Nutritious Fall Snacks

I have posted in the past about my love for pumpkin spice lattes.  As much as I love them - I live in Georgia and the weather isn't always conducive to drinking hot coffee drinks.  October has been absolutely beautiful.  We have cool mornings and evenings and temperatures in the 70s during the afternoons.  No complaints from me - I love this weather.

I don't usually drink hot coffee drinks until the temperatures drop much lower but I've missed my lattes.  I decided to turn the flavors that I love in my pumpkin spice latte into a smoothie that I could enjoy now. 



Remember my vow to make more smoothies?  There is just something serene and relaxing about sipping a smoothie that is hard to describe.  I focus my life on good living and this vitamin and calcium packed smoothie is a great way to experience Fall, even when the weather is warm.

 

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
1/2 cup Fage yogurt
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup ice
1/2 cup apple cider






I put all of the ingredients in my smoothie blender and the result: a super yummy pumpkin spice smoothie.  I made this quick, healthy treat with ingredients that I already had on hand.  I sipped on it while I worked on my blog and this nutritious drink kept me energized and focused.  Good living means eating foods that are good for me but also taste good.


 
I've had so much fun coming up with new smoothie recipes.  Some were better than others but this one was exceptional.  If you have a great smoothie recipe - send it to me in a comment.   I am especially interested in finding great winter smoothie recipes. 


 
Since I always need something that I can bite into along with my smoothie, I also made a batch of cinnamon frosted pumpkin cookies.  I got the recipe from the blog "For the Love of Cooking".   




  



Cinnamon Frosted Pumpkin Cookies
2 cups flour                                         2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup whole wheat flour                1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon baking powder                1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda                 1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon salt                                 1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour, wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Cream butter, sugar and pumpkin pie spice.  Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients.

Drop onto baking sheets.  Bake 15 minutes at 350.

 
Cool on wire racks.

 

Cinnamon Icing
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
3-4 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon melted butter

Combine icing ingredients and spoon over cookies. 

These cookies were absolutely wonderful. Soft and moist and delicious. 







As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher program, I have been entered for the chance to win a trip to Greece courtesy of FAGE. You too can enter to win one of three trips to Greece by entering the FAGE Plain Extraordinary Greek Getaway here: http://www.fageusa.com/community/fage-greek-getaway.

Bon Appetit!