Smoothies & Muffins

This weekend my injured Shaggy & I have been loving the Food Network!!! We discovered Five Ingredient Fix with Claire Robinson. This morning she worked on a yummy brunch and I can't wait to try these recipes!!!!
Brown Butter Banana Muffins
Ingredients
4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup raw agave syrup or honey
1 stick unsalted butter
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper muffin liners.
Peel the bananas and add to a large bowl. Add the agave syrup and mash the bananas with a fork until very liquefied but still a little lumpy.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk solids have turned a nutty golden brown.
To the brown butter, add about 1 cup of the mashed banana mixture and whisk to combine. Cook for a few more minutes until a darker golden color is achieved. Add to the remaining mashed banana mixture and whisk to combine, then whisk in the egg. Fold in the flour, in 2 batches, with a rubber spatula, until just combined; do not over mix. With an ice cream scoop, evenly divide the batter among the muffin tin cups.
Bake in the center of the oven until golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed, about 25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Vanilla Bean Coconut Yogurt Smoothie
Ingredients
1/2 water
1/2 cup honey
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
2 cups Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon torn fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
Coconut water, frozen in ice cube tray (approximately 1/2 tray)
Available in the health/specialty department of local markets. It is available in juice box size containers or sold individually.
Directions
Combine the water, honey and vanilla bean pod in a small saucepan over low heat. Simmer for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the vanilla to infuse into the honey. Remove the vanilla pod and allow the mixture to cool completely, about 10 to 15 minutes.
In a blender, combine some of the vanilla honey with the yogurt, mint and 1/2 tray of frozen coconut water cubes, or more for desired consistency. Puree until smooth, then pour into glasses and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Serve immediately.

Around Here

1. A rough day at doggie daycare lead to a trip to the vet and this adorable sock hat/

2.My indestructible mint plant for yummy mint ice tea. I had one glass:( See HERE & HERE

3. I was excited to see my Batman pillowcase when Damon changed our sheets. He spoils me!

Date Night

We've been looking forward to last night all summer. Dinner with our friends the Peirano's then AWESOME seats for WICKED. This was my 2nd time, Damon's first seeing GA-Linda & Elphaba ROCK OUT.. LOVE seeing the stories of Oz in such a different way.

Damons favorite Broadway show is still Phantom of the Opera. My mom's is Les Miserables. I think mine would be a toss up between Wicked & Jesus Christ Superstar. What's yours??

Optimistic

Quote:

Double Rainbows

Recently, (like this weekend) really cool things have been happening to me. Unusual, out of the blue moments that make me think FULL ON GOOD things are on the way.

Like Friday at work, I walked up to an assisted living community and found a wad of cash on the ground. 3 tens and 2 ones! That never happens. Of course, I gave the money to the nuns who run the place, BUT I WAS STILL EXCITED. It was even Friday the 13th!

Then today I was fixing an egg sandwich. I pulled the egg from the cartoon and thought to myself this is the biggest egg I've ever felt. i pulled another one out to see if Meijer organic eggs are just monster, but that egg was normal. I warmed my skillet, cracked monster egg and guess what? DOUBLE YOLK!!!! It was TOTALLY a DOUBLE RAINBOW moment.

Summer Cut

This is what happens when Shag get his summer hair cut.

Sweet Angel Puppy

Devil Dog

In Numbers

Last week:

1 cupcake from a new favorite Ganache Desserts.. Chocolate with whipped white frosting. YUM

17 cupcakes from Ganache were dreamed about but not consumed (i think i gained weight anyway!

0 kisses given b/c huge cold sores attacked my face

3 work outs completed: Urban Iron, Boot Camp & Triple Fit

1 resistance band despised!

3 movies watched : Up in the Air, Away We Go, & Shutter Island

4 stars given to Up in the Air & Away we Go

2.5 stars to Shutter Island

2 Fair / Festivals attended : The State Fair & The Canal Jazz & Rib Festival

1 piece of chocolate covered bacon consumed (See above) by D-NOT ME!!

12 episodes of 24 season 2

6 days until Brandi & Brent's engagement party!!

Toes in the Sand Part VI: St. Thomas

Skip St. Thomas & go to St. John. Catch the Red Hook Ferry & you're there in 15 minutes! The island is so small, & quaint. It's easy to just rent a car and drive the strip of beautiful, easy access, not too crowded , WORLD FAMOUS beaches.

Trunk Bay may be on your bucket list but DON"T forget Hawksnest, Waterlemon Cay & Cinnamon Bay. Kenny Chesney & Renee Zellweger LOVE Cinnamon, they got married there. Kenny has also been spotted hanging out with the locals at Woody's!!

Toes in the Sand Part V: San Juan

Unfortunately our time in Old San Juan was short, only 5pm to 11pm.

Even more unfortunately there was a torrential down pour the moment we stepped off the boat. We did make it to Barrachino's Home of the First & Yummiest Pina Colada. I recommend going here and enjoying the bar area. Skip dinner, service was NOT GOOD!!! PLEASE have some Cuatro Leches cake (from the bar)..it's divine!!!

Toes in the Sand Part IIII: Nassau

We stopped in Nassau on our first cruise and I was less then impressed. However, this time it was a blast. It helped that it was a super gorgeous , sunny day. I have to say, of all all the stops the water in Nassau was the most amazing! We took a $3 ferry to Paradise Island (home of Atlantis). We didn't want to pay over $100 to actually go into the Atlantis resort, so we made our way to Paradise's public beach. It was gorgeous.

Yes, we paid $30 for an umbrella that's what happens when your a tourist. There were also jet skis & banana boats for rent! Damon took this shot of Atlantis as we pulled away-I may have done a little imac editing:)

We did the formal night this year & had a blast getting our cheesy cruise portraits!!! Can you tell who was a little seasick that night? How about this one for the church directory!! Grandma would be so proud!!!

Toes in the Sand Part III: Antigua

We had some rain for the first few Antiguan hours. That's ok , it was an excuse to hit the shops!!! Flea market style booths showcased lots of local kitsch. I watched as a local artisan stretched an oil painting on to a canvas for me.

We also found these adorable, waterproof , positive ion evoking watches. We all bought one, some bought multiples. Perfect for keeping time once we were out on our Pirate ship excursion!!

We definitely recommend the Black Swan excursion if you ever find yourself in Antigua. We battled rough winds and rainy times to make it to our tiny island destination. Totally worth it as the sun popped out right about the time we arrived, we snorkeled and lazed about. The rum punch was flowing freely!!!

After our adventure we stopped at a local pub to enjoy the local brew Wadadli. I wonder if Anderson's might carry this locally???