Pinterest success! Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Milkshake

I'll admit it: I'm a Pinterest junkie.



Pinterest is addictive. Let's just admit that. It might seem lame, but it's a good idea. A virtual corkboard to keep all of the interesting things you find online - outfits, recipes, DIY projects, funny little snippets, anything. It keeps everything organized and at your fingertips. It's great.



Anyway. Specifically, what I wanted to discuss is this shake I found on Pinterest. Now, I've found a lot of dubious recipes on Pinterest, and some that didn't SEEM dubious, but yielded disastrous results (I've also found a lot of successful recipes, but that's not the point I've clearly set out to make). This shake recipe was one that SOUNDED kind of gross...or at least like it would turn out boring...but the picture on the pin looked so delicious that I just had to try it. And it turned out to be absolutely delightful! Allow me to share.

The idea behind this shake was to make, I guess, a chocolate peanut butter milkshake that's not horrifically unhealthy. The only ingredients are frozen bananas, cocoa powder, natural peanut butter, almond milk (which I didn't have, so I just used regular 1% milk), vanilla extract, maple syrup (which I didn't want to use, so I used agave nectar), and ice. The recipe listed specific amounts of ingredients and instructions, but all I did was this: break up a frozen banana and toss it into my ninja with a big spoonful of natural PB (I think the peanut butter being natural is key, otherwise it'd make the shake too sweet), a tablespoon of cocoa powder, a big splash of milk, a tiny splash of vanilla, a squeeze of agave, a tiny pinch of kosher salt, and a scoop of ice, and blend it until it was smooth. I expected it to be mediocre at best, but it was freakin' delicious! It tasted like a rich, thick chocolate/peanut butter/banana milkshake, and it was only mildly sweet, which somehow made it taste more decadent. The amount that I made  added up to be about half of the recipe that Pinterest yielded, and I shared it with Jeff. I think that the full amount that I made would be a perfect size for a filling breakfast, or for a really satisfying dessert - and it's relatively healthly and low calorie, at least compared to a traditional ice cream shake. I highly recommend throwing one together; it takes about 45 seconds to make.



Happy sipping! 

Social Networking is Getting Out of Control.

For real, yo.

I was kind of slow getting into the whole Social Networking game. I didn't get Myspace until that mess was almost over, and then I didn't get Facebook until, like, 2007. I never had Friendster. I just started really getting into Twitter this year, and now I'm also consumed by Instagram and Pinterest, not to even mention music networking clients I mess with.

What the shit is going on?

When I have something I want to say, or to share with "the masses", I seriously have to pause to consider what forum I want to employ. What? That is bonkers. This should not be a problem people have. I remember back in the day (you can't see me, but I'm waving my cane at you) when, if you wanted to say something, you said it. Vocally. And whoever was in earshot heard you. And perhaps, if you were to just blurt out statements or observations, as is routine in present day, they would think you were out of your damn mind. And you probably were, because only journalists and stand-up comedians did such things.


I honestly can't accurately remember life before this onslaught of technology. I am WAY too awkward to just get to know people organically. I'll be the first to admit that I Facebook stalk the holy Hell out of pretty much everyone I meet. Is that creepy? I'd say yes, but I'm fairly confident that most people do the same, even if they're not as open about it.


Or maybe I'm creepy.


But anyway, I'm really not sure if my awkwardness is just because I was an only child, psychology bok bok bok, or if it's a product of too much access to everything online. Maybe I've actually LOST whatever social graces I was brought up to have, because they're now basically obsolete. 


All I know is that you guys get to see 15 million pictures of my dog in multiple forums, and I feel that I have enriched your lives by providing the opportunity for you to view Mr. Macgruber Strongbad Raum, like, looking at me, not once, not twice, but SEVERAL different times, in succession. You're welcome.


Don't thank me, thank The Internets.