Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Bowl | Healthy Halloween Treat

I have one more pumpkin-flavored smoothie bowl for the Halloween season!  (But this pumpkin spice smoothie bowl will actually make a delicious breakfast all fall long).  Because I recently decided to do the Whole 30, which doesn't allow smoothies, this particular smoothie bowl was enjoyed by Hubby - I was so jealous!  It's such a delicious treat and a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit today (without downing a bag of mini peanut butter cups).

For the smoothie bowl, I mixed a cup of pureed pumpkin, a cup of unsweetened almond milk, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and half a frozen banana - add a splash more milk or frozen banana to control the consistency.  Pour into a bowl, pop into the freezer to firm up a bit while you chop up a peeled dragon fruit - love that black and white center - and then remove the smoothie bowl and dress with blackberries and the peeled dragonfruit.  I also sprinkled on some unsweetened shredded coconut and chia seeds for even more contrast and texture.

A Pyrex bowl in turquoise Butterprint is a must, I'm afraid - it has the perfect autumnal design and turquoise just makes food taste better.  That's a scientific fact - you can Google it ;)  

Bonus points for also wearing the matching t-shirt.  On the topic of setting the mood for Halloween, take a peek at this adorable black cat tea towel - so cute for Halloween and beyond.

I've said it before, but I just love the prettiness of smoothie bowls - it's such a lovely way to start the day!  Plus you can add any frozen fruits/veggies you wish - this is a great way to hide some carrots or spinach.  The latter might ruin the bright orange hue, but I often use smoothies for sneaking in some extra vegetables.



Well, I think that's probably my last smoothie or smoothie bowl recipe until spring!  Although we typically love smoothies and smoothie bowls all year long, this year they're predicting a winter with TONS of snow, so I think it's time for me to start sharing some warm and cozy foods to enjoy, curled up by a fire.  Time to get my Hygge on and create an equally beautiful, toasty warm breakfast...any ideas?

Have a Happy Halloween, everyone!

P.S. Click here for my pretty blue and orange layered smoothie bowl - an equally Halloweeny healthy treat! 

Pumpkin + Blue Majik Smoothie Bowl with a Halloween Vibe

Halloween is the worst time of year for me, for keeping my resolve about limiting my sugar intake.  I am not someone who can enjoy a little treat, here or there.  I'm already ashamed to admit that I bought some candy corn at the bulk store recently and, on the drive home from town (about an hour), ate it all.  Hubby was driving and kept trying to get the bag away from me, but I'm fairly certain I growled and just kept stuffing my face.

Giving up sugar is an ongoing battle for me.  Sometimes my cravings go away, but then sometimes they come back with a vengeance.  

I need to just stay away!  But it doesn't help me get into a festive mood when everyone else is enjoying colorful Halloween treats and I can't.  So I whipped up a garishly colorful smoothie bowl for myself that has SUCH a fun Halloween color palette - plus an season appropriate pumpkin-infused flavor - and this is helping me get into the spirit.



I complain bitterly on Instagram every year that I don't like fall.  I live for summer and loathe winter, so for me, fall signals the end of my favorite season and the beginning of another grueling six months of snow and ice.  Frankly, indulging at Thanksgiving dinner and binging on Halloween candy were the only things I enjoyed about the season!  But since cutting back on sugar - and losing 50 pounds - I am trying not to fall back on old habits.

Luckily it's been warm enough to keep enjoying a colder treat like this, but I'll need some cozier recipe ideas soon as the temperature drops...

I wanted to share, for anyone else who wants a Halloween treat but is trying to kick sugar.  I've shared some smoothie treats before, like my turquoise blue majik smoothie bowls and my layered smoothies, and I'm still a firm believer in the power of pretty food.  I want to eat good-for-me meals when they look enticing. 

Well, no packaged treat can compete with this beauty!

A spirulina infused base is a gorgeous blue-grey and a pumpkin top layer satisfies those fall munchies.  A punch of hot pink dragon fruit rind, blackberries and orange slices evoke such a Halloween treat color palette that eating this sweet smoothie bowl definitely takes the edge of those cravings.  Plus I feel better eating it!  I have no idea why I continue to crave foods that literally make me feel sick (like candy corn!).

Here's what you need to make this Halloween smoothie bowl:

• 2 small scoops Blue majik powder (optional - that's the blue hue, blueberries work too)
• 1 frozen, sliced banana
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tsp chia seeds (for topping)
• 1 tsp unsweetened shredded coconut (for topping)
• Sliced oranges, dragonfruit and blackberries (topping)

I still struggle with smoothie "recipes" because I'm more of a dump-in-what's-around kinds smoothie gal.  I'll add whatever fresh and frozen fruits I have on hand, plus spinach or other veggies. If I have Greek yogurt, I'll toss that in. For this recipe, I used my hand magic bullet to make two smoothies: the blue layer and the orange layer.  I used the largest cup for my bullet and this yielded four small smoothie bowls.

