Dreamsicle Smoothie

If you think it's hard to be a food blogger, I promise you that it's harder to live with one.  We food bloggers are a rare breed of creativity and crazy in the kitchen, but those that love us and have to put up with us on a daily basis are really the ones that deserve the credit.  This post is dedicated to all the significant others of food bloggers who have ever had to hear these words... probably repeatedly.

Don't eat that!  That's not for you, that's for the blog.

Don't touch that!  I haven't taken a picture yet!

No, I can't right now.  I have ten minutes of light left and I need to get these pictures taken.

Get out of the kitchen, I'm blogging.  Take the cats.

Can you edit this for me?  No, you can't wait until you finish that level on your video game.

Not yet.  I have to tweet, facebook, post this on foodgawker, tastespotting, finding vegan, healthy aperature, and.... I'll be there in a minute honey.

Thank you dear partner for all your patience and support.  I think it might be time to celebrate you.  How about a dreamsicle smoothie?

This smoothie is what you whip up when you really need to impress someone.  Maybe you're a food blogger that wants to treat your special someone to something special.  Or maybe you've had a hard day and all that you want right now is to crawl under the covers.  I won't judge.  But might I suggest taking a straw with you?

Dreamsicle Smoothie
Makes one 12-ounce smoothie

1 banana, peeled and frozen
3 clementines, peeled
3/4 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons raw cashews
5 - 7 drops liquid vanilla stevia drops, or to taste

Blend banana, clementines, almond milk, cashews, and stevia until smooth.  Serve immediately.

NuNaturals Stevia Giveaway!

A month and a half ago, I was offered some samples from NuNaturals and was able to try some of their stevia products.  To be honest, I was a tad skeptical of trying stevia because I had tried another brand in the past and it had only tasted bitter to me.  However, I have been incredibly impressed with the NuNaturals products, particularly the liquid stevia and the vanilla stevia drops.  Since I make my own nut milks, I have stopped adding any agave or maple syrup and now just use these stevia drops to sweeten my homemade milks.  I love these drops and now use them every day in oatmeal, tea, and smoothies.  Yum!

In case anyone is not familiar with stevia, stevia is a South American herb that has been around for centuries.  The cool thing about stevia is that it tastes very sweet and just a small amount will add an incredible amount of sweetness to foods because it is 15 - 20 times sweeter than sugar.  But, stevia does not contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners.  Stevia will also not raise your blood sugar levels and does not contain any calories or carbohydrates.  

I was so impressed with the NuNaturals stevia products that I wanted to offer a giveaway to my readers. FOUR readers will be able to win one box of NuStevia Packets and one bottle of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Liquid.   Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday, February 26th.  Unfortunately, since the products are shipping directly from the company, this giveaway is only available to Continental U.S. residents and NuNaturals cannot ship to P.O. Boxes.
*Update: Thank you to everyone who entered!  This giveaway is now closed. 

In addition to entering the giveaway, you can also receive free samples of the NuStevia packets by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelop to NuNaturals at:

NuNaturals, INC

2220 West 2nd Ave #1

Eugene, OR 97402

AND, NuNaturals is also offering a special discount to all readers that you can use when you order directly from their website to receive 15% off your total order.  Simply use the code BLG0612 when you check out to receive the discount.  You will also receive free shipping in the continental U.S. on all orders totaling $35.00 and over after the special discount.  This discount code expires June 30, 2012.  

(Please know that all opinions here are my own and I was not asked to endorse this product or required to offer a giveaway.)