Pumpkin Granola

It is still Fall and I am still making everything pumpkin.  Granola is a great snack but can often pack in a surprising number of calories.  This recipe is relatively "skinny."  The canned pumpkin is utilized as the glue for the granola mixture.  The pumpkin puree combined with the traditional pumpkin spices makes this a very flavorful granola.  I have been eating this plain as a snack and with a banana and milk as a quick breakfast.  As with any granola, you should feel free to adjust and improvise the ingredients to make this what you want.

Recipe from Skinny Taste

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed well and pat dry with paper towel
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans, almonds, walnuts, or whatever you like
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, apricot or dates
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup (or honey)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp oil (coconut or canola)
• 2 tsp pumpkin spice (or more to taste)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325° F.  
• Spread oats and quinoa out on a parchment lined baking pan. Toast in the oven 10 minutes, stirring once.
• Remove the oats from the oven, pour the toasted oats into a medium bowl and add the ground flaxseeds, pepitas, pecans and dried fruit. 
• Reduce oven to 300° F.
• Add maple syrup, pumpkin puree, oil, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, salt and vanilla.  Stir together with a spatula. 
• Spread back onto a baking sheet and bake an additional 20 minutes, or until golden.
  

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

I sent my mother a text after making this recipe and her reply was, "Hmmm."  So, I imagine that you may be thinking the same thing.  My advice, don't knock it until you try it.  This smoothie is good, healthy, filling and a great way to use up leftover pumpkin puree from your Fall baking.

I pulled the recipe from a great blog which focuses on real (unprocessed) food recipes, Oh She Glows
The original recipe was for 2 servings so below you will see I've halved that for just a single serving. Additionally, I streamlined the spices to use Pumpkin Pie spice.  Finally, I highly recommend that you use a good and REAL maple syrup.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp chia seeds or flax seeds
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie)
• 1/4 tbsp molasses
• 1/2 frozen ripe banana
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• ice cubes (optional)

Directions:

• Combine the milk and rolled oats in a bowl and allow them to soak overnight.
• Add oat mixture, flax seed, pumpkin, molasses, banana, spices and syrup into the blender and blend until smooth
• If you like a thicker smoothie, add some ice cubes
• Pour into a glass, add a straw and enjoy!

Summer Smoothie

I start each day with a smoothie for breakfast.  I used to make a Green Monster Smoothie (recipe found here.)  However, after a few months of that I got a little tired so I decided to make my own.  This new recipe combines frozen berries, rhubarb (which we still have in abundance), spinach/kale, protein powder, and some orange juice.   I think this makes for a very balanced and healthy start to my day.

My smoothies always look something like this...

Here is the recipe I use but feel free to experiment with what you have on hand.  It is a smoothie after all.

1/2 frozen berries
1/4 cup rhubarb (frozen)
1/2 banana (frozen)
handful of spinach/kale
1/3 cup orange cup
1/3 cup or more of water to make it blend smoothly
1/2 scoop protein powder (I use vanilla)
you can also add in some flaxseed (my mom adds this to smoothies for the heart healthy benefits)

Blend until smooth and enjoy!