Blue Layer:

I mixed the banana, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/2 scoop protein powder together and added two small scoops of blue majik.  You want a really thick base, so if it's too runny add some more frozen banana.

I poured the blue layer into my bowls and popped them into the freezer for about 15 minutes so the layer could firm up - but not freeze - to support the second layer.  You can totally just add the second layer, but it will be a swirled effect, which is just as pretty and equally delicious.

Orange Layer:

I mixed the cup of pumpkin puree with a 1/2 cup of frozen peaches to keep the orange hue but add some more sweetness.  The other 1/4 cup of almond milk and 1/2 scoop of protein powder found their way into this half of the smoothie too.  You could also add some carrots for color but less fruit.

I removed the blue layer from the freezer and poured on the top layer.  For photos I popped it back into the freezer because I wanted it firm enough to support the fruity topping while I took photos but in real life you don't need to photograph your smoothie bowl a million ways so you can just top it and enjoy it right away!

I'll be sharing some more ideas for healthier treats that still feel spooky - and I'd love to hear your ideas!

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How to Make A Naturally Turquoise Smoothie Bowl

While others search for the meaning of life, I search for new ways to make my entire life turquoise.  Life is short, I just want to have fun.

After spotting some gorgeous turquoise tinted smoothies on Pinterest my curiosity was piqued, but I'm not a big fan of adding food coloring so I kept my enthusiasm in check - until I realized those turquoise smoothies and smoothie bowls were all natural!  Turns out they get their aqua hue from Blue Majik, an algae powder.

Of course I needed to try this magic blue powder out for myself!

I did a little experimenting with Blue Majik and realized that the key to getting a turquoise smoothie is to limit the ingredients.  My usual go-to smoothie ingredients (greens, scoop of peanut butter, frozen peaches, chocolate protein powder) turned the smoothie murky.  Blueberries plus Blue Majik made a crazy blue-grey hue that looked kinda like drinking concrete.

To get the best color, I used only white(ish) or clear ingredients: almond milk, vanilla protein powder, sliced banana, ice and Greek yogurt for a creamy and delicious protein shake that tasted great but didn't muddy the color.  A few scroops of Blue Majik created a soft turquoise hue - I have no idea how some people get those VIVID teal smoothies.  That's either a whole bottle of Blue Majik or some generous photo-shopping because this pale turquoise was the richest color I could achieve. 

I rarely measure a smoothie - I just add my frozen fruit, some peanut butter, some almond milk, some yoghurt (if I have it), some greens and then whirl in my blender until it's the right consistency, adjusting as a I go.  But for this one I put together some super scientific measurements to make two smoothies or smoothie bowls. 

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
• 2 generous dollops of Greek yogurt
• A handful of ice cubes
• 1 cup-ish of almond milk 
• 1-3 scoops of Blue Majik (the scoop it comes with)

 

Blend until creamy (I used my Magic Bullet for this so it's a magic smoothie through and through, haha).  Smoothie bowls are so good for using up random odds and ends from the fridge and freezer - and pantry!  Along with some fresh fruit, I topped mine with some leftover unsweetened shredded coconut, chocolate granola (purchased in a moment of weakness), and cocoa nibs. 

So what the heck is Blue Majik?

Blue Majik is an extract of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), a natural algae.  Apparently it supports healthy joints and helps prevent inflammation.  It's nutrient dense and so it's all the rage as a superfood.  I'm just in it for the turquoise, if I'm being honest!  

If you're curious about this magic powder, just note that the spirulina I linked to is the exact one I used and it has a blue tint.  There are others that are green, so if you're shopping for this at local health food stores, double check that it's blue.

Does Blue Majik Taste Weird?

I read some reviews that said it can taste fishy if used in high doses.  I tested up to three little scoops into a pair of smoothies with no funny taste but that's likely because I use a vanilla flavored protein powder and there was a whole banana in there too.  I don't recommend drinking it in water because then it will really taste gross, but blended into a delicious smoothie you can't taste it at all.

So pretty, right?

We've been enjoying blue smoothies and smoothie bowls lakeside and it just makes me smile to look down at a smoothie that matches the water!  You know I love a good looking smoothie and I'm still really enjoying making these pretty smoothie bowls because they make me slow down and savor.  Now that I've learned the secret to the magic turquoise smoothie, I feel that my smoothie repertoire is complete. 

But I still have lots of magic blue powder left, so I am seriously tempted to add this Blue Majik to everything - turquoise cheesecake, turquoise poppy seed loaf, turquoise icing...  This article has some great ideas.  I can't wait until the next dinner party I host or potluck I'm invited to.  Turquoise everything!!!

