Smokin' Sit-Up Maple Smoothie

While rummaging through Trader Joe's I came across maple water. Basically it's the unprocessed sap from maple trees. I live in Western New York so I've had the opportunity to taste pure unprocessed maple sap. It's consistency is very much like water and it tastes like water that has been flavored with a touch of maple syrup. Just to be clear, when I say maple syrup I don't mean Log Cabin or Mrs Butterworth's etc. I'm talking about 100% pure maple syrup. Nothing artificial. 

I made this smoothie this morning and had some before my WOD. That might be why I beat my coach's time in gymnastics and his number of sit-ups in the WOD.  Maybe I should have brought him his earlier!  I told him it needed a name and he suggested Smokin Sit-Up Smoothie. I liked it so I used it. 

It's pretty sweet. I put the ice in while instead of crushing it in the mixer but you can crush it if you like.

1 cup of almond milk

1 cup of maple water

2 bananas

6 medjool dates

2 scoops of protein powder

3 tblsps of hemp powder

3 tblsps of Irish oats

1 handful of raw almonds

8-12 ice cubes

Everything goes in the blender on high until smooth. 

Magnificent Mayan Protein Smoothie

The Mayans definitely had some culinary creative skills.  Chocolate and spicy heat are one of my favorite combinations!  I'm not too picky on what the heat profile is but I do love smoky heat with chocolate. This smoothie has a perfect choco-spice flavor that hits you in the back of your throat with every swallow!

1 cup of nut milk

1 banana

3 tblsps of Irish oats

1 scoop of your fav protein powder

3 tblsps of hemp powder

2 tblsps of raw cacao nibs or powder

1 tblsp of Maca powder

1 tblsp of cinnamon

2 tblsps of raw honey or 4 medjool dates

1/2 tblsp of cayenne pepper

1 tsp of ancho chili powder

1 tsp of chipotle chili powder

4-6 ice cubes

Throw it all in the blender, except ice,on high.  Add ice a cube at a time until the ice is crushed.  If you have a vitamix or other high powered blender, you can put all the ice in at once.