I've been in a smoothie rut. Mr. BFR and I tend to make our same old favorite one or two on endless repeat. I needed to expand my horizons and discover new ingredients. Smoothie Project came through in spades on that score.

For example, I found recipes for fragrant smoothies (Carrot Orange Ginger), healing smoothies (Skin Brightener), tropical smoothies (Mango Spice), coffee-flavored smoothies (Awake), and indulgent smoothies (Chocolate Nut).

I was impressed not only with the variety of the flavor combinations but also with how easy McCord makes it to switch "add-ins" to fit your pantry, tastes, and needs. Each basic recipe includes a list of of what she calls "Optional Super Boosts," such as flavored protein powders and other nutritional powders, seeds, and oils.

The sections on how to use the freezer for prepping ingredients, how to pick a blender, and how to save a smoothie to drink later were clearly written and informative. I also appreciated the information about which smoothies and ingredients fit different age groups and health concerns.

For my first week with the cookbook, I primarily picked smoothies by flavor, color, and ingredients I already had on hand. The only thing I bought specifically for my recipes were frozen cauliflower and coconut water. Then I made substitutions as necessary.

The smoothies I tried were Pure Gold (mangoes and turmeric), Avo-Coco Kale (avocado, coconut, and kale), Vanilla Cinnamon Date Shake (almond butter and dates), Creamy Vanilla Shake (cauliflower and cashews), Blueberry Cherry Lemon, and Cherry Almond.

My smoothies also contained bananas, yogurt, coconut, flax seed, lime, almond milk, frozen cauliflower, and honey (not all of these in every smoothie, of course) as well as various spices.

All of the smoothies were tasty, but, naturally, I liked some better than others. For example, as much as I love avocado, I discovered that I didn't really love avocado in my drinks. The smoothie was fine, but I'm not sure I'd make it again. My favorites were the vanilla cinnamon date smoothie (recipe below) and the cherry almond smoothie (the far right just above).

Two additional notes: The recipes made slightly more than I wanted to drink in one sitting, but I simply saved the extra to drink later or Mr. BFR finished it off. I also found the drinks to be a little on the thick side, which was easily fixed by adding a little more almond milk (or called-for liquid).

Recommendation: If you're a smoothie fan or are planning to buy a new blender this holiday season, you need a copy of Catherine McCord's Smoothie Project. I discovered some new favorite drinks and have marked at least 20 (not exaggerating) more to try. Smoothies will never be boring again.

Vanilla Cinnamon Date Shake

Serves 1
BFR's Notes: this one was so good, I could barely stop myself from sipping while I was setting up the photo. Note that I omitted the hemp seeds, but that's just because I didn't have any in the house.

• 1 fresh or frozen banana, peeled
• 1/4 (33 g) frozen cauliflower florets
• 2 dried, pitted dates
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon vanilla paste
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 tablespoon flax seeds or flaxseed meal
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) almond milk or milk of choice

Combine all the ingredients in a blend and blend until smooth.

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