Wild Blueberry, Mint and Flax Seed Smoothie
In the intense heat of the day, I see no sign of movement outside. Everything is completely still and quiet. It is sunny, the sky is blue and the air is clear. It's beautiful. But it all stops there. When I open a window, the hot air wafts in and with panic, I immediately shut it close, double lock if you may. It's incredibly hot outside. No wonder there is no wandering living thing around.
I am happily cocooned inside the house with the air conditioners in full blast, all the windows closed and preventing any hot air going in. I call it my hibernation from the intense heat of summer. I go through it every summer. If there's no reason to venture outside, I stay indoors as long as I can.
More than once, my outdoorsy son and his little sister would bid me goodbye to play outside for a while and after 5 minutes, they come running back to the house, panting and shrieking.
"E' troppo caldo!" (It's too hot!)
Even these little persons give up and stay cocooned indoors for days. I avoid cooking as much as I could and just prepare cold salads and fresh fruits. The ice cream maker and blender are working full time. Ormai (by this time), we are used to the whirring noise of the ice cream maker and the blender working continuously. Gelato, ice pops, smoothies (whatever time of the day), ice cold drinks are what we normally consume during our hibernation.
Here is one of the smoothies that I have prepared and enjoyed. Wild blueberries, from my abundant stock from the Dolomites, some mint leaves (I did run out to brave the heat to gather some fresh mint leaves.), flax seeds (Thank God they grow in the comfort of my spice rack in the cold kitchen!) and some almond milk.
If you are wondering what those green & purple wooden balls are, they are props that my husband bought for me when I was shooting this. Coincidentally, they matched the colors of the smoothie and mint leaves. I think they merit one picture on their own because I find them beautiful and it has a special value.
Wild Blueberry, Mint and Flax Seed Smoothie
Ingredients:Makes 1 glass
- 1 tablespoon flax seeds
- 1 - 2 cups cold almond milk (or regular milk)
- 1/4 cup wild blueberries, fresh or frozen (regular blueberries are just fine)
- honey to sweeten, if almond milk is unsweetened
- 2 mint leaves
- Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
