Pumpkin Apple Spice Smoothie

It has been way too long since I have posted a smoothie recipe so today I am here to rectify that absence.  I have been toying around with this idea for a couple weeks and I finally tried it out yesterday!  To me it is a perfect collision of fall and winter.  The pumpkin comes from the fall, naturally, and I think apples and cinnamon together are a wintery combination.I know its cold outside, unless you are blessed enough to live somewhere where it is still warm:-) Winter does not necessarily scream drink-a-smoothie the way summer does, but even if they make me a little frozen from the inside out I can’t go too long without having one.  My husband always things I am crazy for drinking smoothies in the winter since I begin shaking once I am done… but a blanket or warm shower will usually cure me and I just love them too much to abandon them for several months.  This is saying something considering how strong my cold aversion is!So what goes into this little beauty?  Well pumpkin, apples and some spices as you might have guessed from the title of this post, but we also have some smoothie standards, almond milk, vanilla, protein powder (it is hard to make one without those three:-) I also added a banana for some natural sweetening, but that is optional.  In the recipe below I listed 1 or 2 apples.  I used one, but I also used a banana.  If I left the banana out I would definitely use both apples, but there is no reason you can’t have a banana and two apples if you want:-) I also listed agave.  My thoughts on smoothies are to blend it up and do a taste test to see how sweet it is.  Sometimes the fruit is enough and you don’t need the agave.  Other times it is quite necessary.I am excited for the rest of the month (and the beginning of January too)!  I mapped out what we have coming up for the next fourish weeks and there are some fun things… let the experiments begin!! 

Pumpkin Apple Spice Smoothie

1 C almond milk

1 T vanilla

2 T protein powder

½ C pumpkin

1-2 apples

1 banana (optional)

¾ t pumpkin pie spice

¾ t cinnamon

¼-½ t nutmeg

Agave to taste

Handful of ice cubes

1. Put all ingredients into high-speed blend and mix until smooth.

*I would normally add in frozen spinach to mine just to get a little vegetables into my morning… but I wanted the natural colors for the pictures.  Add some in if you would like!

If you have a fireplace drink this sitting next to it!  It will counteract the chill that a smoothie gives:-) I hope you are all getting ready and excited for Christmas!  It is my favorite time of year, a time of hope, love and giving.  May we remember that amidst our busy preparations.