national donut day! banana chocolate protein donuts

It's National Donut Day! Are you kidding me??!?! Why are the schools and businesses and postal offices not closed? This is BIG! 

If you follow me on Instagram {@AmandaMacyHall} you are well aware of my infatuation for baked donuts. To recap- Mom convinced me to buy a donut pan to make baked {read "healthy"} donuts back in March and pretty much every weekend since then I have made a new version of donuts...oreo, chocolate chip, lemon, mexican chocolate, cinnamon sugar, strussel, maple and more. 

Today I bring to you my least favorite {oh I bet you sure do want to keep reading, right!!!}

In addition to being my least favorite they are also the healthiest donut I've made! Ding, ding, ding, there had to be a reason. 

The Banana Chocolate Protein Baked Donut

It's not inedible and I would actually make these again!!! :)

Not to mention protein powder, oats, bananas and zero sugar probably looks cuter in summer shorts and bikinis than oreos, cinnamon sugar and maple syrup. 

Ingredients:

-for 6 donuts-

1 ripe banana

2 eggs {whites only}

4 T old fashioned oats

1 scoop protein powder {try this one}

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

1 T pure cocoa powder

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees and spray your donut pan {this guy}.

Grind the oats into a flour with a food processor.

Add the rest of your ingredients to the food processor and pulse until well mixed. 

Pour in and bake for 10 minutes! 

{approx!} Nutrition Info*:

9g carbs

3g fat

6g protein

These donuts were a breeze to whip up! I loved getting to use my food processor for this recipe- it made the clean up super quick. 

I made one batch of 6 donuts Sunday night and have been grabbing one each morning for a quick and easy breakfast. They don't even need to be warmed up! 

The taste is primarily the taste of your protein powder plus banana- so adding cinnamon or more cocoa to the recipe would probably help give it a boost. 

Cheers to early morning protein, no-prep breakfast, sugar free & flour free donuts! 

I promise to post a deliciously sugary sweet donut recipe next ;)

*This recipe is slightly adapted from {here}- my version does not include the frosting and adds cocoa powder. Keep in mind that the nutritional content is greatly dependant on the type of protein powder that you use. 

the green drink recipe recap

{ green drink recipes! }

Thank you for reading about my journey through new green drink recipes this week! I hope that you will try some of these or better yet make up your own and share them with me! 

what we tried this week:

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

--{blended drink benefits reminder}--

These 'whole food blended drinks' are full of health benefits*:

Fiber: Blending instead of juicing retains the natural fiber of the fruits and vegetables! This does wonders for your digestive system and is healthy to consume daily. 

Add-Ins: Blended drinks take well to nutritional goodies like chia seeds, ground flaxseed and protein powder- your drink will already have a bit of texture, so what is a little bit more!

Meal Replacement: Because of all the fiber, nutrients and add-ins, a full glass of a green drink can keep you completely satisfied for around 3 hours.

Quick + Easy: The fruits and veggies just need a rough chop then in they go, the blender takes care of the rest and you aren't left having to clean out a juicer or deal with pulp.

Deceptively Delicious: Add the veggies you normally wouldn't reach for and all of a sudden you are introducing new foods and nutrients to your body- without having to really taste them.

{Some points to note:}

• Pre-made drinks only last about 3-4 days
• Blend for as little time as possible {under a minute}
• If the consistency isn't as thin as you like- just add water. It's better to have more juice on hand than to 'over blend' and risk too much oxidation. 
• If you prefer cold smoothie-like drinks- freeze the fruit you are using or toss in some ice cubes

I hope you begin to add one or two of these into your diet/lifestyle each day- you'll be glad you did! 

Enjoy the weekend + Go Green! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• cherry + lemon green drink: the recipe & review
• strawberry lemonade green drink: the recipe & review
• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

cherry + lemon green drink

{ cherry + lemon green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• 1 cup cherries, pits removed
• Juice of 2 lemons {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

{how pretty are the colors?!}

THE REVIEW:

{from josh} First sip was a bit sour, but as I kept drinking it became a bright and fruity taste.  Delicious!

{from amanda} I have to agree with my husband on this one- sour & tart! This drink also has a more textured consistency than the others. Tasty though! 

there ya have it! 3 new green drink recipes to try- let me know how you like them! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• strawberry lemonade green drink: the recipe & review
• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

strawberry lemonade green drink

{ strawberry lemonade green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• Juice of 2 lemons {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

THE REVIEW:

{from amanda} I love this one! It actually tastes like a super good-for-you strawberry lemonade. The lemon juice definitely makes it tart but the sweetness of the strawberries balance it nicely. 

