Healthy Halloween Monster Mocktails - Frankenstein and Dracula Smoothies

Avocados have long been limited by many to savory applications. They are much more versatile than that. They have a mild flavor. They are packed with nutrients. Because it blends to such a creamy and smooth consistency, it's a great addition to smoothies. I especially like it when adding a banana would make things too sweet. More often, I adjust my smoothie recipes to use half banana and half avocado. By doing so, I get the benefit of both the potassium of the banana and the magnesium of the avocado.

These are two of my favorite avocado smoothies, and I fix them all year long. However, I find that kids also like them. I will break them out at Halloween. With the changes I make, we call them monster mocktails. They are ideal for both children and for those who would choose not to imbibe.

To make the monster mocktails more fun, put out a table of small colorful fruit and let the children decorate their drinks. Imagine a Halloween party where children argue over fruit instead of candy.

TROPICAL FRUIT SMOOTHIE (FRANKENSTEIN SMOOTHIE)

1 medium or large ripe avocado
1 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
1 Tbs dark honey or maple syrup
1 1/2 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice (optional)
1/4 tsp coconut meat
2 ice cubes (this is a good place for milk ice cubes)

Blend everything together. Delicious as a smoothie anyday, I like to serve this one to the kids on Halloween. For that occasion, I'll add a drop or two of green or blue food coloring to intensify the color of the drink. I'll serve in a glass with a wide mouth and decorate it using a toothpick dipped in food coloring to draw a mouth and a scar. I'll add a couple of slices of maraschino cherries for eyes.

Also fun is to set up a table with small colorful fruits for children to decorate their drinks with - mandarin orange or tangerine wedges, chopped cherries, shredded coconut, grapes, raisins, etc. If you are going to have children decorating their drinks, serve in plastic martini style glasses. The wide surface and shallow bowl allow for the best success in decorating. Well decorated monsters are sometimes better eaten with a spoon than a straw.

AVOCADO BANANA BERRY SMOOTHIE (DRACULA SMOOTHIE)

One half very ripe avocado
1 to 1 1/2 frozen bananas
large handful frozen or fresh berries - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, bosenberries alone or in combination.
A healthy splash of cold milk of your choice (cow, goat, soy, almond or hemp milk)
Small pinch of salt (optional)
Pinch cardamom and/or allspice and/or ground clove and/or nutmeg. (I usually limit myself to two spices)
2 or 3 ice cubes (optional)

Blend everything up until smooth and serve.

If I'm using this for Halloween, I will stick to blue or purple colored berries to create something with a deathly blue cast. Decorate with a couple of pieces of coconut or apple cut into fang shapes. Dip the tips into maraschino cherry juice or red food coloring to look blood stained. Add maraschino cherry slices for eyes. Again, this is a great one to let the kids decorate.

A quick note: If I am using berries that are very seedy or with skins that don't blend well, I will puree those ahead of time and strain. I will buy the berries when they are very fresh and at their least expensive. Those I puree, I will put into ice cube trays and then toss the cubes in a bag. I then can mix and match flavors. If the berries I buy are not sweet enough for my taste, I will add a little sugar when I puree and freeze them to boost the flavor level.