Choco-Nana-Nutty-Maca Shake! (my favourite pre-workout drink)

You've got a couple of hours, hey maybe you've only got half an hour before your workout. You're planning your workout outfit and psyching yourself up to kick some serious booty; But stop! You need some plant power in your life! Sometimes before a workout, or even just in the morning, I need some serious energy boosting. Welcome this shake.

Maca is not only a seriously powerful punch of energy, it is also choca-poc full of vitamins B, C and E.  It relieves women's hormonal annoyances (menstrual and menopausal issues) and balances your mood. It's also great for your skin and it tastes pretty good too! Cacao is also energy packed and full of antioxidants. If you don't have cacao powder, I firstly advise you to get some in your life - it's such a different taste but I much prefer it. It's more wholesome and rich AND much healthier than bog standard cocoa powder buuuut, it has a hefty price tag. Healthy Supplies is my favourite place to bulk buy, but if you can't get your hands on cacao I would recommend some pure 100% cocoa powder.
Bananas are also fab for your energy but also are a great source of carbs for that pre workout PUMP IT UP feeling. And the nut butter is full of heart healthy fats that are great for your skin, hair and metabolism AND they keep you going for a long time. Let's rock!

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 1

• 1 banana, frozen
• 1tbsp cacao powder
• 1tsp maca (or lucama!) powder - opt, but recommended ;)
• 1 heaping tsp of peanut/almond/hazelnut/cashew/pecan/whatever nut you like butter - my favourite's are peanut for that chocolate peanut butter cup flavour, or almond for that creamy taste
• 1 cup almond milk
• opt, 1 medjool date
• As much water and ice as you please

Blend away! I like to add water as I go - if I'm feeling like a more sip and go smoothie I'll add lots of water and if I want a thicker more icecreamy smoothie I'll add less. Play around with the liquid - you could even add as little as 1/4 cup of almond milk and make a smoothie bowl!

I really hope you enjoy this recipe, tell me if you try it!

Beanie
xoxo

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My Favourite Porridge Recipe + Welcome!

Hello! Well this is a bit odd... I absolutely adore food blogs. I thrive on them. I will happily sit down, with a green smoothie, and scroll endlessly through plant based vegan blogs whilst my homework is stacking up - and here I am, with my own food blog! This blog will be a blend of recipes, reviews and news and updates from Beanie Bakes, I hope you enjoy!

For today's post I thought I would start with something simple: my favourite porridge recipe. One look at my instagram and you can see that i am pretty obsessed. It is so creamy, filling and packed full of good stuff! I believe porridge is very interchangeable though, so if you don't like something then sub it out or add in some chia seeds, hemp protein, apple - whatever you like! The recipe is inspired by Deliciously Ella (of course, I kinda love her) but I've kind of mixed it with my old favourite porridge recipe to create this one! Like I said, add more or less of something but here we go!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup of oats
• 1/3 cup of almond milk (Rude Health is my favourite - you can also use soy, rice, hemp, or cow's)
• 2/3 cup of water
• 1tsp coconut oil
• 1 banana
• 1 HUUUUGE teaspoon of almond butter
• Little handful of sultanas/raisins
• opt. maple syrup/raw honey/rice syrup/"sweet freedom" (a syrup made only out of apples, pears and bananas! It's so good)
• opt. a shed load of toppings (raspberries, blueberries, granola, nuts - go crazy!)

Firstly, I like to soak the oats in the water with the sultanas overnight - not only does this making the cooking time go way down in the morning, but the oats and sultanas get this gorgeous creamy kind of consistency and by soaking oats, their starches break down meaning it's easier to digest and their phytic acid - which all plants contain - reduces, meaning your body can easily absorb them! Happy tummy time!

In the morning, mash half the banana and then wack the oats in a pan with the almond milk and the mushy banana. Get started on a high heat and then reduce to a really low heat so the porridge is slowly bubbling and thickening away. Once the liquid is absorbed, stir in the coconut oil and then pop in a bowl. Whilst it's still super hot, put the almond butter on top so it goes all melty and creamy and then top with the other half of the banana that's chopped and whatever you want! I like raspberries and hazelnuts, just the banana and maybe a drizzle of natural syrup, some almonds or maybe some homemade granola!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and if you would like more, do comment as I would love to hear from you! Also any recipe suggestions would be great - if you prefer more desserts, main meals, salads, breakfasts - whatever you like!

Thank you so much for reading,

Beanie.