Oh, hey guys. Remember me?
I’m so excited to announce that we are officially moved into our new apartment–it’s definitely not my dream home, but it has a dishwasher, washer and dryer, nicer kitchen appliances, a big closet to house my shopping addiction clothes, and a little more room to wander around in. Meaning that our kitchen, living room, and dining room are not one room as it was in our last apartment.
In fact, I sometimes catch Fritz wandering around looking for me like a little lost child. Not sure how he will handle a move to a big-boy house.
Anyway, we are still waiting for the landlord to hook up the internet (hopefully this weekend) so I get it in the whole house and not just in our dining room. Now that the kitchen is all unpacked, the internet is partially good to go, and I’ve been grocery shopping–the blogging can make triumphant return.
Pictures of the apartment to come in the future. Until then, since I went for a few days eating pizza and almost no vegetables, I started craving green monsters hard core…and thought of a new one!
Banana Bread Green Monster (serves two…or one very thirsty lady)
- 1 ripe banana, frozen (peel before freezing!)
- 1 C milk
- 2 handfuls spinach leaves (I use fresh)
- 1/4 C walnuts
- 1/4 C oats
- sprinkle of cinnamon
My first though upon making this was, “how the heck have I never thought of this before?!”
So delicious!
Combine the ingredients in your blender, light stuff on bottom (spinach, oats, cinnamon, walnuts), heavy stuff on top (banana–and ice, if you use it), and pour the milk over the top.
Blend the heck out of it until it’s nice and smooth.
Gosh, I’ve missed green monsters. It feels so good to have the kitchen set up again!
This one tastes just slightly nutty from the walnuts and the oats, and was very filling. Best part was how banana-bready it tasted!
You could add some ground flaxseed, too, or vanilla, or whatever else makes you think of banana bread.
Try not to kiss your blender.
For your viewing pleasure, some pictures of our pre-move–when Henry would hide in boxes and leap out to attack people. People meaning Fritz.
19 comments
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Cara
May 3, 2012 at 11:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi! Congrats on the new place! I have missed your posts. Question-do you use uncooked oats? Any particular kind?
Lauren Zietsman
May 4, 2012 at 10:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yep uncooked oats–I used old fashioned but I think anything other than steel cut would work perfectly!
Nuts about food
May 4, 2012 at 3:31 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Looks like somebody really enjoyed the move… er, the boxes!
Bernadette
May 4, 2012 at 8:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Was wondering how Henry survived the move (cats can be so quirky). Such a cute cat!
Just finished my green monster…can’t start the day without one. Yours looks wonderful! Enjoy your new home!
Lauren Zietsman
May 4, 2012 at 9:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Henry loves it so far! New windows with bigger sills to lounge in
Kim
May 4, 2012 at 7:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What a small world! I’m browsing foodgawker.com and see your recipe. I click it and start reading your blog. I’m thinking, “Oh wow, my cousin Cait has a friend named Fritz. What are the odds this is the same Fritz?” LOL! Pretty good I’d say, because it is one in the same. I’m Cait Jensen’s cousin that lives in Cali! I can’t wait to try this green monster..it sounds yummy!
Lauren Zietsman
May 4, 2012 at 9:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
crazy! such a small world
Charlene Austin
May 5, 2012 at 5:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Do I remember you? Of course, we are Green smoothie BFF’s remember??!!! And oh my word…..this was meant to be. I just bought the giant Costco bag of Walnuts last night. I am so all over this tomorrow. I’m still addicted to the pumpkin smoothie daily……. but Banana Bread!!!!! Yes, please!
Shannon
July 7, 2012 at 6:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I can’t believe how amazing this was! I tried it, expecting it to taste kinda health junkie-ish but no, it tasted like a milkshake! I added some sugar-free syrups (meant for lattes) that I bought at Starbucks and holyyyy it was so good. I’m excited to make it again and keep playing around with the ingredients for different flavours! I posted the recipe with my tweaks on my blog, if you’re interested check it out
http://makingamessofyourkitchen.blogspot.ca/2012/07/banana-break-breakfast-smoothie.html
Thanks so much for the awesome recipe!
Kathy
September 14, 2012 at 10:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am new to green monster smoothies and have tried a few but this one is my FAVORITE! So delicious and yummy! Thanks for posting!
Emily
November 3, 2012 at 4:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Has anyone used an alternative to walnuts? I’m allergic to walnuts…but I would love to mix things up with my green smoothies like this. Any other nut work or flavoring?
Lauren Zietsman
November 3, 2012 at 5:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Try it and see! You could also add some flaxseed for nuttiness?
Regina
January 17, 2013 at 6:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi Lauren,
Allergic to walnuts as well. Just made this tonight and used 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla almond granola in place of the walnuts and oats. Yummy! I also always add a date to all my green smoothies as a natural sweetner. Bon appetit!
Jan
December 28, 2012 at 10:30 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I see this comment was a while ago, so you may have already tried a number of things since then, but I thought I’d throw this out there just in case. I made this with pecans this morning (I didn’t have any walnuts on hand), and it’s still absolutely delicious; my 6 year old daughter is enjoying it as well. I’ll be trying this, and probably some variations of it again very soon.
Smashinbeauty.com
January 4, 2013 at 7:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
wow I am so making this … like NOW!!!
Linda
January 17, 2013 at 7:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow!!! Tried the Green Monster shake and it is awesome!!
Sarah Jane @Fit Betty
February 6, 2013 at 11:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi Lauren, I wanted to let you know that a website has taken your recipe and photo and published it as their own: http://jujugoodnews.com/banana-bread-green-monster/ This site did the same thing with one of my recipes and I suspect all of their content is stolen material. I wanted to let you know!
Lauren Zietsman
February 6, 2013 at 6:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
thank you!
Beth
February 7, 2013 at 11:48 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I used almonds instead of walnut because that is what I had and it is delicious! I love how when you use bananas in smoothies you hardly ever need to use a sweetener. Perfect breakfast!
How to make green Banana bread smoothies - how2make | how2make
November 5, 2012 at 2:05 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] For complete Recipe visit http://www.fullmeasureofhappiness.com/2012/05/03/banana-bread-green-monster/ [...]
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