Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake

This winter I have discovered my love for all things pumpkin! Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin oatmeal and recently my pumpkin protein shake! This has quickly become my new favorite post workout shake. It is a great departure from berries and truly tastes like pumpkin pie! It is rich,sweet and creamy but low in sugar and totally healthy! I find butternut squash is better at being a pumpkin then pumpkin itself! Fresh pumpkin puree is often bland and doesn't live up to the canned stuff.

Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake:

1 cup unsweetened almond or brazil nut milk
1/2 cup pumpkin or butternut squash puree, frozen
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop vanilla or chocolate whey protein
1/2 tsp honey (optional)

Put all ingredients in the blender. Blend on slow speed. Stop and blend again.

Note: My favorite combination is fresh brazil nutmilk, butternut squash puree and chocolate whey protein. Add a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder for an extra chocolatey treat!

To make your own puree:

Preheat the oven to 350. Cut pumpkin or squash in half. Place cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes. When the squash is cool enough to handle remove the seeds, scoop out the flesh and place in a strainer for 10-15 minutes, this removes the excess water. Transfer the puree into food processor. I then like to divide up the puree into 1/2 cup servings and freeze.

Home Made Nut Milk

Nut milks are a delicious dairy free "milk" made from ground nuts. They are easy to make, high in protein and totally nutritious. These days you can find nut milk on the shelves of any health food store but homemade nut milk is a real treat! Since they are fresh and lack preservatives they only last about 3 days. You will need a nut bag or you can line a strainer with a doube layer of cheesecloth.

basic nut milk recipe:

1 cup almonds or brazil nuts, soaked over night

4 cups water

1 TBSP lecithin

pinch of celtic sea salt

2 TBSP honey- sweeten to taste

(I usually make mine unsweetened and then add it later on depending on the use.)

Put the almonds and water in a blender. Blend on high speed for 2 minutes. Strain reserving the "meat." Return the liquid into the blender and add the rest of the ingredients. Blend again.

Variations:

• add vanilla bean or extract for vanilla flavored nut milk

• add cocoa powder for a healthy version of chocolate milk

Green Detox Smoothie

A few summers ago I spent some time in Boulder Colorado. I was fortunate enough to work with a chef who specialized in cleansing, detoxing and raw foods. This recipe is for a Green Detox Smoothie. A deliciously healthy, filling smoothie perfect for breakfast. I think the cardamom and cinnamon is what make this smoothie truly special.

Green Detox Smoothie- adapted by Eloise Nelson

1-2 servings

1 Banana- frozen
1 Pear (any kind, however ripe Bosc pears are delicious-cut into
chunks with skin on )
1 Apple (Fuji apples are great for this recipe, cut them into chunks)
2 T. Chia seeds (rounded)
1 T. Coconut oil (rounded)
Water to cover
1 tightly packed cup of Spinach (baby pre-washed is easy to use)
3 large sprigs dinosaur Kale
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cardamom

Place cut up fruit into the blender. Cover with water and add the
Chia seeds. Blend until smooth. Allow mixture to sit for
approximately 5 minutes while the chia seeds gel and are absorbed into
the liquid. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.