Pumpkin Pie Shake
Happy National Pumpkin Day! Belated. It was three days ago, and I started celebrating before, and ever since, with this cheerful sweetly spiced shake.
A backlog of recipes I've been wanting to share has been becoming a mountain. I've been swamped with work recently (and by swamped I mean an extra chore or two tipped the tenuous balance of my piece-meal jigsaw evolving with toddler sleep schedules and limited sitter hours).
I've been coming to realize the staple irony of the freelance life--the busiest times are compounded by looking ahead to potentially quiet ones. But the flexibility is a gem, and I'm being forced to finally truly internalize lessons I've tried to put into practice for what seems like forever: consider it a big, big win just striving to do a little bit better—not necessarily a little bit more— while bringing your best to the present moment. Breathe, and trust yourself to both be brave and know your limits.
I've had some absolutely infectiously joyful help learning lessons like this one. Like in Melissa's and my Healthy Plates class, recently. I wish I had a clip of them chatting this week over pumpkin chili prep. Elementary kids, so at ease with their wholesome ingredients, and with such a natural, in-the-moment flow. "Can you pass the nutmeg?" "More green pepper, please!" "I prefer the red pepper." Love, love.
And then, it goes without saying, there's my Little Monkey. Robot-building, strider-blazing Big Boy he may be, but he's still my Little Monkey. I have a feeling I’ll see that little monkey as long as I live, no matter how old we each grow.
A few notes, though, on this shake:
-Turmeric is optional, BUT I loooove adding the treasured Golden Root with all it’s anti-inflammatory benefits wherever I can.
-If you want to go further into that pumpkin pie feeling, add a litle splash of maple syrup or molasses. It’s not neccessary to be delicious, but it adds a layer of indulgence, subtle but special.
-Fresh ginger is optional, but I love that extra piquant pop.
-As you’ve seen by now, lots is optional! Toss in pecans or walnuts if you like. Change up the plant milks. Sneak in some oats or chia seeds. You do you, and happy Halloween!
Pumpkins boost happiness. :)
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened plant milk
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 banana, cut into chunks and frozen
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
- 3-4 ice cubes
- 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder, optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until reaching desired consistency. Enjoy!
Notes
Optional addends: 1 teaspoon maple syrup or molasses, 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, walnuts, and/or pecans