The 5 Minute Ice Cream-less Cinnamon Banana Milkshake

I am going to the Adirondacks for a fun-filled vacation of reading, relaxation and everything outdoors. Yay! Many wouldn't define a vacation by hiking, biking, running and camping or really anything that requires exerted engery; but, these activities are the cherries on top of a perfect week. So, being vacation and all, I will have little to no contact with the social world (and that is A-OK with me). So I leave you with an incredibly simple and delcious recipe before I bid farwell to civilization and say hello to the wilderness; I have been obsessed with this healthy and yummy treat for the past week!

This ice cream-free shake is perfect for an after workout snack because it contains essential ingredients to rebuild and refuel the body (bananas and milk are post-workout superfoods). I often can't wait for a work out to have one, so I'll make it for breakfast! It's the easiest milkshake/smoothie you'll ever make.

What you'll need

2 (or more) Bananas

Milk of any kind (or soy/almond)

Cinnamon

A Blender

Optional Add-Ins

Protien Power (check)

Flaxseed (check)

Honey

Wheatgerm

Cocoa Powder

First off, the key to this shake is to freeze the bananas prior (this may require a little planning ahead); the frozen bananas makes the consistency super thick and creamy without the ice cream, delicious! Once frozen, break them into pieces and place in blender (you may need to throw 'em in the microwave for a few seconds depending on how rock solid they are). Add about a cup of milk and a couple dashes of cinnamon to taste. I also add a scoop of soy protien for a boost, some flaxseed, and a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder if I'm craving a chocolate fix.

Blend together, pour, and enjoy!

So good!, let me know if you try this recipe out :)

Adios! See you soon!

 

 

This post is bananas..b-a-n-a-n-a-s

 
This is a last minute post, but I came home tonight and witnessed a scene that put me in utter shock: my bananas were over ripened, as if blackened from a big ole ass whoopin'. Sigh, I am embarrassed to admit that I let my organic bananas get that bad. I can hear Gwen Stafani yelling at me already (Ander, this shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s...) I'm sorry Gwen, I don't know what I was thinking especially when there are starving gorillas in Africa. So, as the mantra goes, when life gives you lemons make lemonade; or, in this case, when you have squishy bananas make banana bread. Plus, I get to bake which always makes for a fun night and happy parents.

I got a great recipe from my good friend, Betty Crocker. I love her recipes because you can almost always find a healthier recipe for what you want to make. Here's a link to the recipe = Light Banana Bread. The recipe is basically identical to a regular banana bread recipe with a few healthy modifications. I like that it's not as heavy and only 60 calories per serving!--which means I don't feel as bad when I inhale half the loaf, win/win!

Ingredients

1 1/4	cups sugar
1/4	cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4	cup margarine, softened
1/2	cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product
1 1/2	cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2	cup buttermilk
1	teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2	cups flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1	teaspoon salt

I used egg whites for the egg product and substituted almond milk for the buttermilk. I sometimes get crafty with my ingredient substitutions (trying to "healthify" it), but only a final taste test will determine if my bread will earn Betty's approval. The batter on the spoon tasted yummy, so I'm feeling good about this one. I also made mini banana muffin poppers with the extra batter. Oven's at 350, let the games begin.

Success! The poppers have already popped into my parent's anxious mouths (still hot, ow)! The applesauce made the bread really moist and enhanced the fresh banana taste. The recipe didn't take long at all to mix up and only took about 45 minutes to bake (20-ish for the poppers). Usually when I take my baked goods out of the oven, I place them in the freezer for about 15 minutes to lock in moisture and amp up the yum factor. 

Fun Tip: to take your banana creation to the next level of deliciousness, make a scrumptious icing by mixing 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 2 teaspoons of skim milk and drizzle on while hot! Channel your inner chimp and go bananas.