Pumpkin Apple Smoothie ( Thanksgiving recovery)

I still can't believe it's already Turkey day. This year is flying by way too fast, as I'm sure they all do from here on out. I (like all of you) have many a thing to be thankful for this year, so I may as well go on ahead and give a cyber shout out too. 

- My family. They are just plain awesome. It's been such a joy to have my new niece Raegan in our lives now too, and I adore spending time with my nieces, spoiling them and getting them crazy hyped-up, and  teaching them all kinds of bad habits that aunts are supposed too. 

- My friends. What a special bunch of people I know! Hilarious, creative, talented,  and not to mention beautiful inside and out. And all the new friends I've made this year through my new jobs too, I've been pleasantly surprised to meet so many wonderful, compassionate people and feel fortunate to learn from their experiences while I forge my new career path.

- The fact that I am healthy, have a fridge full of food, a roof over my head, and so do all the people I care about. It is something I can never really stop thinking about, especially during the holidays, that so many people are without these things we take for granted while we bitch about inconsequential things.

-The future. As my boyfriend and I  prepare for another chapter in life on the horizon, I am thankful we're at this point. He is healthy again, I am done with school and have some stellar jobs that I love, and all the goals I wanted to reach at 30 are just beyond my fingertips.

I wanted to share a recipe I came up with while trying to find a use for a 1/2 cup of pumpkin I had left from my pies, and I decided to toss it in my smoothie. I figured I should make something healthy and filling to counteract all the food that will be consumed today.

Pumpkin Apple Smoothie

-1/4 cup pumpkin

-1/2 apple

-1/3 cup almond milk ( any liquid or milk will work)

-1 T. ginger root

- 1/2 t. cinnamon

-1 T. honey or agave nectar to make it vegan

Directions: In blender combine all ingredients and pulse until desired consistency.

A Creamy and spicy concoction, and full of Vitamins C and A, this smoothie is as healthy as it is tasty! A good way to use up random bits of pumpkin leftover from your cooking. Also a good way to kick off the season of excess, by slipping in those healthy foods to fill you up, and let you feel justified in enjoying sweet holiday treats that will be steadily making their way into your mouth for the next two months in moderation, which is no easy task!