Hello November, what a wonderful time of year! I am always so thankful for the opportunity to visit with family and friends, enjoy fabulous (mostly healthy) food and soak up the spirit of the upcoming holidays. But, to be honest, things get crazy up in the Fisher house by mid-November. School and extra-curricular activities are in full swing, meaning band concerts, sports banquets, robotics competitions, community volunteer opportunities, and more – whew! Oh, and did I mention I am running the San Antonio Half Marathon (Nov 17) and Dallas Marathon (12/8)? Through all of this, I’m also keeping up with my CrossFit — some days I just feel like I’m barely hanging on!
Some days I’m barely hanging on!
So, when I start going crazy in the mom brain, I want to reach out and grab something immediately comforting for breakfast, something like Fruit Loops or cinnamon rolls or (still being honest here) my kids’ Halloween candy. But, I know starting the day off with a carbohydrate sugar bomb makes me feel even more tired and crazy, so I try to switch my focus to protein. Starting the day off with about 25 grams of quality protein just makes me feel better, perform better and curbs between meal snacking. But, sometimes the thought of eggs yet again (although I love them) doesn’t sound so appealing compared to something like my favorite dessert. . . . apple pie!
So, why not a smoothie with the flavor of apple pie a la mode? And, why not add a little caffeinated tea to help me tackle the day? Yesterday, I whipped up a Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie that satisfied all my morning requirements – easy, sweet and protein-packed. I tried out the recipe in the Single Serve Travel Blender Hamilton Beach sent me to test for their #smoovember promotion.
Enjoying a smoothie straight out of the blender jar. Yay, one less glass to wash!
This little blender is pretty cool; you can mix up a 14-ounce smoothie and drink it straight from the jar. That means, if you’re in a rush, you can mix up your favorite elixir and head on your way, snippity-snap. You’re not going to spill any smoothie in the car or subway thanks to the tight-fitting lid with slide-shut opening. Plus, it’s so light and compact; I’d even consider packing it in a suitcase along with my tub of protein powder for a weekend getaway. At less than 20 bucks (at Target), this blender would make an affordable holiday gift for any fitness fan on your list.
Not only am I giving away one of these Single Serve Travel Blenders courtesy of Hamilton Beach and #smoovember, but I also get to treat one of you lucky readers to its super-sized sibling – the Smoothie Smart™ Blender. The 40-ounce capacity blender is perfect when I’m making more than one smoothie at a time. One of the neatest features is the 45-second smart blending cycle that is pre-programmed with the exact number of pulses and speeds needed to whip up the perfect smoothie. And, at the end of the cycle, it shuts off automatically – perfect for this easily distracted mom. Another perk, the no-mess spout means that my countertops stay clean when serving it up into glasses.
I’m including my recipe for Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie, you’re going to love it – and you’re going to love it even more in one of these new blenders! You know, Hamilton Beach has been making blenders for over 100 years and they really know what works best! Don’t forget to enter my giveaway at the bottom of the post.
Pick-Me-Up Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe
- 3 ounces water
- 1 cinnamon tea bag
- 1 medium apple, peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- Dash sea salt
- 4 ounces vanilla almond milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (“scoop” varies by brand)
- A few ice cubes
- Optional Garnish: dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon
In mug, boil water in microwave. Let tea bag steep for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place apple slices in a microwave-safe dish and stir in brown sugar, spices and dash of salt. Microwave mixture on high for 3 to 4 minutes; stopping once to stir. Stick in freezer to cool for a few minutes.
Remove tea bag from mug and add almond milk to help cool liquid.
Add tea-milk mixture, apples and protein powder to blender jar. Pulse mixture until smooth.
Add ice cubes and continue pulsing to achieve the desired consistency. Garnish with a little dollop of whipped cream and cinnamon for an extra treat.
Yield: 1 smoothie
Tip: I often steep the tea and cook the apples the night before, so they are already chilled for the morning. Also, you can make a warm smoothie by omitting the ice cubes and an ounce or two of liquid. Sounds weird, but it’s really good – like drinking pie! However, NEVER make the smoothie with very HOT ingredients, this can be dangerous – the lid can fly off or the glass can crack and explode.
