Peanut Butter Apple Smoothie

I got back from a run and was really wanting a smoothie, but I was fresh out of bananas, which I have been using to make this smoothie. I had an apple, and thought, "I like peanut butter on apples and I like smoothies, so why not try to combine the two?" I did and it was yummy.

Ingredients
-1 apple (I used Fuji), cut into about 8 pieces (I left the peel on)
-1 T peanut butter
-1/2 C almond milk (or whatever dairy/non-dairy product you prefer)
-4 ice cubes
-pinch of cinnamon

Steps
1. Blend first four ingredients, then top with a couple dashes of cinnamon.

Peanut Butter Split Smoothie

My Aunt Nan recently passed on this awesome smoothie recipe. I couldn't believe how creamy, smooth, and delicious the addition of the peanut butter made the smoothie. My Aunt Nan recommends stirring in some Hershey's syrup and I concur.

Ingredients
-1 banana (frozen is best, but not necessary)
-1/2 cup low fat almond/soy/regular milk
-1/2 cup plain non fat yogurt
-1 1/2 TBSP creamy peanut butter


-1 TBSP Hershey's syrup (optional)

Steps
1. Blend the above until smooth.

Simple protein smoothie

Ingredients
-1 Handful of frozen blueberries
-1 banana, quartered
-1/3 C Greek yogurt
-2 T honey
-splash of O.J.
-splash of soy or almond milk

Steps
1. Blend above and enjoy!

Note: I subbed apple for banana one day and that was good. Another day I mixed yogurt, banana, and heath bar chips and that was nice for dessert.

Breakfast Strata (aka Erik Estrada)

This is a great recipe to make for a brunch because you make it the night before, so all you have to do in the morning is pop it in the oven. Strata is one of my husband's favorite things that I make (and he tends to be overly protective with food he likes), so I was really surprised when we had some friends over and Jonathan offered to heat them up some of the left over strata. I have to say I thought it was really sweet that he kept telling his friends, "Oh, man you have to try this Estrada. It's out of this world." It was all the sweeter because he really thought it was called Estrada, and so now it has been renamed after the eponymous Chips character.

Note 1: You need to prepare this the night before you make it.
Note 2: These pictures aren't very good because I took them with my phone.

Ingredients for the Meat Strata (feel free to mix and match)
~1 lb sausage
-2-3 C shredded cheddar cheese
-1 pepper, diced
-1 onion, diced
-8 eggs
-1-2 C milk
-1 loaf day old French bread cut into cubes (it's best if you leave this out to air dry so it gets really crusty, but if you forget to do that you can can toast the bread cubes in the oven
-1 TBSP Worcestershire
-salt & pepper

Ingredients for the Veggie Strata
-1 package soyrizo or other fake meat product
-2-3 C shredded cheddar cheese
-2/3 package fresh spinach
-1 onion, diced
-1 small tub of white mushrooms
-3 handfuls of cherry tomatoes, quartered
-8 eggs
-1-2 C milk
-1 loaf day old French bread cut into cubes (it's best if you leave this out to air dry so it gets really crusty, but if you forget to do that you can can toast the bread cubes in the oven
-1 TBSP Worcestershire
-salt & pepper

Steps
1. Cook your meat (or fake meat). Remove from pan.
2. Saute your veggies in the meal drippings.
3. Layer half the bread cubes in a greased 13X9 pan.
4. Sprinkle half the cheese, half the meat, and half the veggie mixture over the bread cubes.

5. Repeat layers with remaining bread cubes, cheese, and ingredients.
6. Whisk eggs, milk, Worcestershire, salt & pepper together.
7. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread mixture.
8. Cover and let sit in refridgerator over night.
9. In the morning, bake at 325 for about 50-70 minutes or until completely set in the middle.

Greek yogurt snack

So my good friend, Jess, got me hooked on Greek yogurt. This stuff is awesome and packs a TON of protein! However, I find it a little bitter, so I usually add honey or preserves. But recently my cousin, Sarah, taught me this neat trick: add about 1/4 packet of Jello Instant Pudding mix (your flavor of choice) for a delicious snack or dessert. Pictured below is a tiny cat eating some Greek yogurt mixed with pistachio instant pudding mix. Meow! I mean, Yum!

Rolled Oat Breakfast Bars

I have to thank my good friend and baker extraordinaire, Jess, for this super easy, super tasty recipe, and Jonathan's mom for sending us the delicious apricot preserves. These were so easy to make that I might start making them for breakfast more regularly. I think next time I'll try experimenting with margarine to make them a little healthier (although I would argue that the healthiness of the oats cancels out the butter)...so I'll let you know how that goes.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup preserves (whichever flavor you prefer...I used apricot)

(Note 3/20/10: I did try making these with margarine and they were still very tasty)

Steps:  
(Preheat oven to 350 degrees)

1. Grease an 8-inch square pan (or something similarly sized).
2. Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. 

3. Rub in the butter using your hands to form a crumbly mixture.

 

4. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.

5. Spread the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. 

6. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into the jam.
7. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned.
8. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.