Sunday, May 31, 2015

Day 151: Mango and Banana Smoothie

I'm officially in love with my blender.  As the summer heats up, cool off with this easy and healthy drink!


Ingredients:

2 mangoes
1 banana
2/3 cup milk
2 ice cubes

1.  Peel and cube 2 ripe mangoes.  Slice up banana.
2.  Put in fruit along with the rest of the ingredients into a blender.  Blend and enjoy!

Ps.  The recipe I found also called for vanilla extract and honey, but mine was already so sweet and flavorful that I skipped those.  Based on how ripe your banana and mangoes are, you may want to add one or both to sweeten the smoothie.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Day 150: Fun with baking

When I was in my twenties, I would walk around the housewares section at Anthropologie and swear that once I could, I would outfit my kitchen with all their trendy ceramic crockery.  But after after getting my first real job and spending a mere $48 on an apron, I reconsidered.  Nice novelties they were, but not practical or realistic, especially at such hefty pricetags.

However, I did come across this Anthro-esque measuring cup set on sale at Pier 1 Imports.  I bought it a few years ago, and it was promptly stored away in on the top shelf of my kitchen cabinet.  It stayed that way until earlier this year when we moved into an apartment with ample counter space.  It was so pretty, that I used it mainly for decoration.  Not that baking isn't fun in itself, but I do find myself using it from time-to-time for added fun.  Just like drinking tea from a fancy teacup on a random Tuesday, using this measuring set is a way for me to break up the routine.  It hasn't broken or chipped yet, but when it does, I won't be crying about spending more than $10 on it!




Friday, May 29, 2015

Day 149: Make your own mocha frappuccino at home

Summertime is when we coffee drinkers swap out our hot beverages for cool ones, and instead of running to Starbucks every time you want to cool down, try this easy recipe instead.  Not only is it more than half the calories, but you won't have to leave home to get it!


8 ounces coffee or espresso
1/4 cup low fat milk
1/2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 tablespoon sugar in the raw
1 cup ice cubes (roughly 4 ice cubes)

1.  Mix the coffee, milk, cocoa and sugar together.
2.  Put the ice in a blender.  Pour coffee mixture over ice.
3.  Blend on ice pulse until everything is blended.  Enjoy!

Makes 2 servings.  56 calories/serving.