Last Fall, I taste tested over 100 pumpkin spice products, and while I can’t exactly say that I miss chomping my way through chalky yogurts and pumpkin spice kale chips like it’s my (literal) job, that epic undertaking taught me that this super-cozy spice blend shouldn’t be written off just because it’s mainstream. (I also confirmed my suspicions that many pumpkin spice products are comically bad.) I learned that when treated right, this basic bitch favorite essence of fall can shine.
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smoothies
Blueberry Banana Almond Smoothie
While I don’t dislike blueberries, they’re hardly my first choice given that they peak at the same time as watermelon, pluots, cherries, nectarines, blackberries, and many other far-more-exciting summer fruits. That is, unless we’re talking wild blueberries. Smaller, more-consistently flavorful, and mightily-tart, wild blueberries are like the burrata to conventional blueberries’ mozzarella; different and better. Sadly, like tart Montmorency cherries, they’re tricky to find fresh outside of their limited growing region, but don’t let that bum you out too much; these tiny orbs of tastiness are practically made to be frozen.
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Cherry Vanilla Smoothie
Typically, I prefer a hot breakfast — scrambled eggs or steel cut oatmeal with lots of fruit and nuts — but on extra-busy mornings, smoothies are just the thing. My only gripe: many don’t pack in enough fat and protein to satisfy my appetite until lunch. This cherry-vanilla shake is bulked up with tangy, probiotic-packed kefir, and, while a bit lighter than my other favorite smoothie (banana almond), it’s quite satiating. Plus, it’s quite the looker.
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