RECIPE: Paleo Banana Nut Bread Scones

I admit it ... I'm a scone lover. Crunchy, delicious scones. Vanilla bean scones. Pineapple coconut scones. Cranberry walnut scones. Orange scones. I crave them. This morning we went for a six mile walk. We ate brunch while we were out. I had a salad of mixed greens, chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, cranberries, walnuts and broccoli. I finished lunch off with a pluot and a big bottle of water, then we made our way home ... The long way.
We got back home and sitting there on the counter in the kitchen was a couple of sad looking bananas. Way past their prime for peeling and eating, but well within the range of using them in banana bread. I decided to combine the two ideas ... Scones and Banana Bread while keeping it Paleo.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Almond Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon G round Cinnamon 
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 
2 tablespoons Honey
1 Very Ripe Banana, mashed 
1,2 cup Chopped Pecans
Topping:
3 tablespoons Honey
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a Silpat.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. 
3. Add vanilla and honey and mix well.
4. Fold in the bananas and pecans and mix again until everything comes together in one big massive ball of dough.
5. Place the dough on the baking sheet and flatten. I used my hands.
6. Bake for 16 - 18 minutes (depending on your oven).

7. While the scones are baking, make the glaze.
8. Once they are golden brown remove them from the oven to cool. Using a serrated knife, cut into 8 equal pieces.
9. Combine the honey and cinnamon in a small bowl, whisking until smooth.
10. Drizzle the scones with the glaze.
Makes 8 scones.

RECIPE: Ultimate Green Smoothie

Ultimate. Green. Smoothie. Three powerful words make up an equally powerful nutritious drink! The ingredients are simple. The process is simple. The results are AMAZING!! Granted, this drink won't win any awards for it's beauty, but it tastes FAR better than it looks AND it's very healthy!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Coconut Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt (I prefer ZOI)
1 ripe Banana
2 small Carrots (cleaned and cut into chunks)
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
3 - 4 cups organic Spinach
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices
1 teaspoon grated unsweetened Coconut
8 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

 Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Carrot Spice Smoothie

Yes, I am branching out and making smoothies with different vegetables ... This time I tried a carrot. Guess what? We both LOVED it! I have seen a few recipes with carrots, so I did my own experimenting and this is what I came up with ...
CARROT SPICE SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond milk (I'm sure Coconut milk would be great, too!)
1/2 cup ZOI unsweetened vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 large Carrot
1 Banana
1 teaspoon Agave
1 tablespoon unsweetened grated coconut
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spices (or some combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and/or cloves will do!)
6 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and peel a large carrot then cut it into chunks.
2. Put ingredients in a blender. 
3. Blend until smooth and creamy.

4. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Banana Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

Y'all are going to think we consume nothing but smoothies! Not so - I assure you! I'm not going to post any more for a few days ... Smoothies - Not recipes! I'm planning on doing some real cooking ... Just you wait! (However, this is one of my most favorite smoothies!!!)
BANANA BLUEBERRY SPINACH SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Banana
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
2 cups fresh organic Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in a blender. 

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Pour. Enjoy!

RECIPE: White Chocolate Macadamia Smoothie

Who doesn't love white chocolate macadamia nut cookies? Who doesn't love smoothies?? I experimented today ...
WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Banana
2 tablespoons White Chocolate Chips
2 tablespoons Macadamia Nuts
6 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. This may take a while if the macadamia nuts are whole. 

For best results, chop them first. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Mixed Fruit Smoothie

With lots of beautiful fruit around I can't help but make more smoothies. It's a great way to get a nutritional, energy packed meal!

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 cup vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 Banana

5 Strawberries

1/3 cup frozen Mango chunks

1/3 cup frozen Peach slices

1/3 cup frozen Blueberries

2 - 4 Ice Cubes

 Place all ingredient in a blender.

 Blend until smooth and creamy.

 Pour into a cup.

 Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie

One thing I must say ... When I have a smoothie packed with fresh fruits and spinach I usually do not feel the slightest bit hungry until late in the afternoon. That is one of the most important things I have discovered while doing "Smoothie Month" and I wanted to share. I start thinking about preparing dinner and I feel like I've had a surprising amount of fruits and vegetables already during the day. That's a very good feeling!
I thought I'd end the month (Happy Leap Day, everyone!!) with one of my favorite smoothies. I will continue to explore and post smoothies, so don't anyone get upset. :)
STRAWBERRY BANANA SPINACH SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 banana
6 fresh Strawberries
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries
1 teaspoon organic Agave
6 - 8 Walnut halves
6 Ice Cubes
2 - 4 cups fresh Baby Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2.  Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I bought a huge package of beautiful strawberries at the market, so I decided to use some in another smoothie this morning. I'm varying my ingredients to get a better idea of what I like and what I don't. I will admit during my "Smoothie Month" I have made a couple of smoothies that aren't going to be posted here ... One was so bad I took one sip and poured it out! Maybe someday I'll blog about that one, but not right now. :) Here's what I made this morning and it was very much like a strawberry banana milkshake.

STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS
1 cup Whole Milk

1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt

1 banana

8 fresh Strawberries

6 - 8 Walnut halves

6 Ice Cubes

 DIRECTIONS:

1. Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.

 2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Strawberry Peach Banana Smoothie

Conrad's 16 year old son was here this weekend. He spent the entire weekend studying for his Physics final. I felt sorry for the kid and asked him if he wanted a smoothie mid-afternoon. I thought it might give him an added boost of brain power. Whether it worked or not, he loved it.
STRAWBERRY PEACH BANANA SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 banana
6 Strawberries
1/2 frozen Peach
6 ice cubes

 DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Pumpkin Coconut and ... Spinach Smoothie?

I have to admit I was skeptical about adding such things as spinach or avocado to smoothies. After all, I think of fruit, yogurt, milk, and ice as the main components of smoothies. Man, was I wrong! There are literally millions of options and combinations of ingredients for making smoothies! Here's one that sure to blow your mind, but trust me ... It's delicious!!
PUMPKIN COCONUT SPINACH SMOOTHIE

It's GREEN!!!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Milk
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt (I just discovered ZOI brand, and I LOVE it!)
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened Coconut
6 Ice Cubes
1 teaspoon Agave (not pictured)
2 - 4 cups organic Baby Spinach

DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender - adding spinach last. The amount of spinach used will vary on how tightly you add it. 
2. Blend until smooth and creamy. (Yes, it will turn BRIGHT GREEN!!)

 3. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

For a thick, rich, nutritious smoothie that will remind you of the Holidays, try this recipe. Smoothies are notoriously nutritious, and with a hand full of ingredients, they can be made quickly and consumed while you're on-the-go.
PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1 banana
1/2 cup Pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 tablespoons walnuts
(I never measure nuts for smoothies - I just grab them with my fingers and put two sprinkles of them in.)
6 - 8 Ice Cubes

 DIRECTIONS:
1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!

RECIPE: Cinnamon Bun Smoothie

Sometimes nothing but something sweet will satisfy a craving. I can find very few times when a Paleo Smoothie won't satisfy that urge to indulge ...  Even when you crave a big, sugary cinnamon roll!

CINNAMON BUN SMOOTHIE

 INGREDIENTS:

1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 Banana

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon pure Maple Syrup

6 Ice Cubes

 DIRECTIONS:
1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour. Serve. Enjoy!