Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie ((recipe))

It's no secret...I love the kitchen. Cooking, baking, creating, and eating -- all loves of my life. Today, I will be sharing my most adored kitchen gadget for Kate's link party, as well as my favorite smoothie recipe. This PBBD (peanut butter banana delight) is healthy, quick, and packed with nutrients (vitamins, calcium, protein, potassium, iron). I make this before workouts, as a quick snack, or even if I'm heading out the door to run errands -- it's that easy!

But first, let's start with the gadget - my Vitamix! This is the best piece of kitchen equipment I have invested in (it's not cheap, but it's WORTH it), and I use this blender every day. What's so great about a blender? The Vitamix is more like a "dream machine," as it can create a bajillion different items from smoothies, to steaming hot soups, and ice cream! You might remember the squash and tomato bisque I made last week, and guess what? I used my Vitamix to puree, and heat the ingredients...SO much easier than pureeing, transferring, THEN heating. This little baby can chop ice, blend frozen fruit, and even create peanut butter (solely using peanuts) no problem. I used to loathe blenders because they simply did not work -- i.e. ice would not completely blend, and I'd be left with a million different pieces to clean. I could go on and on, but those are a few of the reasons I simply adore my Vitamix.

On to the recipe! 


YOU WILL NEED:
- 1 c milk (I used coconut milk, but any milk will do)
- 1 frozen banana (or fresh -- if you use a fresh banana, add a handful of ice cubes)
- 2 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter (I like to use powdered PB for my smoothies, but any kind will do)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Simply place all 3 (or 4) items in the blender, blend until smooth, and viola! You have a nutrient-packed snack in less than 3 minutes! Enjoy!

*check out many other delish Vitamix recipes here