... creamy, nutty, energizing, banana-bready goodness ...
So a few things are going on at once right now:
1) Being in a big hurry in the mornings. As much as I might want to chill, watch the sun come up, sip some tea and stretch, while having a full skillet breakfast in the morning (all of which is ultimately the goal and savored when the actual case)…95% of days don’t start that way; the dream is not always the reality. So I’m pretty much cool if I can get something tasty and energizing in my rush-rush-rush of the morning; enough to keep me moving, brighten my spirits, and either warm me up or cool me down if need be. (Oh, and it does not cost a crazy amount of money, either.)
2) It’s the height of Summer, and it is oppressively, swelteringly, pressure-cookingly hot right now. I need sweet relief; it’s truly depressing on the soul (all of us cold-weather people out there know what I’m talking ’bout).
3) A bit random, but I miss banana nut crunch cereal from the ’90s, and I wish they would bring it back (but without honey or that pesky animal-based Vitamin D3 added to many cereals nowadays).
Well, if they won’t and/or don’t, I can make my own best part of waking up! No reason not to!
Hence, the following.
So, what's a Lotsa Matcha Banana-Nut Smoothie?
This one combined my love for banana nut crunch (banana nut bread…pretty much anything banana nut themed, really), my desire to NOT melt into a puddle this Summer (essentially a survival goal), to get a cleaner morning caffeine energy boost (with some clean-burning matcha powder) and lovingly use my high-speed blender (a device which has saved me more times over the past decade than I care to think about).
This recipe also makes a big, meal-size smoothie; a big’n to last through a hot, sweltering morning.
- Ingredients -
Frozen Bananas – When your bananas are turning brown at both ends and are getting soft and speckled, don’t throw them away! These are prime smoothie/shake/baking bananas; the flavor is sweeter, stronger, and more banana-y. Peel and freeze solid before blending!! We won’t be adding ice here, so this is where both the coldness and the banana-ness come from.
Raw Pecans – Adds delicious genuine pecan flavor while contributing creaminess, healthy nut fats, and protein.
Full-Fat Oat Milk – Super, super creamy, and makes everything blend! (You can also use unsweetened soy milk instead for a lower-fat higher-protein option! Nutrition Facts listed for this recipe uses the full-fat oat milk only.)
Culinary-grade Matcha – Ceremonial Matcha is used more for traditional matcha tea and tea ceremonies; it’s meant specifically for savoring each sip, which also means it’s far more expensive. No need to use Ceremonial Matcha in baked goods, smoothies, etc. It’s like whisky; you wanna save the ‘good stuff’ for sipping next to a roaring fireplace and use the ‘cheaper stuff’ for cocktails. Same principle here: save the good stuff. For culinary applications, though, culinary-grade matcha adds that clean-burning caffeine boost and a matcha flavor without completely breaking the bank.
Vanilla Bean Paste, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Molasses, and Kosher Salt – Adds the rest of that banana-nut, baked-good flavor. Both the nutmeg and cinnamon add more antioxidants, cinnamon helps to reduce blood sugar, the little bit of molasses brings a bit of iron and a minerality adding a ‘brown sugar’ like flavor without being too sweet, and the salt also helps enhance flavor, cut the sweetness, and helps you keep water in your system longer to last through the heat.
Xanthan Gum – This is completely optional to add to the recipe. Still, I do find that smoothies, shakes, and thicker blended drinks in general (especially with a liquid-to-frozen ingredient ratio susceptible to separation) can usually use a little help from xanthan gum to stabilize the emulsion, help prevent separation and stay smoother longer. It has no flavor but is very effective in thickening, so very little is needed.
Cooler days are coming, but for now we adapt as best we can, in the tastiest way possible.
If yer a fan of banana-nut like me, let’s grab a straw and get sippin’!
AuthorGinny ClarkCategoryBreakfast, Lunch, Snacky ThingsDifficultyBeginnerPlace all ingredients listed together in a high-speed blender.
Cover securely with lid, and slowly ramp up speed to high (tamping down well with tamper, if provided with one).
Blend until homogeneous & sip away!
Ingredients
Directions
Place all ingredients listed together in a high-speed blender.
Cover securely with lid, and slowly ramp up speed to high (tamping down well with tamper, if provided with one).
Blend until homogeneous & sip away!