{from josh} The citrus taste in this drink comes through much more today than in yesterday's.  Almost in an overpowering way. I would prefer if it were more strawberry less lemon.  

one more new recipe to come this week!

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

watermelon + lime green drink

{ watermelon + lime green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• Quarter of a medium-sized watermelon
• Juice of 3 limes {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

 {hello super bright blinding picture}

THE REVIEW:

{from amanda} Tasty & refreshing! The main flavor that comes out is the lime, I can taste hints of the watermelon and I know it is there because the drink is slightly sweet. I love that the lime juice brightens the drink and makes it a tad sour- in a good way. I will definately be making this juice again! 

{from josh} The juice today had a sweet taste right from the first sip.  Smooth drink and not overly veggie tasting.  Very refreshing drink.  

Are you ready for the best tip ever?!

Squeeze your lemons and limes using a pair of tongs! 

You already own this tool... you don't want citrus juice all over your hands and arms... and most importantly- the extra leverage gets so much more juice out of the fruit!

{thanks to Ina Garten- the barefoot contessa- for featuring this tip on her show}

check back later this week for another new green drink recipe! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

all about green

Green Drinks are my long time morning friend- they keep me full, are a snap to prepare and fill me with extra servings of veggies first thing in the morning. I tend to stick with this recipe each morning {the protein powder is optional}.

While my green drinks have a similar consistency to traditional juices- I make my drinks using a regular blender {but if you want to buy me a VitaMix, I will accept!} so they are a tad bit thicker and tend to require a good stir right before drinking. 

These 'whole food blended drinks' are full of health benefits*:

Fiber: Blending instead of juicing retains the natural fiber of the fruits and vegetables! This does wonders for your digestive system and is healthy to consume daily. 

Add-Ins: Blended drinks take well to nutritional goodies like chia seeds, ground flaxseed and protein powder- your drink will already have a bit of texture, so what is a little bit more!

Meal Replacement: Because of all the fiber, nutrients and add-ins, a full glass of a green drink can keep you completely satisfied for around 3 hours.

Quick + Easy: The fruits and veggies just need a rough chop then in they go, the blender takes care of the rest and you aren't left having to clean out a juicer or deal with pulp.

Deceptively Delicious: Add the veggies you normally wouldn't reach for and all of a sudden you are introducing new foods and nutrients to your body- without having to really taste them.

{Some points to note:}

Pre-made drinks only last about 3-4 days

Blend for as little time as possible {under a minute}

If the consistency isn't as thin as you like- just add water. It's better to have more juice on hand than to 'over blend' and risk too much oxidation. 

If you prefer cold smoothie-like drinks- freeze the fruit you are using or toss in some ice cubes

After drinking 'blended whole food drinks/Green Drinks' for about a year I tend to stick with the same recipe but after coming home from the lake this weekend with a sack full of fruits I don't usually have on hand, I had the chance to make some new combinations!!! Yay for change!

I pre-made the drinks last night and Josh and I will be drinking them throughout the week as afternoon snacks. I plan to post the recipes throughout the week so you can try them too! 

go green! 

check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

*news alert: I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist, just a girl that loves to drink her veggies & blog

wear sunscreen + do what you've always wanted to do

The first moments of your day are just so pivotal. After first finding my sweetheart of a boxer dog asleep on our brand. new. white. couch. this morning {grrr!!!}, I feel like I have been bombarded with goodness. I think it's going to be a good day :)

2 things I must share before we dive headfirst into the day: 

1. Baz Luhrmann's 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' song was on the radio. Seriously, I haven't heard that gem since it's 1999 birth, but wow was it refreshing and relevant! I may need to add it to my iPhone and listen to it once a week. 

It's long. But it's worth a read {or a listen}:

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99 

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be 

it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by 

scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable 

than my own meandering 

experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not 

understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. 

