a love potion- beware of the aphrodisiac :)

Here I was thinking that I'm a total genius when I came up with an idea to release a super healthy post-overindulgence smoothie recipe, as surely cyberspace can only handle so many sweet Valentine's Day treats. I couldn't be more wrong.

I asked you to vote on Facebook for which of these you'd prefer to have me share today...

Oh boy- nearly every single comment clearly showed that no one will mess with the lover in you this Valentine's. Love Potion wins. Hands down.

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which happens to be the largest nutrition school in the world AND which also happens to be where I'm currently studying- posted this right in time, so I got more than enough inspiration to create the aphrodisiac smoothie of all aphrodisiac smoothies...

Here we go...

I hope you are ready for this!

LOVE POTION - VALENTINE'S SPECIAL RAW SMOOTHIE

For the essentials

Blender

Double boiler

Large glass (mine is a 750ml martini bowl)

2 straws

For the chocolate rim

Basic raw chocolate recipe

For the pink layer

1.5 cup nut milk (almond works best)

1 cup frozen raspberries

1/4 cup raw honey/agave/maple syrup

1/2 inch ginger root

For the chocolate layer
1.5 cup nut milk (hazelnut or almond works best)
1 medium banana (even better if it's frozen, otherwise add ice also)
6-8 pitted dates
1.5 tbsp cacao powder
1 tsp maca powder
1/4 tsp vanilla powder or vanilla seeds from 1/2 pod
1/4 chili pepper or 1/5 tsp cayenne pepper

When you are done with making the basic chocolate in a double boiler, take the top pot away from heat to cool down slightly; place the glass which you are planning to use in the freezer.

In 10-15 minutes, take the glass out of the freezer, turn it upside down so the rim is parallel to the table, dip the whole glass as deep as you'd like your chocolate edge to be and quickly but carefully, turn the glass to an upright position so the chocolate can drip down the sides.

Repeat this step as many time as needed until you achieve the desired look.

Make both of the smoothies by blending all the ingredients together in two separate jugs.

First pour a little of the pink smoothie to cover the bottom of your glass, then the chocolate layer. Continue to alternate. Note this step must be done slowly so that both colours don't blend into one. Try to use a spoon and 'scoop' the smoothie in around the edges instead of the middle.

To create a heart shape: cover the top with a chocolate layer, then finish up by pouring a spoon full of the pink layer into the middle, making sure that it looks like a circle. Insert a skewer into the chocolate colour, and in one motion move it into the middle of the pink circle, exiting out the opposite end and from the chocolate colour. Repeat this step, until a heart is formed.

Share and enjoy!