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Lake Life Lately: Smoothie Bowls for Summer

I could no longer resist the siren song of the gorgeous smoothie bowls I kept seeing on Instagram (and pinning on Pinterest) - I HAD to make my own!  Honestly, at first I thought they seemed like an epic waste of time but one lazy morning I felt like slowing things down even more so I assembled a pair of smoothie bowls for Hubby and I and it was such a perfect breakfast.  We chatted as we picked out toppings and lazily ate them, watching the lake.  It's a step up from the layered smoothies we've been enjoying.  Starting a day with a pretty (and delicious!) breakfast put me in such a good mood.  So now I'm hooked!  I made this smoothie bowl for SoFabFood so you can catch the recipe (and my trick for keeping the toppings from sinking) over there.

There's something about having a delicious breakfast waiting for me that makes dragging myself out of bed so much easier.  I need that extra motivation these days because I've been so swamped with work and life that some days I kind of need that kick in the pants to get moving!  I'll spill the beans soon, but right now my tired little brain is still processing everything... but a little bit of chocolate granola seems to help, haha. 

I just ordered a secret smoothie bowl ingredient to make the most lakehouse-worthy smoothie bowl imaginable and I can't wait to show off my creations!  Breakfast is definitely starting to be my favorite meal of the day.

Have you tried this food craze yet?  If you're feeling tempted, there are a ton of great books with delicious smoothie bowl recipe ideas:

Superfood Smoothie Bowls: Delicious, Satisfying, Protein-Packed Blends that Boost Energy and Burn Fat

200 Best Smoothie Bowl Recipes

Beautiful Smoothie Bowls: 80 Delicious and Colorful Superfood Recipes to Nourish and Satisfy

Yum!  Might be a nice idea to make one for Mom this weekend...

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How to Make a Layered Smoothie

Handy Hubby and I are smoothie OBSESSED.  In the summer months, it's an unwritten rule that we carry our smoothies out to the deck.  They're deck drinks.  In the winter, we still love a good smoothie but they're best enjoyed fireside, wearing thick socks and cozy sweaters.  Preferably under a blanket.  
 

To facilitate the smoothie obsession, we own three different blenders (because sometimes we want another smoothie while the first blender is still in the dishwasher - I kid you not), but I still pine for the Vitamix.  I've tried SO many different smoothie combinations, but I'm always on the look out for new smoothie ideas (pinned to both my "Breakfast + Brunch" and "Drinks" boards), although I rarely follow a recipe.  I like to make it up as I go and I mix it up a lot, depending on what's in the fridge and freezer - and how adventurous I'm feeling.  I've learned that smoothies are a great carrying agent for healthier fare like greens, whey protein powder, and flax seed.  I've also been getting pretty festive with my concoctions - I still salivate, just thinking about a pumpkin pie smoothie I made to help me get into the spirit of fall. 

Lately, though, I've been wanting to up my smoothie game.  After seeing some gorgeous layered smoothies on Pinterest, I wanted to give it a try!  There's a little trick, but otherwise it's actually really easy to make these multi-colored smoothies.

Here's the secret: pop the glasses in the freezer for about 15 minutes after pouring each layer.  You don't want the layers to be frozen solid, you just want them to morph into a slushier consistency to prevent the different colors from bleeding together.  Here's how I knew they were ready for the next layer: I shook the glasses a bit and if the smoothie sloshed around in the glass, it wasn't ready.  If it only jiggled a little, it was firm enough.  

Because of this extra step, layered smoothies are a tad more time consuming so they're not practical for a speedy workday morning, but for a lazy afternoon snack or Sunday brunch they're perfect!  Hubby and I loved how each layer had a subtle but distinct flavor, but you could definitely create wildly different layers for a unique taste experience.  The best part is how pretty they are, which I swear makes food even tastier.

Here are the three smoothie variations I layered together - I kept it very simple.  These measurements made two 16 oz. glasses, with a tiny bit left over for the chef.  Because I was making three mini-smoothies, I used my Nutri Bullet Blender, which was perfect for the job.

Layer One:
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup frozen raspberries
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 scoop protein powder

Layer Two:
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup frozen peaches
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 banana
1/2 scoop protein powder

Layer Three:
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup yogurt
1 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 scoop protein powder
1 tbsp flax seed

Sixteen other bloggers are sharing their smoothie recipes too, check them out: Simple Green Smoothies, Orange Carrot Smoothie, Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie, Peach Cobbler Smoothie, Tropical Smoothie, Simple Strawberry Smoothie, Orange Carrot Ginger Smoothie, Chamomile Blueberry and Peach Smoothie, Pineapple Spinach Smoothie, Lavender Smoothie, Green Detox Smoothie, Winter Citrus Smoothie, Chocolate Pea Protein Smoothie, and Tricks for a Healthier Smoothie.

This post was sponsored by Wayfair, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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