Tag Archives: banana

Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie

24 Jun

Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie

In case you’re wondering, I moved a few weeks ago, hence the lag in new posts.

I love and hate moving to a new place. I love it because everything feels new and fresh and exciting. I hate it because it’s scary and hard and after you move into your new place, you look at all your old stuff and feel the same. But, I love it more than I hate it, so we’re good.

I’ve been cooking and baking a ton since moving, but I have yet to figure out the best place to take pictures of my food because of my new kitchen layout. My new kitchen is great because it has a gas stove, granite countertops, and last but not least, a skylight. Yes, you heard that right. A SKYLIGHT. My kitchen has an incredible amount of natural light, which I’m loving, but I was so used to my old kitchen setup, that I’ve been dragging my feet on finding the perfect position to take my blog pictures. (This is also to say, cut me some slack on my pictures for a while.)

Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie

Here’s a smoothie recipe to give you a quick boost.

Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie

Combine all ingredients in the blender.

Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie

Process until smooth, and slurp with a straw (required). (more…)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

13 Feb

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

When’s the last time you got in trouble? I don’t think about getting in trouble much because, hey, I’m an adult, and adults don’t get in trouble, right? Wrong.

Last week while visiting San Francisco, I rode the famous cable cars. I sat on the outside seat so I could get a good look at the city as we drove by and so I could occasionally stand up and hang off the side of the car just like in the movies. While I was sitting down, I casually slung my arm over the back of the wooden seat. The cable car conductor/driver/operator was not having that. He yelled at me to move my arm and waggled his finger at me like I was a naughty kid. I’m pretty sure I was blushing out of embarrassment. But did I learn my lesson? A few minutes later, without thinking, my arm was right back around the back of the seat in a comfortable position. This time, I didn’t get a verbal warning. The conductor swatted my arm off the seat. He actually hit me! I was less embarrassed and more baffled. I just got smacked by a stranger. It was bizarre and weird and a little funny. Mostly bizarre, though.

I prefer not to get in trouble.

If you don’t want to get in trouble this Valentine’s day, try making a delicious homemade breakfast for your loved ones. How about the easiest one there is? I don’t know too many people who turn their noses up to smoothies.

Ever since my husband watched a few documentaries on obesity and unhealthy living, he’s finally come to the conclusion that vegetables are good for you. (Shocking!) Smoothies are a great place to hide healthy veggies. Your kids (and/or spouse) will think it’s a dessert-like snack, but it’s also sneakily good for them. I promise you can’t taste the green veggies at all in this recipe. It tastes like a pure treat!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

Load all ingredients in your blender.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

The greens will take up a lot of room…do not fear!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

Blend until completely smooth.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie

Serve immediately and drink with a straw (duh!).  (more…)

Banana Crumb Muffins

17 Oct

Freshman year, first semester of college, every single day, I walked the same, exact route from my dorm to my classes and back again. For some reason, I was too frightened/lazy/unsure to try another path. (Well, I am directionally challenged. But, alas.)

To elucidate this even further, the only reason I knew that route in the first place was because that’s the way I followed some hall-mates my very first day on campus.

Right now, you’re probably thinking I’m really pathetic. But LISTEN! Here’s one of my theories: We are creatures of habit and comfort. Sometimes we try something for the first time, and it fits the bill, so we never think to deviate from that first attempt.

So what? you ask.

Well, second semester came, and I had classes in different buildings and locations, and I couldn’t just follow the same crowd of freshman to my usual classes down my usual path. So I looked at some campus maps and learned how to walk another way to campus. And it was equally satisfying. Maybe even more so because I tried something new.

Wow, Adrianne, you’re getting all philosophical on us today. Well…I do have an ulterior motive. You probably make the same, exact banana muffin or banana bread recipe every single time. And that works for you. And that’s OK, but it’s not enough. Branch out, try THIS recipe. It’s new and different and equally satisfying. Maybe even more so.

These banana muffins are special because you don’t mash the bananas like usual. You slice them into thin, little pieces and gently fold them into your soft and pillowy, thick and rich batter. Then you top them with a professional-looking crumb. Perfection.

Butter your pan nice and good.

Combine the ingredients for the crumb topping.

Rub the mixture between your fingertips until it becomes crumbly.

Stir together all the dry ingredients and part of the wet ingredients. Then combine the dry ingredients and the sour cream in alternating additions.

Now the batter should be thick and pillowy.

Slice those ‘naners. Then fold them ’em right in the batter.

Fill your muffin tins, evenly dividing the batter. They will be quite full.

Sprinkle with crumb topping, then bake them until golden brown on top. Gobble gobble. (more…)

Banana Bread

23 Apr

I swear my mail lady only delivers my mail every other day. Now I know what you’re probably thinking. Do you remember that mail isn’t delivered on Sundays? Have you considered that you might not get mail every single day? To those questions, I answer, Yes, of course, I’ve considered that. Thing is, I know when my mail lady has been here.

Every time she comes to my door to put mail in my mailbox, it scares the life outta me. It’s completely quiet, and then all of the sudden I hear what sounds like a voice inside my house. That’s right, INSIDE my house. She’s always on her bluetooth, which is great, you know? I’m totally cool with you gossiping with your mom about Jared’s new soccer coach, but it also freaks me out that I can hear these details. AND it also proves my point. Because she isn’t gossiping inside my house every day. Only every other day. No, I have not set up a camera and documented her comings and goings, although that could be a worthwhile activity. (more…)