Low-Fat Pumpkin Pie Dip

Maybe it's the fall season we're entering, but I've got pumpkin on the brain lately. Pumpkin muffins yesterday, pumpkin dip today, and as I write this post I'm drinking my pumpkin pie Shakeology. I can't get enough of the stuff.

Today's recipe will require you to open your mind and release all prejudice you may have against tofu, a poor, misunderstood soy bean curd.

What did tofu ever do to you to make you turn your nose up at it? It just sat there, plain-tasting and white, while you recoiled in disgust. All it ever wanted to do was give you some protein and acquire the taste of the food you paired it with! Make amends with the tofu. It wants to be friends.

This pumpkin dip uses the silken type of tofu, a softer, melty-er block of white...stuff. It blends perfectly into smoothies, shakes, and dips. There are even several Shakeology pie recipes that use silken tofu.

You can actually use this recipe as a fruit dip or a pudding paired with ginger snap cookies or graham crackers. I had neither one of those, so I sprinkled granola on top instead. It's lightly sweet and spicy (like a spice cake), and also creamy and smooth. This would be great at a holiday party...just keep the tofu part on the down-low, okay? Not everybody's enlightened like you are.

Low-Fat Pumpkin Pie Dip (from "The 150 Healthiest 15-Minute Meals on Earth")
Ingredients

• 1 package silken tofu
• 1 large ripe banana
• One 15-oz. can pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup maple syrup, or to taste
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Blend tofu in a food processor for about 15 seconds or until smooth. Add the banana, pumpkin, syrup, spice, and vanilla, and process until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. Serve with sliced fruit like apples or pears, or as a pudding with berries or ginger snaps.

Find tofu in your produce section. It will be refrigerated and is usually next to the prepared guacamole dips, etc. It comes in a small square container. Before using, make a slit in the top and drain the water.

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P90X One on One Vol. 3: Yoga MC:2