What You Need to Know About the Strike Against Marriott Hotels

By KAREN SCHWARTZ from NYT Travel https://ift.tt/2Q9Ce3o

7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies For Fall

A Sweet Pea Chef

7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies For Fall

Learn everything you need to know about make ahead smoothies, including how to freeze them for later, how to make healthy smoothies, and how long they last. Plus, enjoy these 7 easy make ahead smoothie recipes that are healthy, nutritious, and packed with Fall flavors.

Smoothies. Let’s discuss them.

Dustin and I love smoothies. Once we realized how easy it is to add fruits, veggies, and (probably most importantly) protein into our diets by making smoothies, we were hooked. We particularly love smoothies in the morning because they make a quick and easy breakfast. Not to mention a healthy and nutritious one, too!

Over time, I have experimented with various smoothie flavors and I have shared numerous smoothie recipes here on the blog. That’s because I wanted you to try all my easy smoothie recipes that make healthy smoothies for yourself. And you know I love to have options and to make healthy eating fun and yummy so, naturally, my smoothies had to have different flavors, textures, and colors to keep things interesting. And fun.

After a while, I discovered that make ahead smoothie recipes are a thing and that just sealed the deal for me. That’s when my freezer smoothie packs post was born. Not that it’s hard to prep a smoothie from scratch cause it definitely isn’t, but I just prefer to sleep in a little longer in the morning and to make sure I have everything on hand for a particular recipe. Also, I like my mornings easy and stress-free. That’s why I always have freezer smoothie packs in my freezer all the time. Turns out you can make things EVEN easier and I am super excited to share this with you.

And, since I’m a firm believer that you can never have enough make ahead smoothie recipes, I have 7 healthy smoothie recipes for you that are tasty and filled with cozy and comforting Fall flavors. These healthy smoothies are a huge hits in my house.

The best part about these smoothies? Actually, there are many best parts (duh!), but my favorite one is that you don’t have to do anything in the morning besides enjoying your smoothie. Nope, not even blending the ingredients.  Just grab and drink.  The only thing you gotta do is grab a smoothie of your choice from the freezer and place it in the fridge the night before.  When you’re ready to wake up and go, your smoothie will be waiting for you.

Yes, for realz.

Prep these healthy smoothies on Sunday and you’ll have a week worth of breakfast smoothies and, every morning, you’ll get to try a new flavor.

HOW TO MEAL PREP MAKE AHEAD SMOOTHIES

When it comes to smoothie meal prep, you have 2 options:

Smoothie Packs. To make the smoothie freezer packs, add all the ingredients except the milk to Ziploc bags and place the bags into the freezer. When you want to make a smoothie, transfer the ingredients from the frozen smoothie pack to a blender, add milk, and blend. It’s super easy. Make Ahead Smoothies. Remember how I told you that I want to make things even easier for you? Make ahead smoothies can be ready to grab in the morning. Literally. No blending, no extra ingredients required. Nothing. Just grab them from the fridge and enjoy.

Here’s how to prep make ahead smoothies:

Add all the ingredients needed for the smoothies to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the smoothie into a glass mason jar or another freezer-safe container and freeze. Remove the freezer smoothie pack jar from the freezer and place it into the fridge the night before you want to enjoy it. In the morning, just open the fridge and enjoy your Fall-flavored Make Ahead Smoothie.

Wait! Can you freeze smoothies? For real? Yes, for real. You can do this with all the make ahead smoothie recipes included here. Told you that you can make your smoothie meal prep easier.

ARE SMOOTHIES HEALTHY?

Smoothies are very popular these days. They are served everywhere – at restaurants, at coffee places, and you can buy ready-to-drink smoothies from the grocery store. You can even buy frozen smoothie packs from the grocery store. But the most important question is – are smoothies healthy? The answer? It depends. Some are, some aren’t.

The store-bought smoothies can be high in calories and, despite the “no added sugar” label, they can be very high in sugars and not very healthy. That’s because instead of using only whole fruits to make the smoothie, stores add processed fruit juice. And, while a healthy smoothie is high in fiber and nutrients, those ones aren’t.  Instead, you’re mostly getting empty calories from all the sugar and without any of the benefits of the fruit or vegetable.

