Superfood Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

I love autumn and pumpkin season. I wanted a recipe to bring all those holiday flavors into a drink without all the sugar, artificial ingredients and hefty price tag you’d find at a coffee shop. This whips up quick and is the perfect use for that little bit of left over pumpkin you never know what to do with after you bake muffins.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C pumpkin puree
• 1 C ice or 1 C frozen chopped spinach
• 1 banana (can be frozen) or 2 pitted dates
• 1/4 C raw cashews (soak overnight if you have a regular blender, not necessary if you have a vitamix or similar powerhouse) or raw pepitas/shelled pumpkin seeds
• 1 C almond milk
• 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• pinch of ground nutmeg
• pinch of ground cloves
• 1 tsp. chia seeds
• 1 tsp. raw cacao powder
• 1/2 tsp. maca powder

Method:

Place all ingredients in the blender with the ice (or spinach), nuts and banana (or dates) in the bottom. Blend on a lower speed until the ice and/or dates break up. Then, increase the speed to high and let run until smooth. Makes about 3 cups.

Superfoods Info:

Spinach – vitamins K (helps blood clotting and bone health, decreases inflammation), B6 & C, the carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin (protect against heart disease, cancer and macular degeneration), folate, magnesium, iron

Pumpkin – beta carotene (onverts to vitamin A in your body), vitamins C & B6 (immune  and nervous system booster), potassium (good for bone health), folate (good for heart health and guards against birth defects during pregnancy), high in fiber

Almonds (in the milk) – full of good fats (reduce the LDL/bad cholesterol) vitamin E (anti-inflammatory and fights heart disease), the flavonoids anthocyanin & quercetin (fight inflammation, cancer and UTI’s), protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, iron (the last three help strengthen bones)

Pumpkin Seeds – protein, magnesium, zinc (immune booster), phytosterols (lowers cholesterol)

Chia Seeds – omega-3 oil (protects against stroke, heart disease and atherosclerosis), fiber (improved digestion), zinc, iron, vitamins B3, B2, B1, potassium, anti-oxidants (reduce free radicals which contribute to aging and cancer), the bone builders calcium, manganese, magnesium & phosphorous

Maca Powder – vitamins C, B2, B3, B6, calcium, iron, potassium (preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones), copper, manganese, phosphorous, amino acids, healthy fatty acids, protein, fiber

Cacao Powder – iron, magnesium (essential to brain function), fiber, anti-oxidants, calcium, copper, iron, zinc and potassium, oleic acid (good for heart health), fiber, vitamins E, B2, B1, B5, B3 and B9, theobromine (a mild stimulant that may help fight depression).