Three years ago I interviewed the author virginia solesmith about her beauty uniform when she casually mentioned the smoothies she makes every morning. “This easy smoothie the whole family will love,” she said. “Oat milk, frozen blueberries, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder.” And I was going to ask about her face wash or something, but I was intrigued. breakfast smoothie everyone do you like it?
My daughter just started kindergarten and has come to understand how busy breakfast time can be. Every morning felt like a competition on a reality show. I had to invent something filling and appealing in exactly the same amount of time it took my husband to get dressed (3 minutes or 17 minutes? Who knew?!). But I realized that all I needed for my smoothie was my little nutri bullet And a cup. I also managed to throw in one of the 800 frozen bananas that took up all the space in my freezer. Can a delicious, easy and filling smoothie be the answer? all my problem? No, no. But it could solve a lot of things.
I took Virginia’s recipe as inspiration and came up with my own combo. 1 frozen banana, 1 handful of rolled oats, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, 1 cup of milk. If I had 10 more seconds, vanilla might be good. It’s rich, creamy, and filling, and although it looks like gray sludge, it’s delicious enough to forgive the presentation. This smoothie is a crowd favorite (I made a batch of this at Joanna’s house, and her teenage boys devoured it!), but the reason it’s a pinch hitter for me is that I always have the ingredients on hand.
You’re welcome to use mine or riff on it, as I do with Virginia. However, I reached out to the recipe developer for guidance on my own design. Amy Paranjian (You may know her as the author of delicious toddler food). Amy is an absolute master smoothie recipes — Her talent comes from years of making breakfast for her three children. “My oldest son hates smoothies and wouldn’t drink them unless he needed braces,” she told me. “I was disappointed! So, when my second child was born, I decided to do my best to find a way to make smoothies that my children would enjoy.” love” Here are Amy’s pro tips:
1. Think beyond bananas. “If you’re looking for creaminess, bananas obviously work, but if you don’t want a banana-first smoothie, there are other ways to get that texture. Two ways I add creaminess are Greek yogurt or frozen mango.” She points out that frozen berries have a high water content, while mangoes are dense and fibrous. “When you blend it, it basically has the same texture as ice cream.”
2. Try hemp seeds and nut butters. Your breakfast smoothie needs a little weight to keep you energized until morning. “I often add a few tablespoons of hemp seeds because they add fat and protein, but please don’t Stain the texture. Some people prefer flaxseeds or chia seeds, but you can also make a gelatinous smoothie. Peanut butter and almond butter are also effective for increasing density. ”
3. Experiment with dry and powdered ingredients. Dry ingredients can be added in larger amounts to smoothies without sacrificing flavor or texture. “If you want something similar to protein powder, dried milk powder is a great option. It adds the nutrients of milk without adding the flavor of milk. It’s also shelf-stable, so it’s cheap and convenient.” You can also crush freeze-dried fruit.
4. Leave it alone wonderful Simple. “One thing I realized when I was trying to make a smoothie was that I was putting too many ingredients in. Less is often the best way to go. I had a solid year where my kids were drinking the same smoothie every day after school, and it was just milk and frozen mango. I’d suggest adding a little maple syrup or something, but they’d say, ‘Absolutely not.'”
Smoothie expert Amy Paranjian
What do you put in your smoothie? Thank you for pointing it out. amy! (And thanks virginia For smoothie inspiration!)
PS 3 bulk breakfasts and a morning cookie to throw in your backpack.
(Last photo is by Lauren Volo. amy’s cookbookcourtesy of Amy Paranjian. )
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
