Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie

The past couple of weeks have been pretty crazy at our house. With a teething baby and little sleep, this momma is tired. We've been lucky if I even MADE dinner let alone come up with some new recipes to share with you. Thankfully over the weekend, with the hubster home, I had a little more energy and a desire to whip up this delicious smoothie I found several months back. The great thing is that I got this particular recipe from a dairy free website. It's been one of the best websites I have found since having to cut out the cow's milk. I highly recommend you to check it out at www.godairyfree.org. You can find the recipe I'll share with you today here. I did make a few changes to lessen the sugar and add a little more flavor from the spices. I think you'll like it! My crew sure did.

Don't you just love his cute little farmer's tan??

This is a Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie. Yes.. I did just put "pie" and "smoothie" in the same sentence. Who could say no to a delicious smoothie that tastes like pie??

I was curious what the technical difference was between a smoothie and shake since the name of the original is called a "healthy shake", and I personally would consider this to be a smoothie. Shakes taste good, but are NOT good for you while smoothies are generally packed full of great vitamins and nutrients. So I did what any curious person would do, and I googled it.

This is what I found: Smoothies typically are high in carbs but have a relatively low fat content -- unless high-fat ingredients like peanut butter are added. Smoothies are sometimes thought of as healthy alternatives to shakes, since they're often made from real fruit and a low-fat or protein-rich base, but those made from fruit-based ice creams or sherbets, juices and syrups can rack up over a thousand calories and feel more like a splurge than a diet drink. Milkshakes, on the other hand, normally contain a large amount of saturated fat and higher calories than smoothies. Even though they're loaded with sugar, however, they have a good amount of calcium and protein. (http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/difference-between-shake-smoothie-28382.html)

 A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce. Outside the United States, the drink is sometimes called a thickshake or a thick milkshake or in New England, a frappe, to differentiate it from other less-viscous forms of flavored milk. A smoothie is a blended and sometimes sweetened beverage made from fresh fruit (fruit smoothie) and in special cases can contain chocolate or peanut butter. In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit, honey or contain syrup and ice ingredients. They have a milkshake-like consistency that is thicker than slush drinks. They can also contain milk, yogurt or ice cream.(http://www.honeybellscookery.com/2012/05/milkshake-vs-smoothie-whats-difference.html) 

Anyways...this is the reason I named this tasty "dessert/snack/sweet treat just because" the Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie because to me this fruit filled, low sugar, low fat, and healthy drink is a perfectly cold summer alternative to those calorie laden, sugar filled, make you sick to your stomach shakes. Enjoy and please let me know what you think about this recipe!

Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie
(Can be gluten free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, Vegan, Vegetarian)
Serves 2 (makes 1 cup each)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cooked, pureed or mashed sweet potato*
• 1 medium semi-ripe banana, broken into chunks (will work if frozen or fresh)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened milk and 1/2 cup water (I use almond milk, but any will do)
• 1/2 tbs ground flaxseed
• 1 tbs vanilla flavoring or extract
• Sprinkle of nutmeg, for garnish
• Whipped coconut cream or whipped cream, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Blend the first 5 ingredients until smooth. You shouldn't need more liquid, but if too thick add a little more milk and blend again.
2. Poor into 1 cup of smoothie into two separate cups. 
3. Sprinkle some nutmeg on the top (and cream if using). 
4. Drink and Enjoy!

Notes:

*To prepare sweet potato bake in the oven at 350F degree for 90 minutes wrapped or covered with tin foil until very soft. Let potato cool so not to burn yourself. Scoop the inside out and eat or discard the skin. My blender is not great so I puree my sweet potato. You can also mash it. I usually do this step the day before and place the prepared sweet potato in the fridge until I'm ready to use it. Can also use it right away. 

Nutrition Facts:

(1 cup smoothie)

Cals-150, Fat-2g, Carbs-34g, Fiber-5g, Sugar-11g, Pro-2.5g