Sunday, August 25, 2013

Lemon Zest Blueberry Waffles


Good morning! Today I thought I'd share one of my favorite combos! I made these a little while ago but I will definitely be making them this week! I love lemon pound cake and blueberry lemon muffins, but I have a much healthier alternative that still tastes amazing! Lemon zest blueberry protein waffles! 

Lemon Zest Blueberry Waffles:
(serves 1)
  • 1 scoop perfect fit protein
  • 1/4 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 mashed banana
  • 1 Tbs. ground flaxseed 
  • 2 Tbs. almond milk
  • cinnamon (optional)
  • Zest and juice of one fresh lemon
  • 1/4 cup blueberries 
230 cal, 23 g protein, 26 g carbs, 3.2 g fat

Combine all ingredients and cook in a waffle maker for a few minutes, or until ready! You could also make these into pancakes! I topped mine with some blackberries, a sprinkle of stevia and a drizzle of honey! Yum!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

2 Ingredient Chocolate Ice cream



What would you say if I told you that you can make chocolate ice cream with only two ingredients? Ya that's right. I said it. Only two ingredients. And this ice cream we speak of is completely healthy and only 110 calories? I know! Crazy right?! A serving of Baskin Robin's World Class Chocolate ice cream has 280 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 27 gram of sugar. My chocolate ice cream has only 110 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 14 grams of sugar, which is natural from the banana. And it only takes a few minutes to make! So... which one do you want now? ;)



Two Ingredient Chocolate Ice Cream
(serves 1)

  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
Just chop up your banana and blend it in the food processor. First, it will turn into a powder like consistency like the picture above. Don't worry! Then keep blending until it starts to turn a little creamy, but not completely. Now add your cocoa and blend until it's ice cream consistency! Tastes just like ice cream! Feel free to add whatever you like! Peanut butter,walnuts, or dark chocolate chips would be great too! Enjoy!

Xoxo, Stephanie

Monday, August 12, 2013

Strawberry Banana Pancakes




I don't know about you, but I love the classic combo of strawberry and banana.... So today I whipped up some healthy Strawberry Banana Pancakes! These pancakes are super fluffy, high in protein and pair great with a variety of toppings! These are so delicious, they're like eating desert for breakfast! You would never guess these are 100% clean! The taste sort of reminds of  strawberry birthday cake...Can you say yum?!



I was hoping the pancakes would turn out a pretty pink color, like the batter, but they turn a light golden brown once cooked.. :( But that's ok! They are still bursting with strawberry flavor!


Strawberry Banana Pancakes:
(Makes 1 serving)
  • 1/2 a mashed banana 
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
  • 1/4 cup egg whites
  • 1 scoop Protein Powder (I use Perfect Fit)
  • 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 Tbs. coconut flour
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. stevia 
  • 2 Tbs. almond milk (add more if batter is too thick)
Combine all ingredients in a food processor. I like to add a few ingredients at a time so the food processor isn't too full, but it's up to you. (so add fruit, blend, add eggs and protein, blend and so on.)
Spray a non stick pan with coconut oil cooking spray and cook on medium heat for a few minutes each side. I made five mini pancakes, but you could make them larger.

Nutrition Facts for JUST the pancakes (not including any toppings):
285 cals, 27 g protein, 43 g carbs, 3 g fat

Now time top them!!!!! I layered mine with the other half of my banana and Peanut Butter and Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter! Perfect combo! Quick tip: If you like your peanut butter extra gooey so you can drizzle it like icing, microwave it for 10 seconds!




Time to dig in! Enjoy!






These would also be great topped with extra fresh strawberries, a homemade strawberry compote, almond butter, walnuts... the options are endless! So have fun! If you make this recipe, post a picture on Instagram and tag me @beautyandbananas!

Xoxo, Stephanie





Sunday, August 11, 2013

The Ultimate Guide to Overnight Oats


Ok.. so some of you that follow me on Instagram may already know I'm addicted to overnight oats. Now for those of you who don't know what overnight oats are, they are basically oats that you let soak overnight in the fridge and can customize to your liking! They're so convenient to just grab out of the fridge and enjoy in the morning! 
Now I know overnight oats can be a little confusing... Often some questions may pop up. Do I cook the oats? How much liquid do I add? Do I need an empty peanut butter jar? Chia seeds? Mason jars?How do you do that cool layering artsy fartsy stuff???
To the overnight oats newbie this may be a little over whelming. But really, it's not rocket science. That's why today I'm going to break down the basics of the beloved fit foodie breakfast with The Ultimate Guide to Overnight Oats! 

Ok- So starting with the basics: people often wonder if you eat the oats raw.
You can either cook your oats before hand, or leave them raw. It will change the methods slightly, and they each have different variations but I'll break it down....

Base Methods for Raw Overnight Oats: (assuming 1 serving is 1/2 cup oats)

1. Simple- The simplest way to make raw overnight oats is to just add almond milk (or milk of choice).
Add equal amounts oats to liquids. So for one serving: 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup milk.

