Healthy Shamrock Shake

UPDATE:  I updated the photos of the Healthy Shamrock Shake on March 9, 2013.  I like these ones a little better!

Hi Everyone,

Today is my last St. Patrick’s Day recipe, at least for this week.  I saw so many great recipes posted in the Holiday Recipe Club and from so many blogger posts.  I have my eye on some Shepard’s Pie, Irish Soda Bread and so much more.  I never realized that St. Patrick’s Day would be such a big holiday for food bloggers.  I am glad it is!  I learned some new recipes and tried some new meals like Corned Beef and Cabbage and my Pistachio Pancakes.  This was a great week and what’s even better, is that my family really enjoyed my dishes.  I think there favorite was the Thin Mint Mousse.  Can’t blame them, it was hella good!  So today I thought I would share with you my healthy version of the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake.

I put this shake together in minutes.  It’s made with banana, plain greek yogurt, unsweetened coconut milk, Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie and pure mint extract.  This was perfect!  Not to overly sweet, but enough sweetness from the banana and the cookie.  Of course I did have to top it with fat free whip cream.  You know me and whip cream!!

Healthy Shamrock Shake

Ingredients:

1 medium banana, frozen

1/2 cup coconut milk, light, unsweetened

1/2 cup greek yogurt, plain

1 Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie

2 drops mint extract

3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Optional Topping:  Fat Free Whip Cream and a Thin Mint Cookie

Note:  If you don’t have a frozen banana, add ice with a fresh banana.

Makes one serving

Calories per serving:  238,  Fat:  5.1,  Cholesterol:  0,  Sodium:  141,  Potassium:  602,  Carbs:  37.  Fiber:  3,  Sugar:  17,  Protein:  12.4

Let’s have some fun and compare a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake 12oz serving:

Calories:  540,  Trans Fat:  1,  Fat:  16, Cholesterol:  45,  Sodium:  160,  Potassium:  ??,  Carbs:  88,  Fiber:  0,  Sugar:  74,  Protein:  10

Holy crap there stats are horrible!!!  I understand there’s is made with  ice cream, but dam what kind of ice cream are they using?  It has trans fat and 74 grams of sugar!  Geez!  I’ll stick to my healthy banana shake!  Yes I added a 40 calorie cookie, but the rest is all good and so is my fat!  So there!!!

I thought I would put together some of my recipes that I thought would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.  You know there will be cooking going on in my house, since it’s suppose to rain and be cold Saturday!  But of course everyone, but me works that day!  Stinky!

Rye Bread - Perfect for a Reuben Sandwich

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Bailey’s Mint Chocolate Cookies

Skinny Pistachio Thins

Thin Mint Mousse

Pistachio Pancakes

I hope you have a great day and a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!!

I heard that voting ends on Monday, so as a friendly reminder, as you know I was nominated for Healthiest Eating Food Blog on Fitness Magazine and would love it if you voted for me.  So far I only have 45 votes,  if you like my blog, please vote for Peanut Butter and Peppers.  To vote for me, just go here. Thank you, much appreciated!!

Enjoy!!!