Now that's Bananas... Addicted to Your Workouts?

When I was younger I absolutely hated bananas.

Really, up until this past year.  I used to eat them occasionally because I was told they calmed nerves before a big test or performance, but I never really enjoyed them by themselves. 

I could eat a PB & Banana sandwich, or a Strawberry Banana shake... but plain banana made me sick.

Now I have bananas all the time!

There are so many uses for them!! Adding them to your Protein Shake to make it uuuber creamy,

or even using them to make the most delicious pancakes!

Recipe completely inspired by Julie @ PB Fingers

Banana Bread Protein Pancakes

Serves one

Ingredients:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 banana, mashed

1/4 cup cottage cheese I didn't have cottage cheese so I used 5oz honey greek yogurt

1 egg  I substituted egg white beaters for the egg

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

I've made protein pancakes before but I think the biggest difference this time was that Julie's directions said to "Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend with an immersion blender until batter is relatively smooth and all ingredients are fully mixed"

Blending up the oats with all the ingredients made for a much friendlier batter!!!

This Photo - Compliments of PB Fingers

 These were my favorite pancakes to date -- and Mike agreed!  Just topped with some Sugar Free Syrup and berries on the side!!!

The recipe makes about 3 pancakes, which is a perfect sized breakfast and keeps you fueled through an intense weekend workout. 

The Mean Green Caffeine Machine - TGIF

It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That being said, it doesn't take much to put a smile on my face... just a few more hours until the weekend.

This morning I was running late but never too late to throw together a delicious shake in the blender.  This morning's shake was inspired by Julie's blog Peanut Butter Fingers. 

{She's cute, fun, and her posts are often hilarious!}

I call it - the Mean Green Caffeine Machine.

• Vanilla Almond Milk
• Mocha Iced Coffee from Whole Foods (too lazy to brew any myself, plus I like it pre-made and cold!)
• 1/2 cup Coffee Flavored Arctic Zero (read about this here)
• 1 tbsp Hershey's Chocolate Syrup - because it's Friday, and I deserve it :)
• 1 scoop Low Carb Chocolate Whey Protein Powder
• 2 huge handfuls of Spinach (thank you Julie for this tip!)
• 1/2 a packet of Truvia (because I was having a SERIOUS sweets craving)
• 4 ice cubes

Blend it all together and...

Voila!!  Enough energry to get you through your Friday morning!

{or any morning really}

Sadly, the picture doesn't do justice to the totally Boss greenish tint the spinach gives the smoothie :( 

The spinach really doesn't affect the taste of the smoothie at all, Julie was right!  Don't believe me?  Check out the post that inspired me here.  Plus, Jillian Michaels considers spinach a super food - one that could possibly save the world, and on her scale of rating foods she gives it a 10 which is good enough for me! 

(Although, no matter how much spinach I cram into my morning shakes I'm not sure I'll ever be able to sport rock hard abs like this woman!)

Question for the day:  What's your favorite way to start your Friday morning?  Are you a fan of spinach?