Smoothies made of whole fruits and/or whole veggies are nutritious and packed with vitamins and minerals, on the other hand. If you want to be sure you buy a healthy smoothie, check the ingredients list. Fruits, veggies, milk, and spices should be the only main ingredients.

Better yet, make healthy smoothies at home. You saw how easy it is to make smoothie packs so go for it! You have control over the ingredients and flavors if you make your very own freezer smoothie packs at home.  You get to control all the flavors that way, too!

THE BENEFITS OF ALMOND MILK

Like I mentioned earlier, I like unsweetened almond milk in my smoothies because I love the nutty flavor and smooth texture of almond milk but, for these freezer smoothie packs, you can use any milk you prefer. Just make sure the milk is unsweetened to make the smoothies healthy.

If you’re curious about the benefits of almond milk, here they are:

Unsweetened almond milk is…

low in calories; rich in minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin E; contains healthy fats; dairy free; vegan. CAN YOU FREEZE SMOOTHIES?

How awesome is it that you can freeze smoothies? Super awesome, am I right?!?

Here’s how to freeze smoothies and how to store smoothies in the freezer:

After you made the smoothie, transfer it to a glass mason jar; Make sure you don’t fill the mason jars all the way to the top because the smoothies will expand as they freeze. Place them into the freezer to freeze.

That’s it. That’s all you have to do.

HOW LONG DO SMOOTHIES LAST?

If you’re wondering how long do smoothies last in the freezer, the answer is up to 3 months.

In the fridge, smoothies last for approximately 24 hours. They can last for 2 days but to ensure maximum nutrition, flavor, and freshness, I recommend enjoying the smoothie during the first 24 hours after you remove it from the freezer.

FALL SMOOTHIES INGREDIENTS

Alright, I hope you’re convinced now that prepping smoothies at home and testing easy smoothie recipes is the way to go. Glad to hear it. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at this smoothie ingredients list.

To make healthy smoothies, you’ll need:

milk of choice (I prefer unsweetened almond milk, but any milk will do) spices for added flavor fruits, veggies and/or nuts protein powder (optional, but a great way to add in extra protein)

I like to use seasonal ingredients in my smoothies so here’s my list of Fall smoothie ingredients:

pumpkin apple cranberry cinnamon sweet potato butternut squash pecans walnuts

With these ingredients I made 7 delicious make ahead smoothie recipes you can enjoy throughout the whole season.  Here they are!

7 MAKE AHEAD SMOOTHIES FOR FALL Pumpkin Cheesecake Smoothie

This Pumpkin Cheesecake Smoothie has amazing pumpkin spice flavors combined with delicious cheesecake flavors. Get the recipe here!

Apple Crisp Smoothie

The best way to enjoy apple crisp this Fall? This Apple Crisp Smoothie that is healthy, filling, and nutritious.

Apple Crisp Smoothie

The best way to enjoy apple crisp this Fall? This Apple Crisp Smoothie that is healthy, filling, and nutritious.

1 apple, (diced) 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1/3 cup rolled oats, (uncooked) 1 tbsp almond butter 1/2 tsp cinnamon 2 dates

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour smoothie into a freezer-safe container or 16-oz. mason jar and seal tightly. Do not fill all the way to the top, as the contents will expand when they freeze.

Place in the freezer and let freeze. When ready to enjoy, remove the smoothie from the freezer the night before you’re wanting to enjoy it and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. It will be ready for you when you wake up. Will last in freezer for up to 3 months.

Cranberry Apple Pecan Smoothie

Another delicious apple smoothie you should try this Fall is this Cranberry Apple Pecan Smoothie made with apple, cranberries, and pecans. Plus a touch of maple syrup for sweetness and cinnamon and ginger for amazing Fall flavors.

Cranberry Apple Pecan Smoothie

Another delicious apple smoothie you should try this Fall is this Cranberry Apple Pecan Smoothie made with apple, cranberries, and pecans. Plus a touch of maple syrup for sweetness and cinnamon and ginger for amazing Fall flavors.

