February is a special month and not only because it’s focused on loving yourself and the special ones in your life. As a blogger and business woman like myself, I like to think of this month as a way to support and show love to all of the businesses that help me do what I do. In the past two weeks, I’ve received products from two Cleveland-based companies that I really love and want to share with all of ya’ll. While I may be living in Chicago, I find it so important to stay connected to my Cleveland roots by supporting these local businesses and entrepreneurs making products that I can fully stand by.
Today, I’m bringing you my first company of the month called FruitVibe Juice Co. This juice company was started by three friends (one of which went to my brother’s high school – small freakin’ world we got here) who all share a love for local fruit, veggies and herbs. They focus on spreading their good vibes all over Northeastern Ohio through the juices and mylks they make but my hope is one day they’ll come to Chicago 😉
A girl can dream.
Last summer, I was able to try their products at my favorite market called the Cleveland Flea in June but never ended up taking one home with me. Sad, I know. When I left the market, I started to follow them on social media and every now and then I’d double-tap their photos on Instagram, dreaming about how I wish I had some of their creations right here with me in Chi.
Luckily, a six pack of these babies fell out of the sky and onto my doorstep earlier this week and I had to share my thoughts on them with you! In addition, I wanted to make a recipe with one of their nut mylks because who doesn’t love a dairy-free dessert filled with healthy fats and chocolate?
P.s. They recently released this mocha nut mylk and it is my FAVORITE THING ever. It’s made with Rising Star Coffee (cold-brew of course), soaked almonds, coconut water for sweetness, lucuma powder (for that “shake” taste) and pink sea salt. I would if I could drink this with every meal.
The six I received included the Love Greens, Commander Carrot 2.0, Chia Pear, The Spirulina Shak, Mint Cookies & Cream Shak and the Rising Star Mocha.
While the Love Greens, Commander Carrot 2.0 and Chia Pear all included apple in the ingredients, they were not as sweet as the usual apple-based juices I’ve tried on the market. I’m not one for overly sweet juices because I’d rather eat sweet things rather than drink them, so I was super pumped about those.
As for the Chia Pear, it was one of my favorites from the selection. They create it with Nutiva chia seeds that swell up at the bottom of the juice somewhat like a chia pudding. I loved drinking this one over ice after dinner! I’m thinking it’d taste phenomenal as a cocktail mixer, too.
The sweetest one by far was the Spirulina Shak because of the natural sweetener – dates. To divide it up rather than chugging it down in one sitting, I ended up using it as a milk substitute for my iced coffee. Brilliant move on my part. I poured 1/4 cup of the bottle with 1-2 shots of cold brew into my blender for a morning pick-me-up throughout the week.
As for the Mint Cookies & Cream nut mylk, I knew I wanted to make a smoothie or dessert out of it the second I pulled it out of it’s box. The best part of this nut mylk is that even though it mint flavored it isn’t dyed green with artificial colors or flavorings like the mint chocolate chip ice cream you see at the grocery store. This is why I was inspired to create a recipe out of it and so, this mint-chip (banana) ice cream came along.
I wish that EVERYONE could obtain this magical minty nut mylk straight from FruitVibe but because they currently only sell to certain markets and distributors in the Cleveland area (for now), I decided to give you an alternative way to make this ice cream. Alongside the way I did it, of course.
Wins all around.
- 1 frozen banana
- 8 oz of Mint Cookies and Cream Shake, frozen in an ice cube molds overnight
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ⅓ cup Purely Elizabeth granola
- ½ fresh banana, sliced
- Alternative version:
- 1.5 frozen bananas
- 1 tbsp cashew butter
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk, preferably homemade if you can!
- ¼ cup cacao nibs
- ⅓ cup Purely Elizabeth granola
- ½ fresh banana, sliced
- For my version with FruitVibe's shake, I blended together one banana, a cup of the shake that I had poured into an ice cube mold and frozen overnight and almond milk. Once the shake is thick and creamy, I poured it in a bowl and topped with granola and bananas.
- For an alternative at-home version:
- Blend two frozen bananas, cashew butter, peppermint extract and almond milk in a blender or food processor. Feel free to add a few ice cubes if it is not thick enough!
- Once it is relatively thick, add in your cacao nibs and process/blend for 10-15 seconds just to get the nibs slightly blended.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl, top with granola and your fresh banana slices.
The Mint Cookies & Cream shake is filled with cacao nibs, peppermint oil, cashews and soaked almonds (a.k.a homemade almond milk) so if you are making this recipe on your own, definitely try to use a homemade nut milk or buy a store bought one at Whole Foods that is made in house. The creaminess of nut milk that is created right in your kitchen is unlike any other, I promise you. When you make it yourself, you get a higher fat content from the almonds themselves rather than commercial ones that taste like 80% water and 20% nuts.
Besides, the more fats from the nuts in the smoothie bowl, the more dessert-like and similar to the real ice cream it will taste.
If you ARE reading this and you’re from Cleveland, however, I strongly recommend heading over to the Lake Road Market in Rocky River and grabbing a “shak” yourself! You won’t regret the good vibes from these juices and mylks.
Do you have a favorite nut mylk from a local company or business you support? What’s your favorite nut milk to drink and have you/do you ever make your own at home?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Enjoy & Happy Saturday, chickpeas!
This post was not sponsored or compensated, however, I was given free product for my honest opinion and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Leah M @ love me, feed me says
Oh maaa goddddd! Mint chip cookies and cream?! Dying, that sounds so insanely delicious!! And in the form of ice cream?! Heyooooo
Harry Ramsey says
Mint chip ice cream? Yes, please!