Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookie Dough.

Have you ever been in a breakfast rut? Come on...y'all know what I'm talking about: cereal, oatmeal, tofu scramble, avo toast, repeat. The end. Boring, right? Yup, agreed. Sometimes you're tastebuds are just hankering for a change...and my Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookie Dough delivers: not only is it packed with vitamins and healthy fats, but it literally tastes like you're eating dessert for breakfast. Even better?!: it takes about 3 minutes to make...IF THAT. Now if THAT doesn't make you wanna jump out of bed on Monday mornings, I don't know WHAT will...enjoy, guys! 

  Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookie Dough. 

Peanut Butter Banana Breakfast Cookie Dough. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 overripe banana, mashed

2. 1/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal

3. 1 T powdered peanut butter

4. 3 T all natural peanut butter

5. 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional, but recommended)

6. Toppings of choice (delish with fresh raspberries!)

Method 

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl and stir well. 

2. Scoop cookie dough into a small serving bowl and top as desired. Serve! 

Cinnamon-Toffee Banana Oatmeal Bread.

With the weather cooling down for fall, I'm beginning to crave warmer breakfasts. This comforting banana bread is DELISH--and super easy. Enjoy!

    Cinnamon-Toffee Banana Oatmeal Bread. 

               So good. SOOOOO good. 

Cinnamon-Toffee Banana Oatmeal Bread. Vegan, gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup oatbran

2. Very overripe banana, mashed well

3. 1/4 tsp cinnamon

4. 10 drops toffee flavored stevia

5. 2 T water 

Method

1. Mix all ingredients and form a loaf. Spread evenly and bake at 350 F for 25 minutes. 

2. Let cool and carefully remove. Slice evenly and serve. 

Two-minute Banana Bread. Grain free!

Busy mornings mean quick breakfasts...but quick doesn't have to mean gross guys! (Or unhealthy, but that's a given I think...👌). This "Two-minute Banana Bread" is the perfect breakfast: chock full of healthy fiber to keep you full, carbs for sustained energy, and vitamins and minerals for wellness. When combined with a protein-rich smoothie (add protein powder to any of my smoothie recipes! All are in my recipe file!), this quick and easy microwave recipe turns into a perfect breakfast. Enjoy! 

           Two-minute Banana Bread. 

      Insane. SOOOO GOOD AND SO EASY!!

Two-minute Banana Bread. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. One overripe banana 

2. 1/4 cup flaxseed

3. 1/4 tsp cinnamon

4. 1/2 tsp baking powder

Method

1. Pretty much the same procedure as a regular mug cake...in a medium size bowl, mash your naner and mix with remaining ingredients. 

2. Spread batter into a smallish microwave safe pie dish. Nuke two minutes. Done! 

RAW mug cake.

When I was at the vitamin shoppe a few days ago (one of my frequent errands...😂), I succumbed to the all-too-familiar "spend more money in order to use the coupon" thing. Yep, I know. Bad, Anna, bad. BUT. There's a happy ending to this story! 🙌 I was about $10 shy of being able to use my coupon (which expired that same day), so I frantically (per urging of the talented salesman) began searching the shelves for a random $10 item that would allow me to use my beloved coupon. And then it caught my eye: Garden of Life RAW vanilla protein powder...I had been waiting for it to go on sale (which it JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE!)...and now I had a better excuse than ever! Thanks, Mr. Coupon! 😃 so this yummy mug cake was born...enjoy!

                  RAW mug cake. 

                     Oh my gosh. 

                          Delish. 

RAW mug cake. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. One scoop Garden of Life RAW vanilla protein powder

2. One overripe banana

3. 1/2 tsp baking powder

Method

1. Mash your banana very well. Add protein powder and baking powder and mix well until a sticky batter forms. 

2. Spoon into small micro save dish and nuke on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Watch closely to make sure it doesn't overflow! 

3. Let cool and DIG IN! 

A soup for spring (well, sorta spring...): Chilled Cantaloupe Banana Soup.

Soup is probably one of my favorite things in the world to make. Soup of all kinds--hearty, silky, light, hot, cold, spicy, sweet, chunky, you name it...I love it! Ever since I got my vitamix last February, I've been kind of obsessed with its blending powers...thus, and increased obsession with homemade soups! 

We've had pretty wacky weagher this week here in central Va...it was 60 degrees AND SUNNY on Monday! But I'm not complaining--bring it ON! Needless to say, I was feeling super springy after my run Monday morning, and craving a nice light and cold breakfast. So...soup for brekkie? Yup. You guys shouldn't be surprised...I'm pretty traditional after all, right?! 😂😜 Enjoy!

   Chilled Cantaloupe Banana Soup. 

             Yes. I think yes indeed. 

