Hot Cinnamon Apple Smoothie

By Carolanne

This recipe is fall's chilly-morning answer to summer's refreshing, healthy smoothies. An unlikely smoothie ingredient, cottage cheese makes the drink creamier and packs in 6½ grams of protein without significantly altering the flavor. The recipe is adapted from cleancuisineandmore.com

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• 1 medium apple, cored and cut into large chunks
• 1/4 cup raisins or golden raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup warm water (divided)
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
• 8 pecan halves

Details

Adapted from jsonline.com

Preparation

Step 1

Place the apple, raisins, cinnamon and ¼ of the water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high 2 minutes. Remove bowl from microwave and cool at room temperature 2 minutes.
Add cottage cheese, flax seed, pecans and slightly cooled apple mixture to a blender along with the remaining ¾ cup warm water. Blend on high 1 minute, until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.