3/4 cup fresh cranberries ((1/2 cup frozen)) 1/2 apple, (diced) 1 tbsp raw pecans 1 tbsp pure maple syrup 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 tsp hemp hearts 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp ground ginger

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour smoothie into a freezer-safe container or 16-oz mason jar and seal tightly. Do not fill all the way to the top, as the contents will expand when they freeze.

Place in the freezer and let freeze. When ready to enjoy, remove the smoothie from the freezer the night before you’re wanting to enjoy it and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. It will be ready for you when you wake up. Will last in freezer for up to 3 months.

7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies For Fall

Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Smoothie

Did you ever try a sweet potato smoothie? If you did, you know how good it is. If you didn’t, start with this Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Smoothie. It’s so YUMMY.

Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Smoothie

Did you ever try a sweet potato smoothie? If you did, you know how good it is. If you didn’t, start with this Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Smoothie. It’s so YUMMY.

1/4 cup cooked sweet potato 1 tbsp pure maple syrup 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 tbsp almond butter 1/2 banana 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp ground ginger

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth. Pour smoothie into a freezer-safe container or a 16-oz mason jar and seal tightly. Do not fill all the way to the top, as the contents will expand when they freeze. Place in the freezer and let freeze. When ready to enjoy, remove the smoothie from the freezer the night before you’re wanting to enjoy it and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. It will be ready for you when you wake up. Will last in freezer for up to 3 months.

Cinnamon Butternut Date Smoothie

Butternut squash is Fall-perfect. So I made a Cinnamon Butternut Date Smoothie. I would have this smoothie all day, every day during Fall.

Cinnamon Butternut Date Smoothie

Butternut squash is Fall-perfect. So I made a Cinnamon Butternut Date Smoothie. I would have this smoothie all day, every day during Fall.

1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 cup cooked butternut squash, (diced (fresh or frozen)) 3 dates, (pitted) 1 tbsp chia seeds 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 tsp ground cloves

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth. Pour smoothie into a freezer-safe container or a 16-oz mason jar and seal tightly. Do not fill all the way to the top, as the contents will expand when they freeze. Place in the freezer and let freeze. When ready to enjoy, remove the smoothie from the freezer the night before you’re wanting to enjoy it and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. It will be ready for you when you wake up. Will last in freezer for up to 3 months.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Smoothie

How to make oatmeal raisin cookies healthy? Transform them into a delicious Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Smoothie and enjoy it guilt-free.  Get the recipe here!

Banana Bread Smoothie

Made with banana, rolled oats, and walnuts, this Banana Bread Smoothie is filling, satisfying, and perfect for a Fall breakfast.

Banana Bread Smoothie

Made with banana, rolled oats, and walnuts, this Banana Bread Smoothie is filling, satisfying, and perfect for a Fall breakfast.

1 ripe banana ((fresh or frozen)) 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk 1/4 cup rolled oats, (uncooked) 1 tbsp raw walnuts ((or pecans, can also be left out if you don't like nuts)) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth. Pour smoothie into a freezer-safe container or a 16-oz mason jar and seal tightly. Do not fill all the way to the top, as the contents will expand when they freeze. Place in the freezer and let freeze. When ready to enjoy, remove the smoothie from the freezer the night before you’re wanting to enjoy it and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. It will be ready for you when you wake up. Will last in freezer for up to 3 months.

3 MORE HEALTHY SMOOTHIE RECIPES

How are you liking these easy smoothie recipes? I hope you like them a lot because I have more healthy smoothie recipes for you. As I said, you can ever have enough healthy smoothie recipes.

14 SMOOTHIE FREEZER PACKS

If you want to learn how to make smoothie packs, my Smoothie Freezer Packs post has all the answers and the tips you need.

Bonus – you get 14 fruit smoothie recipes including cherry vanilla, chocolate banana peanut butter, strawberry cheesecake, avocado kale, PB&J, coffee bean, orange creamsicle, kiwi kale, blueberry muffin, pink powder, spiced jar, caramel apple, mango green, blackberry coconut. Get the recipes.

PINK PROTEIN BEET SMOOTHIE

This Pink Power Protein Beet Smoothie makes the most gorgeous smoothie ever. This smoothie is pink and nutritious goodness.

