Classic Banana Bread

Soft and moist banana bread with chopped pecans for an added crunch!

Ahhh the smell of freshly baked goods - the fresh out of the oven banana bread filled my kitchen last night with such a warm and sweet aroma that I found it incredibly hard to resist from taking a bite!

Crazy for avocados! + Avocado Smoothie Recipe

I wasn't always a big fan of avocados. The first time I tried it, I thought the taste was strange. But then again, I did eat it plain and straight out of the peel. I used to sprinkle lots of sugar on them, because it was the only one to make them taste remotely decent. But over time, I eventually grew to like them--without all that sugar on top. Now I absolutely love them! I like to have them on the side with grilled salmon. Also, they're especially filling in salads, sushi, and quesadillas. The list goes on! I always find an excuse to put avocados in everything that I make. To further express my love for avocados,  I thought I would share some fun facts about this wonderful fruit plus a smoothie recipe :)

5 Fun Facts

✰ one avocado has 320 calories

✰ contains the highest protein content of any fruit 

✰ increases nutrient absorption (mix them in your salad!)

✰ reduces the risk of inflammatory disorders 

✰ rich in omega-3, which protects against heart diseases

Avocado Smoothie Recipe

Creamy & nutritious! I love that this recipe uses all natural ingredients that are found around the kitchen, plus it's incredibly filling.

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Makes 1 serving

Half of an avocado
1 whole banana, frozen
Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon honey

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A fan of smoothie recipes? See my previous post:

Watermelon Pineapple

Welcoming Spring

...with some lovely homemade banana bread and fresh strawberries!

Food Discoveries: Skinny Cow

Goodbye Kit-Kats, and hello Skinny Cow heavenly crisps!

I came across these Skinny Cow crisp bars as I was digging through the snack cabinet a few weeks ago and I've been addicted to them ever since! They are honestly the yummiest chocolate covered wafers I've ever had. I like them better than Kit-Kats as they don't leave an overly sticky aftertaste. Plus, they're only 110 calories per bar!  

I was instantly hooked after the first bite so I went on their website to check out their other products.  From their selection of frozen snacks to the chocolate candy, they all looked incredibly delicious and irresistible. I believe the Skinny Cow brand is known for its low-calorie and tasty snacks. The fact that their chocolates come in small individual packages helps me to avoid over-snacking haha.

What got me really excited is finding out that they recently came out with the chocolate crisp bars in RASPBERRY! Chocolate and raspberry are the best thing since PB&J really. Since they are exclusively sold at Target, I will definitely be making a Target run and then happily indulge in my new favorite thing. 

Can't believe I rambled on about this little thing, sometimes I get way too carried away about food!

I dare you to try this and tell me that it isn't better than Kit-Kats!

A Mighty Breakfast

With sautéed tomatoes & mushrooms, topped with avocados & sour cream, stuffed with cheddar cheese. 

Cafe Brasil, a little eatery in Santa Cruz, is known for their hearty brunch selections and yummy acai bowls. Because I had an appointment at noon, my roommates and I woke up at 8:00 AM sharp to go there for breakfast so we can make it back on time. This just goes to show how badly we wanted a substantial meal (college students are deprived of this daily). And because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we thought, why not? 

I went for the Omelette Santa Cruz, with sautéed tomatoes and mushrooms, topped with avocados and sour cream. From the fresh avocado slices to the omelet itself, everything tasted oh-so-delicious! It was such a satisfying breakfast that it almost made me forget about all the school work I had to do over this weekend. Breakfast does really make a difference and I'm glad that I started the day off with a mighty one!

Waking up at 8 on a Saturday morning was totally worth it.