Banana Pudding Poke Cake

My husband is OBSESSED with banana pudding. This was a genius idea for a birthday cake! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 Box White Cake Mix

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Package Vanilla Wafers

4 Bananas

2 packages Banana Pudding

1 Container Cool Whip

**Ingredients to make cake

PREHEAT OVEN AS DIRECTED ON CAKE MIX BOX

Set out Cool Whip Container to Soften.

I used three round cake pans to make a layered cake for this one. Simply mix up your cake mix by the directions on the box. Add the extra tsp vanilla. Separate evenly into 3 greased and floured round cake pans. Bake as directed. 

When done, let sit about 5 minutes. Tap pan on counter and flip cakes onto a lightly floured surface. Begin to poke cakes with a plastic "one use" straw all the way around, about an inch apart, throughout the whole cake, until all cakes are done.

Slice bananas, and mix up pudding packages. After mixing, I put the pudding mixture in a pourable measuring cup to make it easier to use.

Place one cake round on a serving plate or pan. Pour pudding mixture over the cake to fill the holes (carefully). Line with a layer of wafers and a layer of bananas. Do the same with the second layer. If it gets to thick to pour, add a bit of milk. 

Once the second layer is finished, place the last cake round on top. Pour pudding mixture into the holes carefully, and let sit five minutes. 

Stick cake in the refrigerator to cool for ten minutes.

Take the cake out, and frost with the cool whip. Crumble some wafers and sprinkle them on top of the cake and line the sides with whole wafers. 

Keep Refrigerated until you are ready to eat it.

Double Banana & Blackberry Smoothie

What's better than a banana in your smoothie?

Two Bananas!

This was one delicious, vitamin packed lunch for me. 

I always put spinach and an avocado into my smoothies to pack in some extra vitamins.

Ingredients:

2 Bananas

1 Avocado (cut and scooped out)

1 C. Blackberries

1 C. Plain nonfat yogurt

1 C Juice-any kind

2 C Spinach

1 C. Ice- unless you are using frozen fruit

Liquify all ingredients in your blender and off you go! So delish!

Slimming Lunch Smoothies

I SWEAR by these. I make one in place of one meal every day. Usually its easiest for me to make it at lunch. I have been drinking a smoothie a day for about two weeks now and can already tell a difference in many ways. It revs up my energy levels, I have lost four pounds (most around my "muffin top"), my hair seems flawlessly healthier and my body feels healthier too. I have never stuck to any kind of "diet" in my life because, well, I hate them. I am STILL not sick of these.

I buy the frozen unsweetened fruit. (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) This can look a bit pricey, about 10.00 a bag, but when you think about it, its lunch for a week. Not too bad. Bananas I like fresh. Strawberries, when in season, are also much better fresh.

Recipe:

3 tbsp ground flaxseed
3 tbsp oats
1 C. Plain nonfat yogurt (can use greek)
1/2 C. Blueberries
1/2 C. Blackberries
1/2 C Raspberries
2 C. Fresh Spinach (grinds down to nothing)
1 Banana
1/2 Fresh Avocado
1/2 C Fruit juice/Milk/Water

Add any fresh ingredients first, then add frozen. Add some juice, water or milk to thin it out a little.  Add one or two ice cubes on top. If using all fresh ingredients, add a bit more ice. No one wants a warm smoothie. These are very easy and you can use whatever fruit you like. Add whatever veggies you want. I use flaxseed in mine because its packed with fiber and nutrients you need. Yogurt is good for your gut, so I toss some of that in there too. The oatmeal maintains my hunger longer.
Enjoy! I am enjoying mine right now! :-)