Banana Fudge Pops

These handy popsicle molds are not necessary--some people make popsicles with paper cups and popsicle sticks.  However, if you happen upon any at a garage sale or second-hand store, they are handy to have around.

Basically all you do is thoroughly mash bananas, peanut butter, cocoa powder, vanilla, and milk together; spoon into popsicle molds; and freeze.

Begging pardon--my amounts are approximated.  I didn't measure anything; and I ended up with too much filling.  The leftover filling I froze in an ordinary container for spoon eating.  For six pops, three bananas probably would have been enough.

Banana Fudge Pops

3-4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 to 1/3 c. Peanut butter
3-4 T. Cocoa powder
1 splash vanilla extract
Milk, to thin

Beat all ingredients together until smooth.  Taste for correct amounts of cocoa and peanut butter.  Add frozen blueberries or strawberries, if desired.  Spoon into popsicle molds.  Cover with lids, add sticks, and freeze.  Makes 6-8

Savor on a summer day!

Post-Workout Smoothie (Milkshake?)

Pure deliciousness

At what point does a smoothie cross the line and become a milkshake?  Is it when it tastes too good to be true?  Is it when chocolate is added?  Is it when it ceases to be healthy?  Whatever the case, this beverage is so delicious that it probably crosses that line.

I've recently taken up running.  And being the perfectionist that I am, I haven't started it without doing some research.  My sources tell me that it's best to eat something--especially protein--within 30 minutes after working out.  This helps rebuild the muscles you've damaged exercising. 

Other sources have told me particular things that are good to eat after running--yummy things like dark chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter.  Considering everything I've read, this smoothie seems to be the perfect food to eat/drink after running: it cools you off, it re-hydrates you, it's full of protein, and it's delicious.  Regardless of how many calories it contains, you've probably just burned them off, and you deserve the reward!

*You don't have to work out before drinking this; but if you do, there will be no guilt in savoring every delightful sip.

Just five lovely ingredients

Here are the ingredients: cocoa powder, banana, peanut butter, almond milk, and frozen yogurt.  (There is enough sugar in everything else to sweeten the cocoa.)  I use frozen ingredients in my smoothies so that they won't be diluted with ice cubes.  If you like it thicker, go ahead--but I'm warning you, it would be better to freeze the banana.

Place it all in the blender and blend until smooth.  Vary amounts according to taste.

Tip: an easy way to clean your blender is to fill it with water and add a drop of dish soap.  Blend on low (some blenders have an "easy clean" setting) until clean.  Rinse thoroughly.

Chocolate Protein Smoothie

1 medium banana
Peanut butter to taste
Cocoa powder to taste
Vanilla frozen yogurt to taste
Almond (or regular) milk to thin

Blend until smooth.  Savor every sip.

Peanut Butter Pie (Π)

What better way to celebrate Pi Day (3.14), which falls in the middle of National Peanut Butter Month, than with a luscious Peanut Butter Pie?  It's so simple and so rich that you'll want it more than once a year; but it's a very fitting dessert for March 14th.

Peanut Butter Pie

Prepared Graham Cracker Crust
8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. peanut butter
1 8-oz. carton whipped topping, thawed

Cream the cream cheese.  Add powdered sugar and peanut butter and beat until smooth.  Fold in cool whip.
Place in crust.  Refrigerate or freeze.

For added delight, add chopped peanut butter cup candies or chocolate chips; or drizzle melted chocolate on top.

Serve on Π Day to your friends/family/coworkers.  
NOTE: If you have no friends, this pie may help you to obtain friends. 
DISCLAIMER: Having never loved math, I do not observe this day because of 3.14159....But I love pie, and I'll take any excuse to make one.

Our 100th Post

Chocolate-Ribboned Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Topping:

1/2 C. all-purpose flour

1/2  C. packed brown sugar

1/4 C. creamy peanut butter

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

Batter:

1/2 C. butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 C. sugar

2 eggs

1 C. mashed ripe bananas (3-4 bananas)

1 t. vanilla extract

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 C. semisweet chocolate chips

For topping: In small bowl, stir flour, brown sugar, peanut butter, and cinnamon until crumbly; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well. Beat in bananas and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon until just moistened.

Divide half of batter between two greased 8"x4" loaf pans. Sprinkle with half of topping and top with chocolate chips. Repeat layers of batter and topping.

Bake at 350° F. for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire rack.

Enjoy with a glass of milk.

Note: This tastes even better when you prepare it with your friend and blogging partner!  Thank you for sticking around 100 posts!  ~H&K

Best Smoothie Ever

1 banana, frozen
2 T. peanut butter (approximately)
1 T. cocoa powder (approximately)
water (or milk) to thin
sweetener may be added to taste, if so desired

Combine in a blender until smooth.  Chill before eating, if desired.

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Muffins

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
½ t. salt
1 c. mashed, ripe bananas (I used 3 bananas)1/3 c. milk
1/3 c. peanut butter
3 T. peanut oil (can use vegetable or canola)
1 egg
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400° F.  Place papers in 17 muffin cups (18 if you make small muffins). 

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  In a separate bowl, mix bananas, milk, peanut butter, oil, and egg.  Add to dry ingredients, mixing just until moistened.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Place ¼ c. batter in each muffin paper (use less per muffin if you want 18 muffins). 

Bake 20-25 minutes.

The reason the number of muffins is off is that this recipe originally made 1 loaf of bread, baked at 350° for 60 minutes.  And the original recipe calls for chocolate chips and chopped peanuts to be sprinkled on top before baking.

Simple Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie-Bars

Read my comment on this post to see the modifications necessary to make these bars.

Waffle Sandwich

2 waffles, toasted or fresh off the iron

peanut butter

1 sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

honey

Place one waffle on serving plate. Spread with a thick layer of peanut butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired. Place second waffle on peanut butter; top with honey. Serve immediately with a tall glass of milk to wash it down. Serves 1.

Any type of nut butter may be used in place of peanut butter. Cream cheese or cream cheese spread may also be used. Pancakes may be used in place of waffles; syrup may be used in place of honey. Any spice may be sprinkled on top; and nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips may be sprinkled on top. Additionally, this may be served as a dessert with Nutella in the middle, and chocolate syrup on the top. The possibilities are limited only to a person's creativity!

Simple Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whew! The name takes longer to type than the cookies take to eat! =)

1 c. peanut butter, smooth or crunchy

1 large egg

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 pinch baking powder

1 c. miniature chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325° F. Mix all ingredients until blended. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen

Note: these cookies crumble easily.

Edited:

A few notes after baking these for the second time:

*I had to bake the cookies for about 16-18 minutes instead of 8-10. They were small, but I had made balls of dough. Perhaps they should be flattened before baking.

*A splash of vanilla increases the yumminess value of these cookies.

*Do not substitute honey for sugar. I tried this to see if the cookies held together better than usual. The result was far too soft, and I had to add flour--which defeats the purpose of flourless cookies. On the other hand, part honey and part sugar might be perfect.

P.S. It was not an accident that left the flour out of the ingredients list. These cookies are basically peanut butter and sugar, held together by egg! Delicious!

Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Question time again! What do you like to have with peanut butter sandwiches? (Oh--you don't like peanut butter? I'll forgive you.) Here are a few of my favorites:

• Cinnamon
• Strawberry preserves
• Grape jam
• Honey
• Raisins
• Cinnamon and raisins

Stuffed Apple

This is delicious! The idea came from my cousin M.

1 apple
2 T. peanut butter (approximately)

Wash apple and remove the core. Fill it with peanut butter. (If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon.) Serve immediately. Serves 1.