Super Mocha Oatmeal Power Smoothie

This is a power smoothie. I developed this as a post workout smoothie lunch to replace the store bought smoothie powder and a Clif Builder Bar I was eating for lunch. It is 622 calories, but can easily reduced by over 200 cals in various simple ways (see end of recipe). It's obviously designed to be very filling. This is a vegan recipe as it stands, though will depend on your protein powder and milk source.

The oats, once soaked and blended, break down pretty much completely -- this is definitely a smoothie, not 'sludge'. I tried to keep the overly processed stuff down to a minimum, which is why i went with a flavorless protein powder, cocoa powder, and use maple syrup to sweeten rather than use a pre-sweetened/flavored protein powder (though obviously, it's an easy fix to use whatever you have). I was scared it wouldn't work, but dang does it work.

Directions to easily reduce calorie count available at end.
I prepare this the night before, but it can be done all at once (if you have room temp coffee) in a pinch. Preparing it early lets the oats and chia have time to soak.

I tried to add this as a recipe for all, but it won't let me choose a subcategory (it's blank on firefox) so i can't save it.

INGREDIENTS:
Rolled Oats --- 1/2 Cup
Maple Syrup (grade --- 30 grams (about 1.5 tablespoons)
Chia Seeds --- 1 tablespoon
Rice Milk (unsweetened, unflavored) --- 1 cup
Coffee (chilled or room temp) --- 1 cup
Omega Nutrition Pumpkin Protein Powder (unflavored) --- 15 grams (1 serving)
Cocoa Powder --- 1 tablespoon
Cocoa Nibs --- 6 grams (or to taste)
Powdered Peanut Butter (Just Great Stuff (it's organic) or PB2) --- 2 tablespoons

RECIPE:

Night Before:
1) Put oats, chia seeds, rice milk, and maple syrup in a mason jar or other container. Place in fridge to let them soak. This step can be skipped if necessary, but I think it improves texture.
2) Optionally measure all other DRY ingredients into another container to easily add later.

Morning
1) Make an extra cup of coffee in the morning. Let stand on your counter or put in fridge.

SMOOTHIE TIME:
1) Blend all ingredients! If you're using a hand blender, you may have better luck adding half the coffee to the oats mixture, blending for a bit, then adding the rest of the coffee and powders and blending again. (note - most blenders are sized to fit mason jars...)

NOTES:
1) Nibs won't be for everyone. I love them. They do add bits to the smoothie. If you dislike them, just leave out.
options:
a) You can soak them in water overnight (drain, the water will be bitter)
b) food process them into small bits and then add when adding powders
c) just throw them in when you're making it. Depends on your tolerance for crunchy bits.

2) If you use a chocolate protein powder, or chocolate peanut butter powder, remove or reduce cocoa powder. If your protein powder is sweetened, remove or reduce maple syrup.

HOW TO EASILY REDUCE CALORIES BY OVER 200 --
a) Reduce Rolled Oats to 1/4 cup. Same amount of liquids works just fine. saves about 112 cals.
b) Use almond milk instead of rice milk - saves about 75 cals.
c) Reduce Powdered Peanut Butter to 1 tablespoon (half serving). saves about 22 cals.

These changes won't noticeably affect flavor. It won't be as filling, though my wife can't even finish one with the full 1/2 cup of oats anyway.