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and 

recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before 

you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you 

imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as 

effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing 

bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that 

never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm 

on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with 

people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes 

you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with 

yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you 

succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your 

life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they 

wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year 

olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe 

you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky 

chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t 

congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your 

choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, 

use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people 

think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever 

own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for 

good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the 

people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you 

should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and 

lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you 

knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live 

in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will 

philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize 

that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were 

noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, 

maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one 

might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will 

look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who 

supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of 

fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the 

ugly parts and recycling it for more than 

it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

2. Please 'meet' Lara Casey. Motivational speaker, Christ follower, branding expert, magazine editor {the list could go on}. I discovered this lovely lady {whom I will not actually meet until this July} on the one and only Instagram by way of Southern Weddings Magazine. She is a wealth of inspiration and honesty. Read her blog...follow her journey. 

{shop her prints}

Wear sunscreen. 

Do the things you've always wanted to do. 

Have a great day :)

to my mom

A special shout out to my blog's #1 fan....

Happy Birthday, Mom! You are the most beautiful woman I know, inside and out {cliches be gone}.  I hope you know that I consider it a great blessing to have a mom whose heart is truly made of gold and filled with love and hope for everyone. Even though I probably don't show it {blame Dad}...I am honestly inspired by the way you approach each person you meet with care, encouragement and kindness. 

I love you and can't wait to celebrate with you this evening!

Josh and I have a special family dinner planned tonight in honor of mom- fingers crossed it goes well and maybe I'll blog about it! :) 

ramblings: green drinks, good books + great dishes

Hello, I love you, I miss you. 

But really...its all true! I love this little blog of mine but living my life {the horror!} has been sucking up all of my time.

How about some random Friday ramblings?

Did you know that mornings are like so way totally more awesome when there are homemade green drinks and bible reading involved? Tis true. Try it out :)

{my go-to recipes here}

 Today I even did a super shot of wheatgrass, lemon, ginger and other goodness. Who wants to come over and grow wheatgrass in my yard? Thanks

{rawesome juicery, sweet auburn market, atlanta}

If you've been around me for more than a minute in the past month you've probably had to hear me rave and rave and raaaave about this precious book, Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist. 

I stumbled upon a mind-altering/life-changing quote {yup, that dramatic} from the book earlier this month and immediately bought every title Shauna Niequist had ever written. Shauna's words bring you to a place where you instantly feel yourself just sitting next to her on the couch with a big glass of red wine or hot tea; she is teaching you, sharing stories and offering up wholesome advice, walking with you through this thing we call life. Its good stuff. 

This book truly found me and I am so glad it did, there are parts of it for everyone and every stage of life-{and/or minute of life}. I know it will be a book that I turn to for years to come, lend to friends and family, write down quotes and dig into for a little 'life eye-opening' session. 

Here's a little teeny peek:

“Life sneaks up on us every once in a while and gives us something we didn't ever know we wanted, and lights within us a love we didn't even know existed.” 
― Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life

Told you I could talk foreverrrr about that book! :) Moving on! 

I sold two orders on Etsy- it was so fun creating 'Hallmade' frames for people that I didn't know! 

So friends, we are going back to Shauna Niequist and...FOOD! {this is all I can talk about.}

Her most recent title Bread & Wine is delicious. It's recipes are delicious and it's words are even more delicious. Each chapter brings a warm, thought-provoking, inspiring and comforting story and....a crazy tasty recipe for something scrumptious that Shauna has had at a restaurant or made herself. 

Double delights! 

I tried my hand {and bicep....jeeze} at her creamy parmesan risotto recipe. 

Best thing...I think I actually made it right! Soft with a little bit of a bite. 

With some coaching from the Hall household's egg frying champ, I fried my first egg last night. Then I topped that delicious thing on a stack of Quinoa, Sauteed Onions and Chicken Apple Sausage. 

The flavors are deep, they love on each other and bring a taste of sweet and super savory. The quinoa reminds you of its presence with a little crunch, the onions practically dissolve on your tongue and a fork full of crispy sausage, tender egg and runny yolk reminds you there is a reason that sausage and eggs sit side-by-side so often! 

{recipe from Bread & Wine, I know you saw that coming :) }

Well, I think I have rambled on enough for one post. 

Off to enjoy a weekend of whatever we want to do....as long as it involves one of these guys:

{Baked Maple Cinamon Donuts}

Don't you think its time I used that donut pan again? I do. 

Recipes {and breakfast visitors!} welcomed :)

 {P.S. I promise we will go back to recipes and diy projects and organized posts real real soon!}