Version 1: Pineapple-Cantaloupe-Raspberry
During the fall months, there is a particular Hindu Holiday ‘Navaratri’ during which believers perform several rituals and practice fasting. It lasts 9 nights and is devoted solely to the Mother Goddess — known regionally as Durga, Bhavani, Amba, Chandika, Gauri, Parvati, Mahishasuramardini…
The story goes: After one of the Gods (Brahma) gave the demon Mahish the power not to be destroyed by man (including male Gods) because of doing a good deed for Brahma, Mahish started to cause all sorts of terror. So, the 3 forms of God, Brahma (birth or creation), Vishnu (life or preservation) and Shiva (death or destruction) combined their energies and powers and created a female form of God (Devi or Durga) to destroy the demon, (since no man could vanquish him). She represents the furious powers of all the male gods, and is the ferocious protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil. Durga is usually portrayed as riding a lion, and carrying weapons in her many arms.
I’ve also heard “Durga” means ‘invincible‘ and she is the personification of ‘shakti’ or divine feminine force!
Goddess of Victory of Good over Evil
For the fasting part of the ritual, nothing except Milk, nuts and fruit can be eaten during the day. And so I created this yummy smoothie in order to take advantage of all the goodness that’s to be had from milk, nuts and fruits
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (that can be almond milk or dairy milk**, your choice)
- 1 tbsp almond butter (or other nut butter: remember peanuts aren’t really nuts)
- 1 really ripe banana
- 1 cup pineapple(fresh or frozen)*
- 1 cup cantaloupe or mango pieces (fresh or frozen)*
- 1-2 tbsp raspberries or strawberries (optional)
* Make sure that one of these is frozen. If it is still hot outside, both may be frozen or you could add some ice cubes before blending.
** If using dairy milk, the recipe is no longer dairy free or vegan
Directions
- Put all ingredients in the blender, starting with the banana, add fruit, then the almond butter on top and pour the liquid over top.
- Blend until smooth.
- Enjoy or pack in a cooler or lunchbox and take to work to have throughout the day.
Version 2: with Blueberries…
Ingredients, Version 2
- 1 cup milk (that can be almond milk or dairy milk**, your choice)
- 1 tbsp almond butter (or other nut butter: remember peanuts aren’t really nuts)
- 2 really ripe banana
- 1/4 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)*
- 1 cup peaches or pineapple (fresh or frozen)*
* Make sure that one of these is frozen. If it is still hot outside, both may be frozen or you could add some ice cubes before blending.
** If using dairy milk, the recipe is no longer dairy free or vegan
Directions
- Put all ingredients in the blender, starting with the banana, add fruit, then the almond butter on top and pour the liquid over top.
- Blend until smooth.
- Enjoy or pack in a cooler or lunchbox and take to work to have throughout the day.
And here’s a great thing to do with any leftover smoothie:
Pour into popsicle molds (or any small paper or plastic cups and add one of those wooden sticks they sell at craft stores) and freeze for a sugar free treat later.