This easy smoothie recipe makes a vibrant, satisfying, and sweet smoothie that is perfect for a quick breakfast or a quick snack. Get the recipe.

KIWI AND KALE SMOOTHIE

Another easy smoothie recipe is the recipe that makes this Kiwi And Kale Smoothie.

The smoothie is green, fresh, and vibrant. And, of course, healthy and nutritious. Get the recipe.

 

This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

The post 7 Easy Make Ahead Smoothies For Fall appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.

Minimalist Baker

Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto

When you’re craving carbs and comfort, risotto is your dish. We’ve made risotto a couple times for the blog before and you all seem to love it. So, with my newfound love for caramelized mushrooms, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to serve up a new spin on risotto. Shall we?

The base for this 10-ingredient, 30-minute recipe starts with warmed vegetable broth, which you can make yourself (for the win), or just grab some store-bought (our favorite brand is Imagine).

Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto from Minimalist Baker →

Ambitious Kitchen

Golden Coconut Chicken Lentil Soup

Wonderful golden chicken lentil soup made with creamy light coconut milk, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and cumin. Delicious flavors; this soup will be your new favorite! It’s Halloween! If you’re #adulting like me, then you most likely are just hanging out at home and eating Reese’s peanut butter cups straight from the fridge. Don’t forget I [...]

The post Golden Coconut Chicken Lentil Soup appeared first on Ambitious Kitchen.

A Couple Cooks

12 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

These healthy pumpkin recipes are total crowd pleasers: from dessert recipes like oatmeal cookies to main dishes like pumpkin gnocchi and stuffed shells!

Are you a pumpkin fan? Even if your answer is no, you might enjoy some of these healthy pumpkin recipes! Because pumpkin puree is doesn’t have a distinct flavor, it can be used in many different ways without tasting overly pumpkin-y. It makes a fantastic substitute for egg in our vegan pumpkin oatmeal cookies, and a creamy, cheesy pasta sauce in our pumpkin penne. Of course, we’ve also got pumpkin dessert recipes: but not the traditional pumpkin pie! Try our healthy pumpkin parfaits with pecan granola or pumpkin mousse shooters. In all cases, healthy means made with real, whole food ingredients that are full of nutrients.

Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Let’s start with these chewy pumpkin oatmeal cookies,  one of our most popular pumpkin dessert recipes! The flavor is reminiscent of oatmeal cream pies, but a healthier spin. Though they might not qualify as a health food, they can fit into the healthy definition since they’re made with nutrient dense rolled oats and are plant based. Made with coconut oil instead of butter, they’re topped with a powdered sugar icing. Omit the icing if you’d prefer less sugar, and they’re just as good!

Pumpkin Gnocchi Bake with Goat Cheese

Here’s our personal favorite of these pumpkin recipes: our pumpkin gnocchi bake! It’s got a savory pumpkin sauce made creamy with a little Greek yogurt. Doughy gnocchi pillows are baked in the sauce along with gooey goat cheese. It’s probably one of the coziest comfort foods we’ve baked up, and it consistently gets rave reviews! Last year we served this as a vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe and it very quickly disappeared.

Pumpkin Yogurt Fruit Dip

This one’s the simplest of the pumpkin recipes in this list: in just 5 minutes, you can make a killer fruit dip that’s pumpkin spiced! Just stir together Greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and some pumpkin spices, and you’re in business! Served with sliced green apples, it’s a tangy and delicious snack. We’ve served it at fall parties and book clubs and it’s the perfect fall treat.

Penne with Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

So remember that pumpkin gnocchi bake? This pasta uses the same pumpkin sauce, but this time pairs it with penne pasta and Parmesan cheese. It cooks up in just 30 minutes and tastes like a sophisticated take on mac and cheese. Said one reader: “You NAILED IT! The whole family loved this pasta dish. So creamy and flavorful!” That’s what we like to hear.

Pumpkin Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

This one is our most popular of these healthy pumpkin recipes: pumpkin baked steel cut oatmeal! It tastes like pumpkin pie—really!—but is made of steel cut oats. Who doesn’t want to eat pumpkin pie for breakfast? It’s also fairly healthy, with a minimal amount of maple syrup as a natural sweetener, it’s a nice gluten-free whole grain option for mornings.

