Two friends, miles apart, who love to bake!
Happy New Year! Along with the rest of the world, making healthy choices in the kitchen is on my 2016 Goals list. I don’t like calling them New Year’s resolutions. I’m not sure why, but goals seems like a more tangible word, something you can …
I’m on a health kick… again. Remember, I strive for progress not perfection blah, blah, blah… but with this smoothie, I don’t feel like I have to give anything up! This is the summer of oatmeal and coconut. Lately, I can’t seem to make a recipe …
One major perk of the fiancé’s new job is that we both get memberships to the athletic club in town. I attempted to get into running a few summer’s ago, when Kelly and I did the San Francisco Half Marathon, buuuuttt after we ran that race I kind of got out of my work out routine. I think part of me died on the Golden Gate Bridge that morning and I never fully recovered.
Now that we’re officially in our first Southern summer, I’m realizing you don’t actually do anything outside. The humidity hasn’t been terrible yet, but you do any sort of physical activity outdoors and you’re sweating. It’s disgusting. Needless to say I’m pretty excited we have a gym.
I’ve never been that great about eating those protein packed pre or post workout snacks. That is what you’re supposed to do, right? I don’t even know. I do know though that the fiancé always makes himself chocolate milk and I’m always jealous. Why does he have a tasty treat and I just pour myself water?!
That’s when I decided to combine a few of my favorite things (pb, bananas, and chocolate) into a delicious smoothie as a reward for actually going to the gym and not binge watching Season 3 of Orange Is The New Black.
Obviously I knew this was going to be good, this is one of my favorite flavor combinations, but I didn’t realize just how good it was going to be! I originally planned on sharing the smoothie, but then had to make a second because I slurped the first one down too quickly. And also because I’m a terrible sharer. But seriously! This is one of the best smoothies I’ve ever made. Not exaggerating.
It’s sweet enough it feels like a treat, yet healthy enough you don’t feel guilty drinking it after the gym. If you’re like me and love the peanut butter, banana, chocolate combo you’ve got to give this a try!
~Stephanie
This post sponsored by Blue Diamond Almonds
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
*Alternatively, use 1 fresh banana and a few ice cubes if you don’t have frozen bananas on hand
*I personally like to put the smoothie in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to make it more of a frozen slushy/milkshake consistency
Where has the time gone…can you believe May is over halfway over?! Guess that’s what happens when you spend it packing and moving across the country. With June just around the corner (and unaccustomed to the humidity of Louisiana) I’m already looking forward to summer smoothies …
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been binge watching The Americans all week or because the weather is slightly chilly but I’ve been on a sugar kick lately. And it’s time to cut back. Obviously judging from the title though, I’m taking baby steps …
I love breakfast just as much as the next person, maybe even more. Give me some eggs, toast and hash browns and I’m good to go. And there has to be hash browns. I really don’t love cooking breakfast though, especially not for just one person. It makes such a mess! There’s a pan for the eggs, the cutting board for veggies, the cookie sheet for hash browns…ok maybe it really isn’t that many dishes. But first thing in the morning that is too much for me to handle! So I need something easier.
I know lots of people who loooove their smoothies for breakfast. Aren’t there even smoothie diets or cleanses or something? I’m sure they taste delicious, but I need something more substantial. Whenever I try to be healthy and make a smoothie as a breakfast substitute I end up hungry a few hours later. What good does that do??
This is the first smoothie I’ve made that gets me through the morning without needing an extra snack. I think it’s the oatmeal that curbs the cravings, although it could be the peanut butter. Or the chia. Or really anything. I have no idea, I just know it works!
I like to use frozen bananas because A) I always have them on hand (unless I’m making banana muffins) and B) I don’t need to use ice! If I plan ahead I will peel and slice the banana before freezing, which makes using them in smoothies super easy. Most of the time though I will just slice the banana while it is frozen, peel still on, then peel each individual slice. Still easy! If you don’t have frozen bananas don’t worry, just pop a few ice cubes in there.
I found this picture on my camera today, I didn’t know the bf had taken it! If you’re curious what working a full-time (non-blogging) job + attempting to develop/bake/shoot/edit/post recipes regularly looks like…this is it. Cut off tees, no makeup and hair that probably hasn’t been washed in three days. The honest truth. (Also, please ignore the 1990’s slam dunk champions poster in the background…)
Happy Monday everyone! P.S. Did you hear the news?? In addition to our personal Pinterest accounts (here and here) we decided LDB needed a pinterest of its own! Make sure to follow along!!
~Stephanie
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
Well it’s a Monday after a vacation weekend…what can I say? I’m going to be needing a detox of sorts! Kelly and I spent last Thursday to Easter Sunday in Portland, Oregon, celebrating her birthday, visiting cousins and exploring the city. But that’s a post …
It’s official, I’m an adult. I got a Sonicare for Christmas. It was seriously the only thing I wanted. You know you are getting older when your wish list is created for practicality reasons. And although I would have been very content with just my …