Chilled Cantaloupe Banana Soup. Vegan, gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 2 cups fresh chopped cantaloupe 

2. One large frozen banana (freeze SLICED!)

3. One cup light coconut or coconut-almond combo milk 

4. 10 drops coconut stevia

5. 6 oz. silken soft tofu

6. Chopped mint for garnish

Method

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in your vitamix or other high speed blender. 

2. Starting on low, slowly work up to high speed, blending until perfectly smooth. If you prefer a thinner soup, add water through the top spout as you blend. 

3. Pour into large bowl and garnish with chopped mint. YUMM!

Sweet 'n Spicy Banana Bread Oatmeal!

Will this winter ever end?! It really feels like not....😭😭😭 I'm cold-natured (which is precisely why I'm a figure skater...? Haha! I'm so silly!), so this weather is literally killing me: today is the first day ALL WEEK that the temps have been above 22 degrees. NO I AM NOT KIDDING. YES I STILL LIVE IN VIRGINIA...aka the SOUTH where it's supposed to be WARM. Lol. 

Needless to say, I've been making a TON of warm food. You guys know I am primarily (80%) raw, but I've had to make an exception this week--BRING ON THE HEAT BABY! And boy, does this hawt oat bowl ever! Sinlessly delicious, super easy, and will have you sweating (I'm serious...I DID! True story.) in no time 🔥👌 enjoy, my little snow bunnies! I'm off to make tea...❄️😂 

      Sweet 'n Spicy Banana Bread Oatmeal. 

     Topped with PB...but of course!

       Ooey-gooey-spicy GOODNESS! 

Sweet 'n Spicy Banana Bread Oatmeal!; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

2. 1 cup almond milk

3. 1 overripe banana, sliced 

4. 1/4 tsp (less if you're a spice wimp) cayenne

5. 1/2 cup water

6. 2 T Peanut Butter (optional, but OH SO HIGHLY recommended!)

Method 

1. In a small pot on the stove, bring your almond milk to a boil. Remove from burner, reduce heat to medium, stir in oats, and return to heat. 

2. When beginning to thicken, add sliced banana, cayenne, and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened to desired consistency. 

3. Top with PB and EAT! Serve with water hehe...🔥😳😋

Chocolate Banana Bread Overnight Oatmeal.

Ok you guys. This jar of oats is about as close to heaven on earth as you can get! Ohhhhh boy are you in for a treat! I dare say this breakfast might make you become a morning person...!

      Chocolate Banana Bread Overnight      Oatmeal. 

Chocolate Banana Bread Overnight Oatmeal. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 

2. 1 cup almond milk 

3. One VERY overripe banana

4. 1 T carob powder (can use cocoa)

5. 2 T salt-free PB

6. Cinnamon, optional

Method 

1. Combine oats and carob in a jar. Secure kid and give it a good shake to combine. 

2. In a separate bowl, mash your naner. 

3. Add mashed banana to jar and pour almond milk over. Mix well. 

4. Cover and place in fridge at least 24 hours. In the morning, top with PB and optional cinn. DEVOUR!!!! 

Note: you can hear in the microwave if you want, but I think these are better left chilled. 

Cinnamon Banana Bread Oatmeal.

Prepare to fall in love. Not only is this bomb of a breakfast INSANELY DELICIOUS, but also...you make it in the microwave. Yeah. Told you you'd fall in love. 

     Cinnamon Banana Bread Oatmeal. 

Cinnamon Banana Bread Oatmeal; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup oats of choice 

2. One very overripe banana, mashed in separate bowl

3. 1/4 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for garnish

4. 2 T all natural peanut butter 

Method 

1. Place oats in a microwave safe bowl and add cinnamon and mashed banana. Mix well. Stir in 1 cup water and microwave high 2 minutes. 

2. Top with PB and sprinkle with cinnamon. Eat! 

3 Ingredient Grain Free (PROTEIN!) Pancakes.

So funny story. Well, not really funny, but...kind of hehe. I sorta blew up my oven last night. It was pretty bad. With my cookbook in the works I've been doing LOTS of recipe testing every day (at every meal!)...basically means my poor little oven has been working MUCH harder than normal. I usually am not a baker, and it's not uncommon for me to go weeks without even turning my oven on! But with the cookbook writing prep, all that has changed. 

Anyway, back to my story. I was planning on making...something yummy (I can't give it away yet! They will be in my cookbook...!) in the oven. However. With last night's mini fiasco, that plan was, well, terminated. 

And then these not-so-beauties were born. Don't let their humble (um, Anna...try UGLY) appearance scare you off. These. Things. Are. Amazing. Definitely a new favorite of mine! 

  3 Ingredient Grain Free (HIGH PROTEIN!) Pancakes. 

3 Ingredient Grain Free (HIGH PROTEIN!) Pancakes; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one (makes 3 small-medium pancakes). 

