Bruleed Bananas and Dates in Chobani

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I used to focus so heavily on recipe posting that my recipe list would grow by 2 or 3 each week. Now? As I focus a bit more on real life, the recipes have been few and far between.

#Oops. I guess this blog is as versatile and changing as real life. #SorryImNotSorry

That said, sometimes I make something that is just so delicious, it pretty much comes out of the oven screaming "SHARE ME ON THE BLOG!" Like a mandrake root kind of scream (Harry Potter for the win). A girl has to oblige.

This recipe is an awesome breakfast, mid-day snack, or even dessert. Don't hesitate to swap out ingredients, like using a different greek yogurt (or regular yogurt, if you must). If you want it a bit sweeter, feel free to use vanilla instead of plain yogurt.

Bruleed Bananas and Dates in Chobani

Ingredients:

• 1 Banana
• 1 tbsp Sugar, for sprinkling
• 3 Dates
• 2 tbsp Organic Shredded Coconut, No sugar added
• 1 tbsp Sliced Almonds (Walnuts, Pistachios or Pralines would be delicious here, too)
• 1/2 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• Parchment paper

Directions:

1. Slice banana into 1/2-1/4 inch pieces. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet and sprinkle sugar on top of banana pieces. Broil for a few minutes, until the sugar has browned. Set aside.
2. Chop dates.
3. Scoop yogurt into a bowl or cup. Add banana slices, then sprinkle with dates, shredded coconut, and almonds.
4. Enjoy the heck out of that bowl of delicious goodness.

Friday Ten Thangs

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Happy Friday! I'm so glad we made it (that reminds me of a Shania Twain song? Dear God, please make it go away). In lieu of a cocktail recipe, I wanted to share a few things or "THANGS" with you.

1. I was in a competition this week at work and my team ended up winning $500 each. Five hundo. A small part of me things I may have "Secret'ed" myself into getting it. Meaning using the principles from The Secret, I attracted it to me.



2. Speaking of The Secret, "Secret'ed" has now become a staple word in my house. Now like secreted, which is a gross word, but SECRET'ed. As in... "I got a great parking spot at the gym!"  "Oh really? You SECRET'ed that for yourself?" Okay, maybe that was a bad example.

3. St. Patrick's Day is coming up, and Chicago will be wild (and semi-obnoxious, but I'm partly Irish, so who's judging?!) with celebration. Pretty sure I should make these Irish Cream Hot Fudge Cupcakes... the only issue being that I probably won't because I am stingy with time and hate spending too much of it in one place.

4. I bought a Gilt Deal (click here to check out Gilt if you're in Chicago and might buy it) to The Mercury Method. It's basically an insane gym in Bucktown/Wicker Park that teaches super intense classes and keeps the room at 98.6 degrees. I read their Yelp reviews (are you a Yelper? Click here to find me! Let's be friends!) before buying and they have all 5-star reviews of people saying the classes are hellish and hard, but totally worth it. I'm super pumped! But also kind of terrified?



5. My friends at Chobani sent me a whole set of Flip Cup yogurts... along with a Chobani T-Shirt and a wonderfully fancy spoon to eat the yogurt with. I immediately tried the Key-Lime flavor (so. much. goodness.) and then tried the Coconut Almond flavor the next day. Honestly, they are both so good that I can't even decide which one I like more. Okay, fine. The coconut. Twist my arm.



6. A few months ago (like, last summer), I was on a great kick of incorporating Chia seeds into my diet. I would make chia seed pudding and top it with delicious things like peanut butter or PB2, greek yogurt, almonds, fresh fruit, etc, or mix it with oatmeal or muesli. But then... I don't know what happened. I stopped. Now I'm trying to get back into it... we'll see how it goes. The past two days have consisted of a banana, cinnamon, and coconut milk mash with chia seeds and water mixed in and soaked over night. So far, so good. SO FULL.

7. Have you heard of Ellie? I've been eying them for a while - it's a monthly thing where you get a workout top and bottom of your choice for $49 (combined). I'm trying it - just for this month. They're running an all black line ("The Little Black Collection" - love that branding). I picked the Back in Black Tank and the Little Black Legging. We'll see how it goes. I don't generally dig tops with built-in bras, but after longing after LuLuLemon tops like that and how airy they look, I thought I'd give it a try at this price point.



8. What would it be like to be a dog? Why do I keep wondering that? Has anyone, like, had a dream about it and feels like they can testify to an answer? Humph.

9. Y'all (yes, that was necessary), I have a confession to make. I can't peel bananas. You know that fancy thing where you put pressure on the top to pop it open? Can't do it. Have to have a knife to split it open. Embarrassing. Now you know.



10. My parents are throwing my fiance and I an engagement party this weekend! So excited to see what they threw together. Apparently my sister (with the beautiful handwriting) is making name tags. Watch out, people. It's gonna be wild. ;)

Chobani Discount and 6 Recipes

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Greek Yogurt is my favorite ingredient as of late. It goes in just about everything and can be used as a healthy alternative for things like mayonnaise, cream, sour cream and butter.

This week, swing by your local store with this coupon to get some greek yogurt at a great price - and then use it in any of these recipes. Follow this link for three discounts on Chobani Greek Yogurt!

Skinny Spinach and Asparagus Dip Using Plain Chobani Yogurt

Reese's Cupcakes Using Plain Chobani Yogurt

Chia Muesli Breakfast Pudding with Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Protein Packed Chocolate Frozen Yogurt with Berries

Skinny Oreo Dip

Chocolate Cheesecake Protein Yogurt

Chobani Dinner at Boka

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On Wednesday night, I gathered with a few local Chicago food bloggers at Boka. We met with a few wonderful chicks from Chobani for a ridiculously creative feast of dishes using Chobani. 

Don't worry, I'll tell you about the food. But first, let me demonstrate how much fun we had via images (because a picture speaks a thousand words, right?).

And now... the feast! Boka's chef prepared a delicious four course meal, using Chobani in every dish (not to mention the appetizers, like compressed cucumber with Chobani sauce and smoked salmon rolls, too!).

First up was Hay Roasted Baby Beets, Blueberries, Chobani Greek Yogurt, Fir Tree Honey, and Pepper Wheat Crackers. It was a wonderful combination of sweet and sour, and the Chobani yogurt sauce is perfect with the fruits and roasted beets.

Next was Soft Shell Crab, Grilled Prawns, Chobani Greek Yogurt Grits, Morel Mushrooms, Beet Braised Kohlrabi, and Mache. The Chobani Greek Yogurt Grits, in particular, were to die for. I'll definitely be experimenting on creating my own soon!

The third course was Lamb Rack, Rooibos, Bulgur Wheat, Roasted Baby Vegetables, Purple Fingerling Potatoes, Fava Beans, Roasted Eggplant, and Chobani Greek Yogurt Sauce. As someone who hasn't had much lamb in life, this plate totally surprised me in its goodness. Unfortunately, with the light dying, this shot is slightly blurry. Apologies. Don't cry!

Finally, the fourth course... dessert. Chobani Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta, Plums, and Honey. Mmmm, good! The Panna Cotta was perfectly scrumptious and the thinly sliced plumbs were a perfect combination.

Having met so many awesome Chicago bloggers throughout the night, you can bet you'll be hearing a bit more about them as time goes on! I'd love to be able to have some get togethers and share tips and tricks.

Until then, here's my question... What's your favorite dish you've ever tried Chobani in?