Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

I spied at the corner of my eye, a banana turning an awful brown. Time to eat it, I thought. And this recipe came up on my email. Off the top of my head, I checked off the ingredients and since my stomach was growling slightly and I haven’t had breakfast, I decided to spend a couple of minutes whipping me a healthy smoothie.

IDIOT-PROOF CHEF RATING : ChefHatRating-4.5stars

TOTAL TIME : 5 minutes / Serves 1
 
INGREDIENTS :

  • 1 cup fat free milk
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter

 
INSTRUCTIONS :

In blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend until smooth.

 
Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie with Pacific Organic Coconut In The Blender
 
NOTES :

  • The original recipe called for “sliced” bananas. I overlooked that and dumped the entire banana into my blender. It still turned out right except for a huge chunk of banana or two when I drank my smoothie. Perhaps I didn’t blend it enough even though it looked smooth enough through my naked eye. lol! So, blend it for at least a minute or two or slice your banana!
  • I also changed up the fat free milk for Pacific’s Organic Coconut. Couldn’t taste the coconut at all and was just as yummy!

 

Pacific Organic Coconut Pacific Organic Coconut Ingredients

December Yoga Challenge

PhyQuirks : December Yoga Challenge

I’ve been using the Codyapp (I’m no affiliate of theirs and they don’t have an affiliate program.) for some time now and I like that its programs are affordable and easily accessible. I get to take them everywhere with me! Plus, I have no fear of ever losing the videos since they’re stored online.

So I’ve also been following @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl on Instagram for some time now and mind you, I’m no yogi. In fact, I’m so inflexible my hubs laughs at me for always still trying. I can’t even do the crow pose and my hubs “showed” me how it’s done. He doesn’t practise yoga at all! He even fell asleep in the one and only yoga class he’s ever attended! Well, I guess he’s achieved “enlightenment”.

So anyhow, I find these monthly challenges encouraging and motivating. At least it gets me off my fat ass and into some yoga pose of sorts. In the past, most of the yoga challenges were too tough ie. headstands etc. I would follow the challenge for a few days and then give up when I get to what I think of as a MAJOR roadblock. This #BeginnerYoga2015 challenge is great and the title speaks for itself. It’s for beginners! So less of those almost acrobatic stunts these ultra-fit people pull to make me feel bad. lol! just kidding! I’m actually always in awe of them. They make it all look too easy.

So here’s the yoga challenge and you’re most welcome to join me! Tag me on @PhyQuirks so I know you’re with me on this!

PhyQuirks : December Yoga Challenge

Carb-Free Shirataki Noodles for Carb Lovers Like Me!

Zero Carb Zero Calories Miracle Noodles For Carb Lovers

I can’t live without my carbohydrates. And if you’re here reading this, you’re probably just like me! Well, the good news is I’ve found the perfect solution to my carb cravings – Shirataki Noodles. Perfect solution? Yes! My carb cravings are bad. They just don’t go away until I’ve had carbs. Like even an entire meal of steak couldn’t satisfy me!

Originally from Asia, these miracle noodles has become synonymous with low-carb or carb-free diets. It is even a great alternative for diabetics.

What is Shirataki?

Shirataki is a root of a plant that is commonly known as Konjac or Elephant Yam.

What is in these noodles then, if not carbs?

These noodles are mostly a type of dietary fibre known as glucomannan.

Benefits of Shirataki Noodles

These noodles consist largely of the dietary fibre, Glucomannan, and Glucomannan is associated the management of high cholesterol levels and alleviating blood glucose levels of type 2 diabetics. Other tests have also shown Glucomannan to increase insulin sensitivity and improves glycemia and risk factor for coronary heart disease.

While there is no conclusive evidence that Glucomannan can help in weight loss, it is a common ingredient in nutrition supplements for weight management and appetite reduction.

How do Shirataki Noodles taste?

I think of them as a thicker version of tang hoon and are slightly rubbery in texture. Not much taste but can be used in almost any dish!

Cooking Shirataki Noodles

I chuck these noodles in a pot of boiling water and just let them boil for a couple of minutes, even though it really isn’t necessary cook them. They are ready to eat out of the packet.

Where can I buy Shirataki Noodles?

Zero Calorie Zero Carbs Shirataki Noodles

I got these from Aeon Supermarket at 1 Utama here in PJ, Malaysia, at about RM8 (sorry, I can’t remember the exact price). At the time of this post, I have checked Village Grocer at Sunway Giza and Cold Storage in both Ikano Power Centre (IPC) and 1 Utama, and they do not sell them.

Previously, when I was back in Singapore, I also bought a few packets from NTUC’s FairPrice Finest at Marine Parade for about $3 each.

You will generally find these miracle noodles in the chiller sections where the tofu is usually placed.

Eating Clean Day 07 : Sunday Is Full Of Chores!

So J has been gone (to Korea) for about a week now and it’s really time to clean up the place a bit. So I dedicated the whole of yesterday to household chores!

I started my day late (as usual, because my body clock is still screwed up) and had an awesome pink breakfast of milk-soaked organic oats with 1/2 dragon fruit & leftover blueberries! I must say, it was an absolutely awesome combination!

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I spent at least 2 hours ironing more than 40 shirts! OMG! *face of horror* Yeah tell me about it … Procrastination is the root of all evil, I say. I’ve been delaying and delaying and poor J already ran out of shirts to wear a LONG time ago! lol! If you ever read this, thank you for being so patient! And yes, thank me for ironing the shirts FINALLY!

I also did a load of laundry so J would be able to do his week load of laundry when he comes back (I know I’m sweet! lol!).

I figured more than 2 hours of ironing is enough of a workout … Plus doing the laundry and sweeping the floor.

By the time I was done with ironing, it was already 6.30pm! I got busy preparing dinner … and here goes! Dinner speaks for itself! Yummy!

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Eating Clean Day 06 : Weekend’s Here!

The weekend is here! It’s a stay-home weekend for me.

I don’t know about you but I love staying home now that I’m older (not that old but 32 is really old enough…). I suppose it’s got to do with the home environment too. I love the peaceful quiet I have here albeit it does get too quiet sometimes. When it gets too quiet, a couple of days back home in SG really does the trick.

Oh wait, I’m not complaining about the noise you make, Tricia! lol! Just being away for so long then heading home, the attention my mum pays me, can sometimes be a lil overwhelming.

Anyhow, I enjoy the company of Sylvester (Syl aka Sorbear) here and she never fails to entertain me. She does the darnest things! Check out her rueful face here … she misses her papa!

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This was a very very late lunch of Organic oats, kiwi & blueberries! Late lunch coz my body clock is all screwed up. I only fell asleep at 4am this morning so by the time I woke up, it’s 11.30am or so… It’s frustrating!

I went for a swim again to hopefully tire myself out and get to sleep earlier… let’s see how that works out!

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