Ingredients 

1. One OVERRIPE banana, mashed 

2. One scoop (or 1/4 cup) protein powder of choice (I used Vega)

3. 2 T ground flaxseeds

4. 1 tsp water

Method

1. Heat a nonstick pan/skillet over the stove. 

2. Combine mashed nana and protein powder and mix well. Add 1 tsp water and mix again. Add flax and stir ver very well. The "batter" will be thick and VERY sticky. Don't let that scare you. 

3. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter onto heated pan and spread around to form a circle. These cook FAST. Cook about 1 minute, flip, cook one minute. Repeat for 3 cakes. Too as desired or eat as is! Yummy both ways. 

NOTE: Protein powders vary in texture and consistency quite drastically. If you use a brand other than Vega I can't guarantee the outcome will react like mine. 

Copycat "Wendy's" Carob Frosty.

Ahhhh, summer is finally here. And you all know what that means...swimming, vacation, relaxing, and of course, frozen goodness! 

I used to LOVE those "Frosty" desserts that Wendy's used to serve. Of course, I haven't had one in YEARS (Like maybe 8 years?!) but I remember exactly how they taste, nonetheless! Cool, rich, and utterly satisfying, I have fond memories of summer nights eating these while watching the sunset...after a day at the pool of course! 

This veganized version of my all time fave is as close to the real thing as you can get. Give it a go! You will love it! 

      Copycat "Wendy's" Carob Frosty. 

                 Frosty deliciousness!

Copycat "Wendy's" Carob Frosty; Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients 

1. One frozen chopped pear 

2. One frozen chopped banana

3. 1 T carob powder

4. 1/3 cup almond milk

5. 1/3 cup plus 1/8 cup cold water, divided

Method 

1. Place banana, pear, carob powder, almond milk, and 1/3 cup water in your vitamix or high speed blender. Blend slowly from low to high. While blender is running, add 1/8 cup water through the top. Use plunger to get things moving of necessary. 

2. Blend until smooth. It will be thick--don't think smoothie, think more ice cream. Serve in a tall "frosty glass" and enjoy!

My Favorite Breakfast Sandwich.

I have no words. This sandwich is literally the best thing on the planet. Make it! 

       My Favorite Breakfast Sandwich. 

                    Drooooooool. 

My Favorite Breakfast Sandwich; Vegan, Gluten-free option. Serves one. 

Ingredients 

1. 2 slices while grain bread of choice (I used Ezekiel brand. Use gluten free if needed)

2. 2 T peanut butter 

3. 1/2 banana

4. 1/4 tsp vanilla powder

5. 1/8 tsp (or more!) cinnamon

Method 

1. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. 

2. In a small bowl, mash your banana half. Add vanilla and cinnamon and mix up well. Spread banana mixture on one slice of the bread. 

3. Spread peanut butter on the other slice of bread and smash the two sides together gently. It will be pretty thick, so handle with care. 

4. Lay on skillet and cook 3-4 minutes per side, or until desired "grill" is reached (mine took about 4 minutes). Enjoy!

Breakfast Sushi.

Everybody loves breakfast. As one of my good friends on Instagram said, it's literally like you're saying "Hello, food! I've missed you!" I absolutely love love love breakfast. For me, breakfast food is comfort food. Oatmeal, vanilla no gurt (recipe in a previous post), nice cream and sorbet, ok Anna....

This recipe was inspired by one of my favorite oatmeal toppings/condiments; I call it protein "frosting". This has gotten LOTS of interest and inquiries on my Instagram page, so I thought I would finally share my staple spread on my blog also! 

Quick and easy, this Breakfast Sushi can go as a quick afternoon pick me up also. Start to finish, it takes about 5 minutes to make (and it looks really pretty!). Can't beat that! 

                    Breakfast Sushi. 

              Up close and personal. 

Breakfast Sushi; Vegan, Gluten-free option. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. One medium-large whole grain/gluten free wrap or tortilla (I used a lavash wrap made of oat flour and flax. Mine was super big, so I cut it in half.)

2. 2 T or one scoop protein powder of choice 

3. Pinch of stevia if your protein powder is unsweetened, as mine is

4. One medium banana, peeled

5. Cinnamon for garnish, optional (try ginger!)

Method

1. Lay out your wrap on a large, flat surface. 

2. Make your protein frosting: in a small bowl, combine protein powder and optional stevia. Mix together and add splashes of water until a spreadable, "frosting"-like consistency is reached. Add water a little at a time as it is VERY easy to make this too runny by accident. 

3. Spread protein frosting on wrap, reserving a little to seal the edges after you roll it up. 

4. Lay banana to one side of wrap and start Rollin! Seal edges together with remaining frosting, slice like sushi, and sprinkle with cinnamon or ginger. You could try nutmeg too. Get creative! 

         Breakfast in 5 minutes (or less!). 

Note: what makes this even MORE AWESOME you ask?! Depending on your protein powder, this little meal can pack a BIG protein punch. My wrap plus my powder brought this protein count to 22 grams total. Boom babay!