Chocolate and Almond Brownie Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls are a great option when you are tired of smoothies.  They are thicker as you eat them with a spoon.  This is a basic recipe that you can alter as you gain more confidence in flavors and what you like.  Carob is a nice change, it has great health benefits and has a mild chocolate flavor with caramel undertones.  It is also sweeter than cacao.  Cacao is the raw product from the cacao bean.  Cocoa has undergone roasting

Chocolate and Almond Brownie Smoothie Bowl

60g crushed ice

2 peeled frozen bananas roughly chopped

25g cacao Powder* or cocoa or carob

1 tbs chia seeds

125ml unsweetened almond milk

Maple syrup if needed to taste

Caramelized almonds and maple syrup*

To make *Caramelized almonds and syrup, Heat the Almonds and sesame seeds in a small frying pan over medium heat.  Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden.  Spread onto parchment paper and break in pieces.  This can be done in the dehydrator.  Toss almonds in syrup and put on Teflex sheet for 8 hours at 118 F.

Put Ice, banana, carob powder, chia seeds and almond milk(or milk of choice) in a high-speed blender or small food processor until smooth.  Scrape down the inside of the blender or processor bowl if required. Add a 1 or 2 Tbs of water if mixture is too thick.  Taste the smoothie and drizzle on maple syrup to adjust the sweetness.

Spoon the thick smoothie mixture into two chilled bowls and top with banana, the caramelized almonds, Hemp seeds. And a sprig of mint