High Protein Banana Pudding Shake

I have been experimenting again, this time with cottage cheese. My husband has been searching for new ways to increase his daily protein intake so I started seeking out high protein shake recipes. I discovered that a shake made with cottage cheese AND whey protein makes for a super high protein shake. If you have looked at my recipes before you know that I put frozen bananas in all my smoothies. I love the consistency and the sweetness without adding sugar. Well I made a shake I found online that was supposed to taste like birthday cake and after a few tweaks (including the bananas!) I concocted a shake that tasted like banana pudding. No, really! And don't let the cottage cheese scare you. Once you throw it in the blender and smooth it out you won't have to worry about your smoothie having curd chunks. I personally do not like cottage cheese and get slightly nauseated looking at it. But throw it in a smoothie and I don't even taste it. For realz.

Banana Pudding Protein Shake!
SERVES 2
1 banana, frozen
2 scoops vanilla whey protein
1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbs brown sugar (optional, of course--I would skip this if using a protein powder that is already sweetened)
1- 1 1/2 cup skim milk (to desired thickness)
1/8 tsp xantham gum

1. Throw it all in the blender.
2. Tada! A high protein (over 40g) shake!

Oatmeal Flax Pancakes

I love pancakes. Looooove. I have been experimenting with all sorts of pancake recipes in an attempt to make them healthy without compromising taste. I have a few recipes up my sleeve and today I am giving you the recipe for my oatmeal flax pancakes!

Before I share the recipe I want to tell you about oat flour. Its great. Its high fiber and high protein. It also tastes better than a lot of the alternative flours you come across when searching for something to replace white flour. I like Bob's Red Mill Oat Flour. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you can find their products at Big Lots for less than you will even at Wally World. Yep.

I should also tell you about substitutions. See, when you see a delicious pancake recipe that you know is full of sugar and fat, you can make healthy swaps. Forget using oils; how about some greek yogurt or applesauce? Maybe canned pumpkin? Cut the sugar in half. Pancakes don't need to be too sweet, especially if you just wait and drizzle a little honey on them later. Mmm. And of course you can swap that regular ol' flour for coconut, oat, etc. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the uber healthy pancakes that you look at and go: "that doesn't sound too tasty." It happens. Sometimes those recipes are desperately in need of flavor. I suggest adding vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg...really any extract or spice that might dress them up a little. And if a recipe calls for absolutely no sugar and you feel like you need your pancakes a little sweet you can add a few tablespoons of honey OR consider adding a naturally sweet fruit like bananas.

Okay, on with the recipe! This is a recipe I adapted from Bob's Red Mill. It was actually on the package of oat flour. Basically I removed the oil from the recipe and added flax, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Oatmeal Flax Pancakes
Serves 4

1 Cup Skim Milk or Milk of Your Choice (I like coconut milk)
3/4 Cup Quick Oats
3/4 Cup Oat Flour
1/4 Cup Ground Flax Seeds
2 Tbsp Sweetener of Choice (I use raw honey)
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 Eggs, Large
1/2 Cup Plain Nonfat Yogurt
1 Tsp Vanilla


Preheat griddle over medium heat.

Mix milk and quick oats and cook in the microwave according to package directions. Let cool for a few minutes.

While oatmeal is cooling, mix flour, flax, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Then add oatmeal to dry ingredients.

Add eggs, yogurt, and vanilla to mixture. Stir thoroughly.

Drop pancakes onto griddle using a 1/4 cup scoop. Cook until golden brown on each side.

Nom nom nom

Top with yogurt, fruit, honey, nuts...whatever you like! Just try to keep it healthy! Enjoy.

Get in my belly

Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake

Today I was craving something sweet. Decadent. Chocolatey. That is what led me to an idea that should have been obvious sooner...a peanut butter cup shake! I love peanut butter. It is a food I could easily live on. It is also high in protein and can be nutritious (in moderation and without added sugar). In my mind nothing goes better with peanut butter than chocolate. Not even jelly! Its such a great combination. I  can't understand why my husband hates peanut butter, even if it is covered in chocolate. Freak.

So here is a little high protein shake I whipped up and enjoyed immensely. It satisfied my sweet tooth. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

1 cup lowfat chocolate milk
1 scoop chocolate protein (I like Optimum Whey in Double Rich Chocolate)
1 tbsp of natural peanut butter (read the ingredients!)
1/2 a frozen banana

Blend and indulge.

Sunrise Smoothie

I love pineapple. I think I could eat it every day. But if I want to get my husband to enjoy it, it has to be in a smoothie. This is a favorite in our house. It is another one that I came up with by throwing ingredients together, although I am sure its not original...everyone knows pineapple, orange, and banana are a winning combination! I don't usually measure, and I encourage you to play with the measurements to get the smoothie to the consistency you like.

Sunrise Smoothie Recipe

1/2 banana, frozen
1 cup fresh pineapple
1/2 cup fresh orangejuice
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Blend and enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie

I love smoothies. I love them because they are quick, healthy (if you do it right) and I can get my husband to drink them. This is a man that doesn't care for fruit (freak!). This is one of my ways of making sure he gets something besides meat and bread in his diet!

At first I strictly followed recipes. But now after making so many I have been getting pretty good at just making up smoothies based on what's in the kitchen. I have developed a few really good ones that way and I wanted to share. Here is my recipe for a chocolate covered cherry smoothie!

1 cup of cherries, pitted (I used bing cherries)
1/2 banana, frozen
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1/4 plain nonfat yogurt (I am sure vanilla or cherry would be good too!)
1/2-1 cup skim milk (depending on desired consistency)

Blend and enjoy!