I think that I get my greatest inspirations lately while answering the awesome comments that you guys leave here on a daily basis.

I can’t thank you enough for that, by the way. Reading your comments every day is what keeps me going, is what makes this whole blogging thing worthwhile for me. You have no idea just how much I appreciate reading you all day after day after day. I must confess that I even read them in the middle of the night, sometimes… That’s how much I like them! šŸ˜‰

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being here, thank you for reading me, and thank you for inspiring me!

Interacting and exchanging ideas with you guys seems to really help me expand my horizons and try things that I would otherwise probably never even think of.

Such is the case with this brilliant smoothie. This one here, I dedicate to Joann. Without her, it would’ve never seen the light of day. And what a shame it would’ve been.

Just wait ’til you see the list of ingredients…

It’s bold! In fact, it’s bolder than bold. Is there a word for that? Bolderer? Bolderest?

Right… Bolderest! I like that one.

So I’m officially naming this baby TheĀ Joann SpecialĀ BolderestĀ Smoothie.

Alright, so what’s in it, you ask? What’s so special about it?

HA!

Check this out… this one contains avocado, mango, goat cheese, coconut, balsamic vinegar, vanilla and fresh basil.

Yes, really!

WAIT! WAIT! DON’T GO!

Seriously, I’m telling you, you HAVE to give it a try.

It might sound like a strange combination, but it works so utterly beautifully, I can’t even find the words to express it. When I tasted it, I was so excited that I wasn’t even half way through it when I had to come sit at my computer and tell Joann about it. After all, it was her who had challenged me to do something with her mango / avocado combination. And since we’d been discussing the addition of goat cheese to smoothies, it was only natural that I would add that ingredient too.

The rest of it just came to me as I went: a little bit of this, a little bit of that, oh, and why not try a splash of this… you know.

I have to be honest, though, the last thing to have gone in was the basil. I was just thinking garnish and was wondering what to use, when I saw the plant sitting on the window sill. Hummmm… I thought, why not ADD some to the smoothie? Surely I can’t use basil as a garnish if there isn’t any IN it, right?Ā 

So I chopped some up, quick quick, stirred it in and OH MY GOD! Did it ever elevate that smoothie to the next level. I mean wow! Talk about tasty. I think I died. Seriously!

I’m begging you, if you do try this one, don’t leave any of the ingredients out!

They ALL play a very unique role and contribute, in their own special way, at sending you right to heaven.

If only for a few minutes…

AVOCADO, MANGO AND GOAT CHEESE SMOOTHIEĀ 
(aka The Joann Special Bolderest Smoothie)Ā 

INGREDIENTS
(Serves 1)Ā 

  • Ā½ ripe avocado, diced
  • 140g frozen mango (or you could use half a fresh)
  • Ā¾ cup milk of choice (I used home made almond)
  • 2 tbsp fat free Greek yogurt
  • 25g unripened goat cheese
  • 2 tbsp vanilla flavored whey protein
  • 1 tbsp flax seed meal
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 tbsp white balsamic (or wine) vinegar
  • Ā½ tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 5-6 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Add all the ingredients except avocado and basil leaves to your mini blender or food processor and process until smooth
  2. Add avocado and basil leaves and process until smooth, but not fully incorporated, so that you get a little bit of a swirl going on
  3. Transfer to serving glass and garnish with a dollop of yogurt and basil leaves
  4. Make sure you grab a seat and ENJOY!