Larissa's Favorite Things List - Summer 2010

I really enjoy it when my friends/family write about things that they are really into and enjoy because it helps me feel more in tune with them and gives me ideas on things I may want to try myself- whether it is a new recipe to try, a new book to read, a new website to check out, etc. So I thought I would share a few of the things I have been into as well this past summer! So, here are a few of my favorite things lately:

Websites:

• No Time For Flashcards - I think I have shared this before - it is a great site I go to if I am trying to get art ideas for Shayla for a quick art project- fun stuff!

• E-mealz.com - A cool menu planning website that gives you lots of weekly menu options based on stores, types of foods you eat (vegetarian, gluten free, etc). I just did a trial for a few weeks and like how all the recipes for the week print on one page and very easy to use. All the recipes I have tried from them are great too (although the veggie ones are high in using lots of fake meat products which I try to consume very little of so I won;t be a regular member of this site but fun to take a break from planning for a month or two and get great recipes and save $ on your food budget.)

TV/Movies:

• Pillars of The Earth. Okay so one of my most favorite books (and author for that matter) is Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett. So, when I saw that there was going to be a mini series made of the book I knew I had to see it! Problem was I did not have the channel it was on! Luckily I found a coupon to get Two months free of Starz (the channel it was on) which was just enough to see the 6 week miniseries. Wow -- was it one intense show! It has been about 5 years since I read the book so I did not remember how corrupt the story was but it was very well done with amazing acting too, so maybe it will come out on Netflix or something soon for you all to see!

Books: Okay I am reading the final 3rd book of the Hunger Games Series and it is good but the first two were much better!!!

Food:

• Kashi Honey Sunshine. This cereal is so good and so healthy. I just eat it plain for a snack when I am craving something crunchy! 6 gm fiber and 20 gm of whole grains! Try it if you can find it - they have it at TJs and Target too!

• Coconut Oil. Although I have been using it as a oil/butter substitute for some time now, Coconut Oil has been making its appearance in new recipes I have been trying, especially dessert type recipes. There has been some research that Coconut Oil also stimulates your thyroid which may have happened to me as since I have been using more coconut oil, my thyroid medication for my hypothyroidism has been reduced - so that's a good thing (although it cold also be related to post-pregnancy status too as your body changes a lot during and after pregnancy and nursing so not sure what the cause is). Anyway, here is one of my favorite ways to use it combined with one of my favorite recipes lately! It has a texture just like magic shell (that stuff you put on ice cream) and is so healthy for you!

Chocolate PB Protein Magic Shell

• ½ - 1 Tablespoon coconut oil


• ½ - 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter


• 1 scoop Chocolate Protein Powder (I use Trader Joes Chocolate Whey protein)

1 - Melt your coconut oil and peanut butter together in microwave for 10-15 seconds until coconut oil is in liquid form and pb looks glossy.

2 - Stir in Chocolate Protein Powder. (It will be a bit grainy and liquidy but will harden when you mix with ice cream(

Done!

Mix into Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream for a Blizzard like treat – so good AND sooo healthy! Yum! You can also pour over any frozen treat (ice cream, fruit, etc) ad enjoy!

My mom taught me the trick of freezing ripe bananas and blending them into ice cream consistency. Really frozen blended bananas are like ice cream. I make mine more decadent and protein filled by adding peanut butter and some vanilla to liven up the taste! <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]-->

Here's a step-by-step list:

Peel ripe bananas.

Cut the banana into slices and lay on plate for freezing (1-2 hours up to overnight)

Place as much as you want (I usually use about 1.5 bananas for a serving) into blender and blend away until the consistency of ice cream! Save remainder in freezer bag for your next ice cream fix!

*If you like add 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter and ½ teaspoon vanilla to make Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream and serve with Chocolate PB Protein Magic Shell for a super special PROTEIN filled treat!!!

*Options – Add other flavored protein powder for protein ice cream, add a few chocolate chips to blender to make chocolate chip ice cream, add any other frozen fruit for sorbet, try whatever you like and it probably will be good!

People:

Cannot get enough of my 3 babies (and hubby - not pictured)!!!