Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

I always find pumpkin spice a welcoming flavor combination, whether it is autumn or not. Here, I have combined them to make a smoothie, or perhaps more accurately a milkshake. It adds a little flavor to a morning drink of milk, as well as some extra vitamins and nutrition. Since the pumpkin is already puréed, this drink does not even require the use of a blender. Just place ingredients in a cup with a lid and shake.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
1 cup milk
2 heaping Tablespoons pumpkin purée
1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
1 teaspoon wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Blend all together until smooth. Enjoy!

Cherry Burst Smoothie

Cherry Burst Smoothie
frozen cherries
wheat germ
strawberry banana blend juice
almond milk
almond butter

Purée all until smooth, judging amounts as you like to make a thick or thin smoothie with as much fruit flavor as you like. I find a hand immersion blender works best for this - put the ingredients in a bowl to do it then transfer to a glass. I also find it works better if the almond butter is added at the end, after the other ingredients are puréed together so it doesn't stick. 

This is another smoothie recipe that is helping me survive. Smoothies can be made the night before, put in a water bottle, and transported for a quick lunch. Be sure to keep them cold! 

Nutella Milkshakes

Nutella Milkshakes
1 large frozen banana
heaping 1/4 cup Nutella (regular or homemade)
1/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1 Tablespoon skim milk powder (optional)
1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
about 2 Tablespoons honey, optional (not needed if commercial Nutella is used)
1/2 -1 cup almond milk (depending on how thick you would like it)

Blend all together in a blender until smooth. Makes two servings.

This is my final entry for my Nutella Day posts. I don't post many drink recipes on here, but you definitely need a Nutella drink to go with all the Nutella sweets. I used my own homemade Nutella for this too, which worked well, but I did add a little honey for some sweetness. If the milk powder is left out and a different sweetener is used, these milkshakes could be vegan. Otherwise, regular milk may be used as well as soy milk or whatever type you would like. Use ice cream for something really decadent. This could be classified as either a milkshake or a smoothie, depending on how thick you make it. I recommend using a frozen banana for the best texture and to keep it colder. 

This is a very healthy recipe and also quite satisfying. Following this exact recipe, it contains about ten grams of protein per serving! Almond milk is actually very low in protein, so using soy or cow's milk instead would actually increase the amount of protein further. 

Kefir Smoothie

Recently I tried kefir for the first time. Kefir is a fermented milk drink that is very rich in probiotics - even more so than yogurt, so it is a useful aid in digestion. I tired plain kefir, and would describe it as some sort of cross between buttermilk and plain Greek yogurt. It is certainly tangy, and very thick - drinkable, but almost a yogurt consistency. It can be consumed as is, though it lacks a little in the flavor compartment, but flavored varieties are available. It can also be used in most baked goods in place of yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, and sometimes regular milk. However, where it really shines is in smoothies. It can take the place of milk, yogurt, ice cream, or all of the above, and produces a cold, creamy, and very thick smoothie. Also when blended into a smoothie, you can add any flavors you like and make the kefir taste much better! Here is a simple recipe I came up with myself, that I enjoyed since it contains a few of my favorite foods and gives a good boost of protein. It is also my favorite color! Try some kefir in your next smoothie!

Purple Keifr Smoothie
3/4 cup kefir
1/3 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 Tablespoon almond butter
1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup
*Optional: For a "green" smoothie, that is actually purple, throw in a handful of leafy greens for an added nutritional bonus.

Blend all together until smooth. Makes about one serving, but measurements are approximate and can be played with.