Spiced Oatmeal Smoothie

It's my favorite time of year again, folks! When the mornings and nights are crisp and cool and I want to throw apples, pumpkin and cinnamon into everything.

Without going pumpkin spice crazy, this smoothie is the perfect welcome to Autumn! And it fills up your tummy.

Recipe adapted from Refinery29.

Ingredients:
1 packet of Quaker's Banana Nut Oatmeal
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup honey Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting
Pinch of turmeric
1 apple, cored and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp pure maple syrup
A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Ice cubes

Optional:
1 fresh date, pitted and chopped

Directions:

1. Make oatmeal according to packet directions. Set aside to cool.
2. In a blender add milk, yogurt, cinnamon, turmeric, apple, vanilla, maple syrup, lemon juice, date (if using), ice cubes and cooked oats. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour into glass or jar. Finish with a dusting of cinnamon.

Avocados and Breakfast at the Dukes

The last few weeks, Shutterbean has been posting some fantastic pictures of various avocado delights, and each time I see them I have wanted to try them. Couple that with my wife making the best fried eggs and I knew what I was going to have for breakfast on Saturday morning. We also have tried an Avocado Banana Smoothie before and thought I'd give that a go again.

Basic Avocado Spread

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• freshly ground salt and pepper

Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until well mixed. Spread on toast. 

Like I said before, I wanted to add a fried egg on top of this and it was delicious.

Avocado Banana Smoothie

Recipe found on Once Upon a Cutting Board

• 2 cup milk
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 frozen ripe banana, chopped
• 4 tablespoons rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons honey
• couple handfuls of spinach (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.