Thanksgiving in a Smoothie

Temps reached 119 degrees in North Hollywood yesterday.  While I have a small window a/c unit in my bedroom, my main coping skill of this heat wave is lots of cold liquids, frozen ice packs for the pups and I to lie on, and in the hottest hours, escaping to public places with better air conditioning, like movie theaters, IKEA, and the mall.  

It was only around a hundred degrees when I woke up this morning, and I felt like a truck had run over me.  So I knew I'd need a smoothie to make it through the day.  I normally keep a good supply of frozen fruit to get me through the summer, but this is the first heat wave of the season.  Surprisingly I found a bag of frozen cranberries in my freezer, intended for winter cranberry sauce that never got made.  I don't usually like the tartness of cranberries, but I decided to make a smoothie that would transport me to winter holidays in the hopes I could imagine the winter temps.  It turned out yummy and sweet!

What's your favorite smoothie recipe?  How do  you cope with a major heat wave?  Please comment below.

Cranberry-Cacao Smoothie

1/2 c frozen cranberries1/3 c canned pumpkin
1 1/2 Tbsp coconut
1 Tbsp cacao nibs
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 cups cold soymilk or other nondairy milk

Blend all in a mason jar using an immersion blender and enjoy.