2. Greek Yogurt- Another way to make them is to add greek yogurt. This will make them thick and creamy, almost like the consistency of rice pudding or cottage cheese. You can add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of yogurt depending on your liking. Greek yogurt adds a great protein boost as well, usually about 12 grams per half cup. Equal parts liquid, yogurt, and oats work well for a creamy texture. 

3. Chia Seeds- Adding chia seeds is a great way to thicken up either of the above methods. They are totally optional but really give a great texture. Chia expand when in liquid, so they create a cool gel-like consistency. They are high in omega 3s and since they expand, help keep you fuller longer. If I'm making the simple oats, I usually add 1 Tablespoon. If I put in greek yogurt, which is already thick, 1 teaspoon does the job. You will need to add extra almond milk to allow for the chia seeds.


Base Methods for Cooked Oats: (assuming 1 serving is 1/2 cup oats)

1. Cooking the Oats- Cooked oats add a great fluffiness, add a lot more volume so it seems like your eating more! You can choose to cook them on the stove top or microwave. I prefer the microwave becasue it saves time! Measure out 1/2 cup oats into a microwave safe bowl and add 1 cup water. Microwave for 1-3 minutes, depending on the microwave.

2. Add Protein!- You could leave your cooked oats as is, or you could add a boost of protein! I don't recommend mixing the greek yogurt in for cooked oats, so there are other options:

a. Egg White Oats- Stir in 1/4 cup egg whites after your oats have cooked for a minute.
 Microwave for another minute or so. Make sure to keep an eye on them because                                                                          they could overflow!

b. Protein Powder- Stir in a scoop of protein powder after cooking. You don't need to cook it in, but you may need to add a little extra water

Layering:
Now if you want to layer your oats, it's super simple. For raw oats, since they are a little runny before the liquid absorbs, I reccommend you keep them in a seperate container and layer it in the morning. If you want to make a parfait, just take the simple oats+ milk recipe, let it soak, and layer greek yogurt in the morning. For cooked oats, you could do it the night before or in the morning.


Toppings and Add Ins!

Now that you know how to make the base of your overnight oats, you can customize your oats with whatever you like! Try mixing different ingredients to make your own custom flavor!

Add In Ideas:
Cocoa Powder
Stevia (I always like to sweeten mine)
Vanilla Extract
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Nuts

Topping Ideas:
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chips
Nuts
Coconut Flakes
Bananas
Berries
Greek Yogurt

How to Store: My favorite way to store my overnight oats is in mason jars. You can find them at Target, grocery stores, or any craft store. It keeps them sealed super tight and gives it a cute, vintage look! Another fun way to eat your oats is in a peanut butter jar! If you have an almost empty jar of nut butter, instead of just throwing it away, put it to good use! Plus you'll get every last bite of peanut butter in that jar, that you couldn't have reached with a spoon! 
Keep in the fridge overnight, so the liquid can soak up the oats. You can make several in advance and they will last in the fridge. (I recommend no longer than a week!)

   


Hope this was helpful!!! If you make some Overnight Oats after reading this, tag me on Instagram @beautyandbananas! I'd love to see your Creations!

Xoxo, 
Stephanie


Here are a few more ideas from some overnight oats I've made!



Carrot Cake Oats: Add cinnamon, stevia pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves), walnut and shredded carrots to your oats.




















Chocolate PB:Mix in 1 Tbs cocoa powder, layer with peanut butter, and top with banana slices.




















Vanilla Cinnamon Egg white Overnight Oats topped with walnuts, blueberries, greek yogurt and Peanut Butter and Co White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter.


















PB& J Oats: Stir in 1 Tbs each of peanut butter and organic jelly.


Chocolate Raspberry Protein Oats: Add 1 Tbs. Cocoa Powder, 1 Tbs. dark chocolate chips and raspberries (heated frozen ones or mashed) to cooked oats.  Optional: 1 scoop of protein powder.


Almond Coconut: Add 1 Tbs. slivered almonds, 1 Tbs. almond butter (stirred in or on top), 1/4 tsp. almond extract (optional), and 1 Tbs. shredded coconut or coconut flakes.







Saturday, August 10, 2013

Welcome to Beauty and Bananas!



Welcome to Beauty and Bananas! My name is Stephanie and I'm 15 years old. I'm a serious golfer and want to play in college. I've been playing golf since I was seven years old and practice almost everyday. I'm currently working on getting stronger so I can hit it further and be more competitive. I also have a passion for makeup and living a healthy lifestyle. I started this blog to combine two of my favorite things: Beauty and Health/Fitness. I have a youtube channel as well: 97pinkbubblegum where I post videos like makeup tutorials, favorites, fashion videos and reviews! I would love to be a makeup artist one day, but I think I want to major in Nutrition or Health Sciences. I don't know. We'll have to see. :)  I hope you enjoy my blog where you'll find healthy recipies, daily workout checkins, makeup tips, fashion looks and reviews! And who knows.. sometimes my dog Bella might pop up. ;)