‘Tis the season for pumpkins, but I’m making banana bread. Not because I don’t love pumpkins, but because I had bananas and well, you know the saying, “if you’ve got brown bananas, you must make banana bread.” What? That’s not a saying? Oh well, it is in my world. And I love bananas and banana bread as well as oats and chocolate chips – so yeah, here comes Chocolate Oat Banana Bread!
In celebration of our Fertility Friday series, I made muffins! And not just any muffins, but Whole Grain Banana Nut Muffins! Why the celebration you ask? Because infertility is tough and sometimes, you just need a celebration (distraction) and a muffin.
What? Another quick bread recipe? Oh yes, yes it is.
You know why? It’s because my family loves a good snack, so I’m always looking for new ways to nourish them. Since pumpkin season is officially over, I’ve moved on to bananas.
Like pumpkin, bananas are incredibly versatile and add great moisture, interest and natural sweetness to baked goods. I love them for that and for the nutritional goodies they supply.
Why I made this recipe: Because I love trying new smoothie recipes and mango is one of my favorite fruits.
Why I love this recipe: This one is super creamy, and the touch of coconut makes it feel indulgent and tropical, like you’re on vacation, laying on a beach, reading a good book, under the shade of a palm tree…you get the picture.
How this recipe is healthy: Oh, it’s healthy alright. If you read the ingredient list, you’ll know that this smoothie is jam-packed with good nutrients. It’s loaded with healthy fats from the avocado and flax seed and it’s bursting with powerful vitamins like A and C and important minerals like potassium. And don’t forget the calcium, it’s in there too, thanks to that healthy dose of low-fat milk.
And here are the pretty pictures:
Some people don’t see over-ripe, bruised fruits as having any potential. Not me! I see them as an opportunity! Case in point, I had a peach (leftover from my last post) and a banana sitting on my counter looking quite sad, but still viable. Knowing I needed to act fast, I did a little brainstorming and heeded the warning from my growling stomach, and decided upon a smoothie.
Luckily for me, it was fit the bill for what I was craving. I love the subtle flavor of the peach and the sweetness of the blueberries and banana. Adding the flax seed was a way to get some healthy fats and additional fiber in. And spinach just seems like an easy thing to add and I always enjoy the thought of drinking my spinach. For some reason, I think that’s fun. Yes, I am a little quirky like that.
I have to say it was a hit at my house. I enjoyed mine and had even more fun watching my 2 1/2 year old enjoy hers. So next time you see fruit on your counter and you’re considering tossing it, I challenge you to use it instead. Most fruits make a great base for smoothies, and if you happen to have a peach and banana lying around, try my recipe for Pe-anna-berry Smoothie!
A delightful way to start the day or finish a workout. Bursting with fruit, flax seed and even a little spinach. Why not make what you’re sipping a little more nutritious!