Pumpkin Vegetarian Stuffed Shells

Vegetarian stuffed shells are always a crowd pleaser: especially when they’ve got pumpkin inside! This pumpkin recipe has pumpkin puree mixed with ricotta and fresh sage as the filling for these jumbo shells. Bake them, topped with gooey cheese, in a quick marinara sauce and you’re in business.

Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze

These vibrant pumpkin scones are made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spices, making them the perfect flaky, cozy biscuit for cool mornings or tea times! The topping is a maple cream, maple that’s heated until it becomes creamy and concentrated. You can make them without the glaze for a healthier treat, or use the glaze from the pumpkin cookies above.

Healthy Pumpkin Mousse Shooters

Instead of pumpkin pie, why not…a pumpkin shot glass dessert? This unique take on pumpkin pie makes the filling into vegan pumpkin mousse made by whipping coconut milk. And let’s just forget the crust: serving the pumpkin mousse in shot glasses topped with pumpkin seeds is cuter and easier!

Pumpkin Parfaits with Pecan Granola

In our list of pumpkin dessert recipes, this one’s a keeper! Greek yogurt that’s lightly sweetened with maple syrup is layered with a pumpkin filling made of pumpkin puree, pumpkin spices and mascarpone cheese. Add a bit of pecan skillet granola, whipped up in just 10 minutes in a skillet, and you’re in business. This one also works as a healthy breakfast or fall brunch recipe.

Easy Pumpkin Hummus

Have you tried pumpkin hummus? If you’re a pumpkin fan, this one’s worth a try. It takes just a few minutes to whip up, and adding pumpkin puree makes it extraordinarily creamy. Don’t worry, in contrast to some of the other pumpkin recipes this one’s got no pumpkin spices! It’s strictly savory: serve with pita chips for a tasty fall snack.

Pumpkin Spice Fruit and Nut Bars

Speaking of snacks, these pumpkin spice fruit and nut bars are a healthy snack fit for fall. Made of Medjool dates, cashews, and pumpkin spices, they’re full of protein and flavor. Make up a batch and keep them handy for when a craving hits.

Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple Mascarpone

To round out our healthy pumpkin recipes are these pumpkin pancakes! When Alex and I breakfast, we like oat pancakes: they’re made almost fully of oat flour, they’re heartier and more filling than the typical pancake. These oat pancakes are made with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spices, and for a little flair: a dollop of mascarpone cheese mixed with maple syrup. You can omit the topping for a healthier take and go with just a drizzle of real maple syrup: these pumpkin pancakes can hold their own.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes for Healthy & Whole Living

Cookie and Kate

What to Cook This November

We’re just one Halloween away from November! Cooler evenings call for cozy fall comfort foods and roasted veggies, so I’m stocking up on winter squash, sweet potatoes and hardy greens. What are you craving this fall?

I’m finalizing several new recipes that I’m super excited about. I can’t wait to share them with you. For now, I’m sharing some links that I’ve found helpful or interesting lately, and a whole slew of seasonal recipes to cook up in November. Here we go!

Links lately:

My nutritionist friend Leigh is launching a free email series to help you have a healthy holiday season! (“Prepare, not repair.”) How Time Batching Will Change The Way You Work This is cute: A Secret to a Happy Marriage I answered some fun questions on OKC Veggie It’s about that time of year: Eczema 101 Shared from a sitting position: The Health Hazards of Sitting Do good with your Friendsgiving by fundraising for No Kid Hungry Completely obsessed with Everlane’s new affordable stretch jeans (affiliate link—I have them in both dark wash blue and washed black and they never bag out!) Apples

Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Gluten free and vegan (see notes)

“We made the apple oatmeal on this cool morning here in Kansas…and it was perfect. Topped it with some almond butter and a swirl of maple syrup. My 3 year old ate most of my portion along with his. So, kid friendly, as well! Another recipe well done!” – Jamie

More apple recipes »
Continue to the recipe...

The post What to Cook This November appeared first on Cookie and Kate.