Sure, it’s November and winter may be on its way, but if you’re anything like me, you can drink a good smoothie any time of the year. Although smoothies usually don’t hold me over the way a meal would, I do love having them as a snack, means of refueling after a workout, or as an accompaniment to my breakfasts or lunches.

This week just so happens to be National Smoothie Week! Recently Williams-Sonoma reached out to me to take part in this event by sharing an unusual recipe or ingredient that I’ve tried in a smoothie.

While the flavor combination I’m sharing today is relatively straightforward and normal, I’ve included a rather unusual ingredient that really amps up the creaminess!

Before you turn up your nose, let me just say that you don’t really taste the added ingredient. It adds protein, bulk, and, as I mentioned above, extra creaminess. What’s the magical addition? Cottage cheese.

I know cottage cheese isn’t everybody’s favorite, but I happen to enjoy it topped with fruit and/or cereal. It works in this smoothie the same way regular or Greek yogurt would. And who doesn’t love chocolate?

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Smoothie

serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen cherries
• 1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• ¼ cup cottage cheese
• 3 tsp dark cocoa powder
• dash of cinnamon

Directions

Add all ingredients to a blender; mix till smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Although I used my trusty Magic Bullet to make my smoothie, you can find a great assortment of blenders at Williams-Sonoma. They have several models of the coveted Vitamix (which all of us food bloggers would love to have in our own kitchens), but they also carry Breville, Cuisinart, and others. Be sure to check them out if you’re on the hunt for a shiny new blender of your own.

• Care to share your all-time favorite smoothie combination?
• What’s the most unusual recipe or ingredient you’ve encountered in a smoothie?