Mango Almond Orange Breakfast Smoothie in a glass with a straw or thicker, in a bowl is packed with all the nutrients to get you going in the best, healthy and productive day! Your kids will love it! And you’ll feel satisfied, energized and as sunny as mango and orange shining through!
Oh, the Summer is coming! All the beautiful produce it will bring to our tables! The farmer’s markets are at their sunniest, brightest, most vibrant selves at this time of the year. Or at least I feel that now, until the fall brings its golden treasures. In any case, I am so happy at this time of the year, when summer is approaching, when there is still some crispness and little chills in the mornings and evenings before the heat takes over and make us hide somewhere in the mountains. Or elsewhere, for that matter, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it!
In that vibrant, colourfull spirit this breakfast smoothie came along. Well, I do adore mango and to be honest, I never made anything with it that would include cooking or baking because we would always eat it raw. You surely might find it funny or odd but I didn’t discover this beautiful fruit until recently because of several reasons: there was no Mango available here in Croatia when I was a child. Maybe, and very stretched maybe that was, at some exotic and horribly expensive shelves, but no, there was no mango. My family was not poor, rather normal, middle class and I am grateful for not feeling nor remembering any special lack of anything while growing up in terms of food, education, health care and such basics. But still, “exotic” fruit like mangos, dragon fruit, lime, papaya, avocado, etc. was something that I only knew from colourful children’s books.
So some of you may wonder, where on Earth and under what stone did I grew up? Well, under the stone or not, but we did not have such fruit, period. But certainly, we did not lack colourful orchards, farmer’s markets and a plethora of vibrant produce on our tables and disposal.
You know, Croatia is a vibrant, colourful country. For those of you reading across the big sea and outside Europe, I’ll say that Croatia is a little piece of heaven on Earth. If we exclude bad government and crappy economy, God has really grated us when it comes to nature treasures and possibilities. Yes, it’s a little heaven on Earth.
From the North to the South and West to the East, Croatia has all the landscapes you could want. Green valleys and fruitful fields that can grow the world of food. Grains, I think all except rice. All the vegetables you can imagine. Orchards of apples, peaches, cherries, berries, plums, nectarines, mandarines, oranges… oh, and almonds! Olives, for the purest virgin olive oil ever. Vineyards producing high-quality grapes and vine.
We don’t have dangerous or poisonous animals, nor extreme climate/nature disasters.
Sometimes I think that ANYTHING can grow here.
There beautiful mountains and hills that you can hike, climb or just enjoy the perfect air, cool woods and view or go rafting on adrenalin bumped mountain river adventures. Croatia has a beautiful, the most beautiful Adriatic sea that I can recognize on any photo. It’s simply different. Not more beautiful from any other, but I can recognize it among others.
Croatia is the land of 1000 islands. Literally. 1185 of them, to be more precise.
There are beautiful woods, lakes, rivers, pieces of pure, untouched and clean nature for you to enjoy at any time of the year, whatever your preferences are.
And all of that (if counting only land, not the sea) on the area a little bit bigger than Switzerland.
Did I mention that we have truffles too? Yup 😉
I hope that my long essay about my country did not drown you and you made it through here. So someone might say, that’s all fine, about mangos and all, but what’s the story of that red bell pepper, for Pete’s sake?
Well, that was the vibrant, juicy and inviting collateral that I found in my fridge and in a quick whim decided to throw it in my blender. And you know what, it was great. Ok, you won’t feel that you so ate bell peppers in that smoothie bowl, but it surely is nice to know that it’s there along with its beautiful nutrients.
And zucchini would do great too!
So don’t be afraid to combine!
What is your choice of veggies in sweet smoothie bowls?
MANGO ALMOND ORANGE BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE BOWL (V)
1 ripe mango
1 orange
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups almond milk
2 tbsp raw cocoa powder
2 tbsp ground flax seeds
3 tbsp desiccated coconut
1 cup almonds
1 red bell pepper
1 – 2 tbsp agave syrup or another sweetener (optional)
a little pinch of salt
oats, flax seeds, desiccated coconut, dried cranberries, almonds, orange slices for garnish
Peel the orange, remove the seeds if you mind them. Peel the mango and remove the pit. Slice the bell pepper. Put it all in the blender along with other ingredients and blend, gradually adding the almond milk. Pour the milk in until you like the consistency. Garnish to your liking, grab the spoon and enjoy.
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