The Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie: My Most Cherished Holiday Recipe

A quick peek into the internet will reveal that I am not the first person to think of this concoction, but I’m proud to say I figured the recipe out on my own. I love pumpkin pie, but - for health reasons - it’s not something I’m comfortable eating outside of the context of one or two joyful and family-filled meals. So I applied a food hack. It’s my favorite hack, one in which I try to replicate a classic craving with a healthier set of ingredients, all without sacrificing on taste. Not all attempts of this nature pan out, but this one is possibly top of the list in terms of being able to satisfy the pumpkin pie craving. 

What I love about this recipe

Sometimes we share recipes that are just good enough. Not every recipe we share is a show stopper. But I’m telling you, between taste, time and health benefits, this smoothie is a true show stopper. Here’s a bit more on why. 

• Sneaky veggies. With frozen rice cauliflower and a healthy dose of pumpkin puree, this smoothie makes me feel so good about my first meal of the day. Vegetables are full of fiber (which keeps you full) and critical micronutrients that contribute to all aspects of our bodily and mental health. One cup of raw cauliflower offers 77% of your daily vitamin C needs, which is an antioxidant that tamps down inflammation. One cup of pumpkin lends 200% of your daily vitamin A needs, which can help strengthen your body’s immune system. 

• Prebiotics & probiotics. With both fibrous elements (banana, cauliflower, pumpkin, & chia) and probiotic elements (greek yogurt, Orgain protein powder), this smoothie specifically supports your gut microbiome health by creating conditions in which there are a variety of good bacteria supplied by the probiotics and plenty of fiber for them to munch on by way of the prebiotic ingredients. 

• Satisfying mouthfeel. Since this recipe replaces the traditional butter/oil of a pumpkin pie with almond butter, you still get the creamy/smooth mouthfeel that makes the dish feel rich and decadent. 

• No added sugar. Unlike many smoothies that call for honey or even dates, this smoothie is perfectly sweetened by just banana & clean protein powder.

• Contains pumpkin pie spice! Need I say more? I supposed if you didn't know me in college, when I purchased and parked my own bottle of pumpkin pie spice in the shared sorority kitchen to sprinkle on my coffee and yogurt every morning, you might not know that I am obsessed with putting pumpkin pie spice on all things, not just pumpkin pie. This recipe lends itself especially well to the habit. 

• Fast as heck. This recipe takes 10 minutes to make, drink & clean up. It’s perfect for the days when you don't need breakfast to be an affair. Which, realistically, is every day, but I tend to make feeding myself an unnecessary affair too frequently. 

How to make my pumpkin smoothie

Equipment: Nutri Ninja or other high powered blender (you can use a traditional blender, but you’re unlikely to get an ultra creamy consistency) 

Ingredients: 

• 1 banana, frozen 

• ½ cup riced cauliflower, frozen  

• ½ cup pumpkin puree, canned

• ¼ cup greek yogurt 

• 1 tablespoon almond butter 

• 1 cup almond milk (cold water works, too!) 

• 1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder

• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional) 

We love Orgain plant-based protein powder for this recipe.

Directions: 

• If you’re using a Ninja or another blender that is flipped over while blending, add ingredients to the blender in the order they’ve been listed. It’s important that the heaviest items go on bottom (so they press everything down once flipped) and that you don’t pour in liquid after you’ve added powdered elements, like protein and spices (or they’ll get stuck to the top when you flip). 

• Blend using the Ninja’s “Auto” button.

• Pour into an 8oz glass, sprinkle with more pumpkin pie spice, and enjoy! 

It’s really that simple. I’m so excited to hear what you think and if you go on to make this for yourself. My gift to you this holiday season!! xx

Bali Travel Guide: What To Do In Uluwatu

Getting to Uluwatu

We got a private car from Padang Bai to Uluwatu for 300K rupiah by

Pro Tip: Do not accept the hotel’s transportation and find your own on the street.

Where to Stay in Uluwatu

When we arrived, we were so sad that it was our last night together. We were finally back in a true villa, the dream all along, at Bali Blue Homestay. We had a huge bedroom, extra random room, and a spacious bathroom, with a cute little terrace looking into the green grass courtyard with a bright turquoise pool in the middle. Heaven, we have arrived.

Bali Blue Homestay compound, complete with lush greens and a turquoise pool.

What to Eat in Uluwatu

First stop was lunch up the street at the most highly rated restaurant on Trip Advisor, Suka Espresso. The vibe is very trendy LA/Australian, and we ordered big chicken sandwiches with a bright pink dragonfruit smoothie. I love the color of dragonfruit smoothies :)

Dragonfruit smoothie and chicken sandwich from Sukka.

The outdoor patio at Sukka.

For dinner, we went to this epic-looking restaurant that had treehouses and whimsical decor called Dedari Theory. However, we quickly realized the place was all show and no substance. Strike one, we were the only ones there. Strike two, they were out of all the entrees I wanted AND Smirnoff Ice, Kevin’s super-masculine beverage of choice in Bali. Strike three, the food was meager, bland, and there was a bug on my plate. Would not recommend.

The only thing Dedari Theory is good for is a sweet IG pic. 

Things To Do In Uluwatu

We walked back to the hotel, where I plopped down at the pool to read and relax. Kevin took our new motorbike to cruise the streets.

For our evening activity, we hopped back on the bike and rode out to the Uluwatu Temple. We explored and, along with hoards of tourists, enjoyed the local monkeys and the views. The main event, the Kecak & Fire Dance, which takes place in a cliffside amphitheater inside the park, was spectacular.

It features a traditional Balinese storyline, costumes, and the illustrious men’s acapella group, but it's like nothing you’ve seen or heard before. Both getting into the park (30K rupiah) and buying a ticket to the show (100K rupiah) cost money, but the show is worth it all.

Sunset view for the Kecak dance in Uluwatu Temple.

The Kecak dance in action!

You will not regret seeing this show.

We drove back from the temple in the dark, which was a new and terrifying experience on a motorbike with windy roads.

Our last stop of the day was to be Single Fin, the famous beach bar overlooking the ocean, known for their Sunday night parties. On our way there, we encountered a monkey in a cage, and Kevin, a little tipsy off of Australian wine, sought to find a way to set the sad-looking monkey free.

What ensued was an incredibly terrifying altercation with the owner of the monkey, a shop-keeper’s wife who had imported the monkey from Sumatra to be her pet. In no uncertain terms, the woman said she would have her brothers, who apparently owned the line of shops along this dark, deserted street, "teach us a lesson" if we messed with her monkey again.

So that was fun. I basically was convinced for the rest of the night that the Balinese mafia would be finding and killing us in our sleep. To make matters worse, Single Fin was closed when we got there! On a Thursday! Bummer for our last night in Bali.

Pro Tip: Do not try to free random monkeys from cages, even if they look sad! 

Kev and I in our traditional garb, required for all to enter the Uluwatu Temple. 

Incredible cliffside views at Uluwatu Temple.

The next morning, we woke up early and Kev gave me a ride to Morning Light Yoga, which was easily one of my favorite experiences in Bali. It takes place in an open air hut within the Uluwatu Surf Villas, with a perfect view of the ocean and mats/blocks provided. At the end, you even get fresh coconut water served to you in its shell! Got to see more baby kittens here, too.

What Next? 

The day was a little awkward, because again Kevin and I were on separate flights, and mine wasn’t until 1:30 am that night. We had the day to spend together, but Kevin’s hotel was in Kuta. Since we were getting kicked out of our Uluwatu hotel at noon, we quickly went down to Padang Padang beach and spent an hour on the daybeds for rent. 

From there, it was off to Kuta again.