Lovin' From the Oven

Chunky Monkey Smoothie

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I slice my ripe bananas prior to freezing them so they’re easier to handle.

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As usual, all my ingredients are from Trader Joe’s, including my 19 cent bananas.

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Throw all your ingredients in the blender and blend away.

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Aren’t these cups fancy? I adore glass cups that are made for coffee/hot drinks. You can never have enough glasses when you’re a food blogger. I got these at TJMaxx, where I spend nearly 3 hours on every trip. Ridiculous, I know… but when I shop, I make time to search and rummage through each pile for the best deals.

I thought I’d try something new and include a printable recipe with each post. I’m not sure how to include it for previous posts without going through each one separately, so for now it will just have to be for future posts. Does anyone know a way to make it so that I can add a print button to all of my recipes without being too strenuous?

This is a very simple smoothie with only five ingredients– all of which I’m sure you already have on hand. To make it really “Chunky Monkey,” I’d throw in a couple of walnuts next time to complete the flavor. In case you don’t know what Chunky Monkey is, it’s Ben & Jerry’s flavor of ice cream, as mentioned in my previous post here.

Chunky Monkey Smoothie
Click Here for a Printable Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 large frozen bananas, sliced
  • 1/2 cup plain vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Instructions:

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookies

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Question. How many of you gals (or guys) reading this know how to tie a tie? I’m talking about the windsor or half windsor knot. The majority of the guys I ask have no idea how to tie their own tie, including my DB. Yes, that means I tie his tie for him anytime there’s a formal event.

What’s up with that? Even my dad doesn’t know how to tie a tie. He keeps all of his ties knotted, hanging in his closet so that he can just re-adjust it and slip it over his head. Maybe it’s because our generation is so laid back; Boys hardly wear ties on a daily basis anymore so there’s no need to learn how to make a knot. Such a shame– ties are so cute on boys! I’d wear them all the time if I was a guy. Maybe.

Now onto the cookies.. they were not too shabby. If you like peanut butter and chocolate, then yes, you’ll enjoy them. If you don’t really care for that combination, then you won’t really care for these cookies (like me). I did like the look of the hidden peanut butter center, though.

 from Picky Palate

For the peanut butter center:

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
For the chocolate cookie:
  • 2 sticks softened butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s special dark)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. First make the peanut butter centers. Mix the three ingredients together until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Beat butter and both sugars until creamy. Add in the eggs and vanilla.
  4. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into the wet mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. 
  5. First roll peanut butter cookie dough into about 1 tablespoon balls with your hands. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop chocolate dough on top and on bottom of peanut butter dough. Pinch together on the sides, until the peanut butter dough is covered.
  6. Place onto baking sheet and bake for 14 to 16 minutes.

Caramelized Pecan Banana Bread

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I think I’ve fully adjusted to living in the bay area. It took a month, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got a good chunk of it down.
–I love being able to walk from my apartment to go shopping, the post office, the grocery store, or grab dinner.
–The radio stations in my car are set to Nor Cal stations.
–I actually go out to bars here every once in a while because I love the crowd (not to drink, though. I’m pretty much a grandma. And by crowd, I mean my DB’s classmates).
–I bring a sweater or scarf with me everywhere because no matter how hot it looks outside, that breeze will kill you.

But the things I’ll never get used to?
–Calling the BART just plain ol’ BART.
–Worrying about parking everywhere I go.
–Seeing Giants gear everywhere instead of my dear Lakers.
–The word “hella.”
–My nearest Nordstrom Rack & Forever 21 are a half hour drive away from me.

I’m sure there’s plenty to add to both lists, but let’s talk about this banana bread.

This banana bread was delightful. The caramelized pecans really did add a sweeter crunch to the bread. In retrospect, I probably should have added some kind of streusel on top. Banana bread is just ten times better with a topping. The bread was sweet without being overly sweet, heavy without being too dense, and about as moist as can be. I’d recommend adding a touch of cinnamon next time I make these. From What Katie’s Baking.

  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 1/2 cups AP flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt

For the Caramelized Pecans:

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two medium loaf pans or one large loaf pan.
  2. For the caramelized pecans: Melt the tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add the sugar, pecans, and cinnamon, and mix until evenly coated. Set aside and let cool.
  3. For the banana bread: Mix together the sugar and butter. Add eggs and stir. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla, beating until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Add in the nuts. Pour into prepared pans.
  4. Bake smaller loaves for about 1 hour, large loaf about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

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