Health Tip:

Don’t blend your yogurt into your smoothie -gently stir it in

When making your smoothies if you plan on adding yogurt or kefir to get the benefit of those wonderful pro-biotics – make sure that you blend your drink first then gently stir in your yogurt or kefir at the end. The action of the blender kills many of those live cultures.

Antibiotics were a wonderful medical breakthrough that has saved countless thousands of lives. However, taking broad spectrum antibiotics for colds and flu indiscriminately kill all types of bacteria they come in contact with. This means the good bacteria in our gut that aids in health and digestion die too. Research suggests that it can take up to five years for our systems to come back into balance after using antibiotics. That is where the acidophilus in yogurt and kefir products may help bring our digestive systems back in order.

This is one of our family’s favorite healthy desserts. We make it once or twice a week. My dad who is chocolate freak but a borderline diabetic can get his chocolate fix without spiking his blood sugar.

Agave Chocolate - Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

½ Cup Agave Nectar

1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder

1 Tablespoon Vanilla (I always go heavy on the vanilla)

4 Cups Organic Whole Milk *

½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional) or wheat sweetened chocolate chips

In a large bowl whisk together the agave and cocoa powder. Add vanilla and whole milk. Pour into freezer container and fill with milk up to fill line. Add Chips and put on lid. Follow directions to freeze.

*Coconut milk can be substituted if you prefer a non-dairy ice cream.

*If you want a creamier ice cream you can use 2 cups of organic whole milk and 2 cups of organic cream instead of the 4 cups of organic whole milk.

Agave Chocolate Almond Ice Cream

½ Cup Agave Nectar

1/3 cup Cocoa Powder

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 Teaspoon Almond extract

4 Cups Organic Whole Milk

½ Cup Chopped Almonds

½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)