“It’s got to be here somewhere!”
Have you ever searched for something? I am not talking about missing keys or lost glasses, more like searching for the perfect rocking chair for your first born child’s nursery. Too specific? In my house that is referred to as searching for my “Atlantis,” the thing that is rumored to exist but no one has ever found!
Many years ago, my family and I needed to escape the gray, drizzly Pacific Northwest winter and Palm Springs was the perfect antidote to gray! It is warm, dry and most importantly sunny. In my vacation research, I came across a coupon for date shakes at a little ice cream shop that appeared to be close to our condo. It sounded like an unusual regional treat and I was determined to give it a try.
Did I mention that I had a coupon? 😉
It took several days of searching since we did not have Google maps or Waze at that time but we located the shop and it was closed! Really?!? Nothing was going to stop me from getting my iconic Palm Springs treat, so we reworked our itinerary a bit in order return a few days later. There is always a chance when you build something up so much that it cannot meet the expectation. Let me tell you, that shake was everything I had hoped for and worth the wait! When I took my first sip, it was heaven. Sweet, thick, creamy and deliciously exotic. I found my Atlantis! There are times when I long for those trips when my kids were young and we explored new places and created memories as a family. Recently I was feeling nostalgic and craving that iconic desert treat. Unfortunately, dairy makes my tummy feel very unhappy! Thanks to Pinterest, I came across this delicious dairy free delight on www.downshiftology.com. It is creamy, sweet and exotic; the perfect treat to take me back to a fantastic vacation with my favorite people.
Dairy free Cashew Date Shake
Serves two
Ingredients
2/3 cup raw cashews, soaked for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator
6 Medjool dates, pitted and soaked for 10 minutes in warm water
1 banana, sliced and frozen
¾ cup water (I used the water that the cashews soaked in)
2 cups ice
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp nutmeg
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt (This may seem like a strange addition but it is essential!)
Instructions
Once the cashews and dates have been soaked and drained, add them to a high powered blender (I used a food processor but a blender would have been easier!). Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high until thick and creamy. Divide between two glasses and top with a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon. Feeling really sassy? Add some finely chopped cashews to the finish it off as well!
For many of us, this time of year can be very hectic. Take a few minutes to treat yourself. Mix up a batch of shakes, close your eyes and dream of palm trees, sunshine and relaxation.
Enjoy!
Debbie
