Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!
I don’t have class until one today, so I woke up early, made a giant mug of chamomile tea, straightened up a bit, then had a giant green monster. I’ve been craving fruits and veggies for a few days, so I knew it was time for a hearty dose of spinach for breakfast. In cookie dough form.
This green monster has a special ingredient–you may have guessed it based on the above picture. Drumroll, please!
Yes, oatmeal. You all know by now that I love oatmeal in any form, and old-fashioned oats were on sale at Waldbaum’s yesterday–buy one get one free, basically. It cost $4 for two of those big oats containers–yay! We haven’t had anything other than steel-cut oats for a while, so I was excited to get back to these guys.
Cookie Dough Green Monster
- 1 C skim milk
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/3 C uncooked old-fashioned oats (though you could use quick oats, too)
- 2 handfuls spinach
- 2 T vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast (ugh–still trying to get rid of these)
Using the standard layering order of green monsters, I added milk, instant breakfast, oats, spinach, and banana on top.
I had a few very ripe bananas lying around last week, but I knew I wouldn’t have time to make anything with them. Rather than throw them away, I peeled ‘em and froze them in large chunks. This is perfect for green monsters, ’cause I don’t need to add ice to have a cold smoothie, and no wasting old bananas!
Blend for a few minutes until smooth, and enjoy. I made one for Fritz this morning, too, in an attempt to help him get over a summer cold.
The Carnation Instant Breakfast isn’t my favorite thing in the whole world, but it did give a nice vanilla cookie dough flavor with the oats. It was a little sweet for my taste, so once I’m finally rid of these things, I’d probably just add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and skip the added sugar. If you need it at little sweeter, you can use sugar, honey, vanilla protein powder…
I love the flavor of the blended oats. They give the green monster a really nice texture and doughy taste.
I also tried blending some granola in a green monster the other day, but it also turned out to be too sweet. Similar texture as the oats, though, which I did like. My bananas lately have been extra ripe, so the sweetness factor is already pretty high. Other things to try in this particular mix: adding cinnamon for an oatmeal-raisin cookie dough, and cocoa for a chocolate chip cookie dough. Yum!
In other news, guess who’s been feeling better lately?
Have a good day today!
20 comments
3 pings
lifecoachabby
June 6, 2011 at 10:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yum, that looks great. We have a greens smoothie every morning. Never put oats in it though. We will have to try that.
tharrie
June 6, 2011 at 1:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
….dear Henry old chap – glad you are feeling better today and sincerely hope your food does not include any green monster today but some sardine-terrine!….purry greetings – Princi
Lauren Zietsman
June 6, 2011 at 8:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yup he’s on the spoiled IAMS cat diet now!!
talk about eating like a KING (or Prince? 
)
Diana
August 30, 2011 at 3:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
IAMS is not good for your cat – have you looked into a grain-free diet?
Lauren Zietsman
August 30, 2011 at 7:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I actually haven’t…but we are thinking about adopting another kitten so I’ll have to start doing some research!
Michelle
June 6, 2011 at 1:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love adding oats or buckwheat groats to my green monsters. It gives them such a great texture!
Lauren Zietsman
June 6, 2011 at 8:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oooh I have some buckwheat groats that just might go in tomorrows! Thanks for the tip
katshealthcorner
June 7, 2011 at 9:35 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m so glad that Henry is feeling better!!! He is such a handsome ole’ chap!!
I love your Green Smoothie!!! I’ve never tried oats in a smoothie. You are such a smartie.
My BlogJect
June 7, 2011 at 3:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
SPinach? Is that right? SPinach with banana and milk?
Honestly please confirm is this OK?
Does the spinach flavour come through?
Lauren Zietsman
June 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes spinach! and no, you can’t taste it! if you use kale or chard it’s easier to taste, but baby spinach just makes it a crazy color! also, use ripe bananas so that it’s sweet enough
anjobanjo22
June 7, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow this looks so good! I don’t usually think spinach in a drink is yummy but I think I’m gonna have to try this out!
Thanks for sharing!
jingotron
June 7, 2011 at 7:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I will have to try this, I was just saying I wanted a breakfast smoothie with spinach. Really, I was!
mandi
June 8, 2011 at 9:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love Pinterest! It introduces me to amazing blogs like yours. Thanks for such beautiful recipes and photos! Can I just pin your entire blog?
Lauren Zietsman
June 8, 2011 at 9:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
haha I’d love that! I just started Pinterest, so I’m still feeling my way around it
Erin Quinn Robison
June 8, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Had the smoothie this morning! YUM! Never thought to put oats in one…fantastic texture. I didn’t freeze my banana and it needed to be colder so I added frozen blueberries….talk about a crazy color!
Love your blog! I’m a newbie here but look forward to your posts!
Happy Wednesday!
Lauren Zietsman
June 8, 2011 at 4:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
thanks! glad you liked it–and the frozen blueberries sound delicious
I love having frozen fruit around for snacking and smoothie purposes 
Angela
June 8, 2011 at 5:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
this looks great! im going to try this, but probably with something different than the instant breakfast. speaking of which, i noticed you mentioned you’re trying to get rid of them? you could just donate them to a food pantry–im sure if you don’t want them they’d be great for someone else who truly needs them.
Lauren Zietsman
June 8, 2011 at 8:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
that is a great idea, but I only have a few left…think it’s still worth it?
Kelsey
September 28, 2011 at 8:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This was AMAZING!!! I used the tbs of vanilla protein powder and it came out just perfect! I cannot wait to try some more of these recipes!!!
Lauren Zietsman
September 28, 2011 at 9:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad to hear it!
a zöld szörny « hopicur
August 3, 2011 at 4:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] http://fullmeasureofhappiness.com/2011/06/06/cookie-dough-green-monster/ tipp: nehézség : könnyű buktató:ha nincs turmixunk ( mint nekem ), csak aprítónk, mert akkor [...]
Easy Smoothies | Momcaster
January 4, 2012 at 6:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] While we’re on the subject of green smoothies, Full Measure of Happiness has created something called a “Cookie Dough Green Monster” smoothie. The way she talks [...]
Cookie Dough Green Monster (8 PP+) | See Cupcake Run
January 30, 2012 at 6:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Cookie Dough Green Monster Recipe adapted from Full Measure Of Happiness [...]