Tag Archives: dates

No Bake Peanut Butter Brownie Bars

2 Replies

This recipe is brought to you from one of my favorite blogs, The Minimalist Baker.

nuts

I find that I spend so much time trying to create my own recipes for this little site, that my list of things that  I want to make from other blogs just piles up. It’s time to start chipping away at that list. I’m going to try to make something from that list at least once a week. And if I’m in love, I’ll share it with you.

nuts1

nuts2

I’m in love with these no bake peanut butter brownie bars.

choc

pb

They are to-die-for.

making

And, healthy. Nuts, dark chocolate and dates are pretty much all you see here. Combined together in the most creative and delicious way. There is no chance of guilt after eating one (or three) of these.

done

These bars are decadent, filling (in such a good way) and easy to transport as snacks. I sent some in with Greg to his lab and he said his lab-mates loved them.

done1

Not only were these delicious, but fun to photograph. Not that they needed to be or could be photographed any better, but I did enjoy it. 🙂

cut

A couple of things:

1) I’m changing things up a bit this week and sharing these with you today and Week in Photos tomorrow.
2) I used a blender to make these bars. It kind of worked, but I thought my blender was going to die. A food processor would work much better (I’m getting one soon – thanks, mom! :)).

squares

Click on over to The Minimalist Baker to check out the amazing recipe and photography for these no bake peanut butter brownie bars!

squares1

Coffee Banana Date Smoothie

17 Replies

My new favorite thing!

date

(^^ No, that date is not my new favorite thing.) It’s the smoothie that the date goes in.

almondcubes

I had so many titles to choose from for this post.

coffee1

First, I didn’t know if I should call it a shake or a smoothie. It is creamy in texture, almost like a shake. But, I thought, it’s too healthy to be called a shake. Let’s go with smoothie.

banana

I wanted to call it amazingly-simple-four-ingredient smoothie. Because really? Four ingredients made this cup of deliciousness? They did! Coffee, bananas, dates and frozen almond milk.

coffee

And really, should I have just added almond milk to the title? That’s the only ingredient I used and didn’t add to the title. It just didn’t sound right.

blender

Also, I wanted to add the word vegan. Because I made a vegan smoothie sort of milkshake-y thing. If I were vegan (or on days that I feel like being one) this would be the perfect drink for a creamy milkshake/sweet tooth craving.

smooth2

Now, I don’t want to scare you away, but do you know how much I love coffee ice cream? Ice cream that tastes like coffee? That most people won’t go near? Yes, I love it. If you love it too, you will love this smoothie. There is a subtle flavor in this smoothie that reminds me of the ice cream. But! If you don’t love it, I think you will love this too. You probably wouldn’t even think of it if I hadn’t mentioned it. 🙂 Every ingredient pulls equal weight in this. All the flavors are noticeable, and just enough of each.

smooth3

This would be so good in the morning as a way to have morning coffee and breakfast all in one delicious and healthy smoothie. Or great as an afternoon snack (using decaf coffee, because if you know me, you know that I can’t drink caffeine past 10 or 11 a.m.).

smooth4

So, what do you think? Is this something you would try? Don’t be scared of the color. It’s delicious, sweet, healthy, refreshing, an energy-booster and vegan! I hope that you try and enjoy!

smooth5


Ingredients
2 bananas, frozen
4 frozen almond milk cubes (almond milk poured into an ice cube tray and frozen)
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
2 medjool dates, pitted

I started by add the bananas and frozen almond milk cubes to the blender. I blended them up, adding a little bit of the coffee, until it was very smooth. I then added the rest of the coffee and dates, and blended longer, until smooth again.

Enjoy!

Notes:
-Your blender may be strong enough to add all of the ingredients at once. I added them separately because mine is not high-powered enough to handle all at once.
-I froze my bananas a day in advance. I took 2 very ripe bananas, broke them into thirds and put them in a zip bag into the freezer.
-I also froze my almond milk a day in advance. Just pour almond milk into an ice cube tray and into the freezer.