Pumpkin Smoothie

This smoothie was inspired by a post from Jenna who was talking about Caitlin and her pumpkin yogurt. Now I love to have low fat vanilla yogurt on a daily basis and while the Greek yogurt that they described looks great I think that it is just too expensive for the amount of yogurt I go through each week. I am a big believer in lots of protein each time I eat including snacks (and this is where yogurt really comes through for me).

So I thought ok pumpkin yogurt sounds interesting and I decided that on my next visit to the grocery store I would pick up some canned pumpkin. That would be easy right? Wrong — wouldn’t you know it when we went the next time they didn’t have any. I looked everywhere – in baking, canned vegetables and even in canned fruit. But none was to be found.  Penny even asked one of the store managers for me. It turns out there’s a pumpkin shortage???

Ok well by now my Type A personality starts to kick into high gear and I become obsessed with trying to find canned pumpkin. So on the way home we stop at the other grocery store in our small town… no luck. Then the next day I am still obsessing so I decide to try the big bad Walmart (ok it isn’t that big and bad but we don’t go there often). Still no luck!

So another couple of days go by and I am driving myself crazy (I probably drive Penny crazy on a daily basis). I am now craving pumpkin (yeah I know I have issues). So Penny tells me to try the local organic food store. Ah at last… success. So I am able to pick up a can of the orange gold (at almost $4 for a can) and I race home to give this a try. Ok it was worth the wait. It was out of this world.

So I continue to be on the lookout for pumpkin every single time I go into the grocery store and I even found myself looking at Target this past weekend when we went to the big mall about 45 minutes from us (like I said I have issues). I may have to check myself into one of those rehab places or maybe the family will have to do an intervention!

So after having this wonderful snack I decided that I wanted to try it as a smoothie. This is truly heaven.

What You’ll Need

• ¾ Cup of dry oatmeal
• ½ Cup of Canned Pumpkin
• ¼ Cup of Walnuts
• 2 Tbsp Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt
• 1 Tsp Flaxseed Meal
• 2 Tsp of your favorite Protein Powder
• Lots of Saigon Cinnamon (I figured that I easily added close to a tablespoon)
• 4 Ice Cubs

What to Do

1. This takes a bit of planning – make the oatmeal with water per the package instructions and then let cool for at least 30 minutes (this is the key)
2. Mix everything in the blender
3. Pour into a glass

Serves 1 Large or 2 Small

Nutritional Information (per serving):

If you know of any good pumpkin rehab centers please let me know.

Tagged as: canned pumpkin, obsession, Saigon cinnamon