Roasted Cherry Smoothie

What better way to celebrate summer produce than with some fresh cherries! My husband just adores cherries. Usually it's cherries paired with something chocolate, but this time he actually suggested that I incorporate a cherry smoothie into our lineup. After 11 years of marriage, I knew he wanted something with a lot of flavor, something spiced, something rich. I am a huge fan of incorporating essential oils into our recipes for their added health benefits, so I had to add some of those in for good measure. Here is what I came up with...









Ingredients:

• 1 pound Fresh Cherries
• 5 ounce serving size of Greek Yogurt (I used a 5.3oz container of plain Chobani)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3 tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Essential Oils:

• 2 drops of Lime
• 1 drop of Digestive Blend 

(You could also substitute lime juice and star of anise for the essential oils.

I only use therapeutic grade essential oils that are safe for consumption.

For more information on how to purchase these oils, please feel free to contact me.)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

You are going to need to wash your cherries and remove their stems. I left the cherry pits in when roasting them to give them a fuller flavor. Set aside.

Mix the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and essential oils in a baking dish.

Add the cherries to the baking dish.

I used my hands to mix all of the ingredients together.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water over the cherries and place in oven for 30 minutes.

When done cooking, remove cherries from oven, and let cool until room temperature.

At this point you are going to want to remove the pits from the cherries. I used my hands, tossed the seeds into the trash and the usable portion of the cherries into the blender.

Pour the remainder of the juices from the baking dish into the blender as well. 

Add the yogurt and vanilla extract into the blender. 

Place 1 cup of ice cubes into the blender, turn it on, and blend until smooth. I used the "Smoothie" button on my Blendtec. Pour into a cup (or two) and serve!

There you have it, folks, a delicious smoothie - or even dessert! It was rich and tart with a little spice. The color was gorgeous as well. 

Nerdy Extras:

You could always throw in some extra healthy goodies like flax, chia, or hemp seeds. These seeds are mild in taste and should not alter the taste of the smoothie too much.

There is so much more to cherries than their amazing taste. They're packed full of antioxidants and offer a multitude of health benefits. Cherries help ward off belly fat, lessen joint and muscle pain, help with insomnia, and are an excellent fruit choice for diabetics. Studies show that cherries can help fight off Alzheimer's and colon cancer, and reduce the risk of stroke and hypertension

Cinnamon is another antioxidant powerhouse - Like cherries, cinnamon helps to fight off Alzheimer's, has a strong Anti-Diabetic effect, and reduces the risk of heart disease. It has also been studied for its use in cancer prevention and treatment, and has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. 

The Lime Essential Oil used helps support healthy immune function. I can also positively affect mood with its simulating and refreshing properties. 

The Digestive Blend Essential Oil used aids in the digestion of foods. It soothes occasional stomach upset, and helps to maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract. 

FDA Disclaimer: "These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease."