Milkshake smoothie

A few weekends ago, my roommates from college and I had our annual reunion. We basically get together once a year, catch up on each other's lives, take a million pictures, and eat ravenously. Two nights in a row, Sidney made this delicious drink. It's wonderful, i'm totally hooked on these. Not only is it simple, but it's actually very healthy and has the texture of a milkshake. What more could you possibly want?

• 1 frozen banana
  
• 1 cup milk (i use skim)
• 1 packet of hot chocolate mix

Blend! Serves 2. 155 cals per serving.

A few tips: i know it's a DUH statement, but you should peel the banana before putting it in the freezer. also, it might help if you cut it up into ice cube-sized pieces first.

Enjoy!

[This recipe comes from Sidney's friend, but i forgot which friend it was]

Cream Cheese Frosting

Multi-purpose cream cheese frosting that would go great with Apple Cake.

• 1 pkg. (3 ounce) cream cheese, softened
  
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  
• Pinch of salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Mix and spread!

Apple Cake

This is a recipe from Lindsey, my childhood friend from Kirkton Avenue. We were chatting online recently, and found we're both into cooking. Here is one she sent me that sound absolutely divine.

• 2 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsps cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 4 cups diced peeled apples
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Beat eggs until light and fluffy.
   
2. Gradually add sugar, oil and vanilla.
   
3. Into a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into first mixture.
   
4. Stir in apples and walnuts.
   
5. Put in greased or floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan and bake at 350° for 45 minutes.
   
6. Let cake cool in pan on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes.
   
7. Spread apple cake with cream cheese frosting.

Yum! I'll bet it's delicious served warm and paired with black espresso. Drool...

Waffles

I've tried a lot of different waffle recipes, but I think this one is my favorite because I don't have to make the dough the night before to let it rise, and i just love the way it's very fluffy and not as dense and clog-your-heart as other recipes i've seen.

• 1 3/4 cup flour (whole wheat is best)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3 eggs
• 7 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups milk

1. Separate eggs. Make sure the egg white are in clean, oil free mixing bowl and that NO YOLK gets in.
2. Beat whites until gloriously foamy.
3. Beat all the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl.
   
4. Fold the mixture in with the foamed egg whites. A rubber spatula works best for folding.
5. Waffle iron it!

I have a standard waffle iron and I get 14 waffles. 276 calories for 2 waffles.