Morning Power Smoothie, Chocolate

I drink this every morning and have been asked the recipe...so here it is. I make this in the Vitamix and fill a mason jar with it to pack to work and sip on for most of the morning.

• Ready In: 6 mins
• Yields: 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup  almonds
• 1 1⁄2 cups water
• 1  banana, very ripe
• 2  cups spinach, raw
• 3  tablespoons  cocoa
• 2  dropperfuls stevia, liquid vanilla from Sweetleaf
•  ice

Directions

1. Put all of the above ingredients in a Vitamix or other high speed blender. I have never used anything but a Vitamix and it comes out perfectly smooth with one. I can't vouch for any others.
2. Note, that the stevia is two dropperfuls -- not two drops. I have tried different types of stevia and have a definite preference for Sweetleaf liquid. This is also good with hazelnut stevia (instead of vanilla).
3. Variation- sometimes I add a teaspoon of coffee granules for a frozen mocha. Sometimes I add a tiny bit of peppermint extract. Sometimes I use carob instead of cocoa and add the peppermint (the carob mint is good, but not a fan of the plain carob).
4. For an immunity boost, I also often add water kefir grains. They don't affect the taste. I realize many people don't have those, but if you do -- they make a great addition -- 2 teaspoons or so.
5. Add enough ice to make it thick, about 2-3 cups.