It’s so hard to keep that vacation feeling. That feeling that lets me linger in bed to read a book instead of jumping up to chase the alarm and caffeine. The smell of sunscreen, the sound of the ocean, the beauty that I don’t immediately need to Instagram. Clean sheets, card games, lazy laughs. It’s so good. It always feels like waaaaay more than I deserve, with a teeny-tiny sprinkle of something that I’ve earned, but really it’s just a big fat blessing.
I spent some quality time on a tiny stretch of beach on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica last week. Way more than I deserve. I learned a lot.
I learned a lot about sunsets and how to sit and enjoy them with surfers and beach dogs.
I also learned some how to survive the heat of the dry season in Costa Rica: liquids! For real. I spent the entire week flailing around in the waves with a surfboard tethered to my leg and developed a healthy thirst… totally undeserved based on my surfing skills, but healthy nonetheless.
One of my favorite smoothies of choice in Costa Rica was Bananas y Leche: a simple mixture of bananas and milk. Of course, because few things are just left to be as they are in my kitchen… of course I added coffee and chocolate.
This smoothie is just what I needed to help that vacation feeling linger a bit. The cancelled flights and rushed airports can really harsh the vacation buzz. Nothing a little Banana, Leche y Cafe con Chocolate can’t help! I mean… right?
We stayed in a beautiful house that was indoors and out. The walls were bamboo. Monkeys liked to linger outside. Awesome and AAHHHH!!
Also, that pineapple was part food and part room fragrance. Beyond!
Down the hall, far and away.
Late breakfasts at Zwart Cafe, where the pineapple cilantro smoothies would make any juice-loving Californian want to weep just a little. They were that good.
Art and surfboards at Zwart Cafe because…. duh!
We bought super fresh fish from a market and restaurant called Product C.
They buy fresh every morning from the local fishermen, clean the fish up right, serve really lovely fish bowls with brown rice, and have ceviche flavored with just the right amount of dill. All worth the little bit of snark you might receive from the chef when you order.
We roasted a fresh Red Snapper, made brown rice, and a spicy caper and garlic tomato sauce.
It was the best meal of the trip due mostly to the fact that the fish was straight from the ocean (and I’m an awesome cook) (and really really humble).
A hike through rocks and shade to Montezuma Falls.
I know you only live once but I still didn’t jump.
If only I took the time to make this colorful, well-diced, and juicy a breakfast everyday. Also… more bread baskets please!
Hanging vines and purple petals.
Dogs everywhere in Costa Rica! Some with owners. Some strays.
This dog attached herself to us. We named her Low Tide and she liked to guard me while I watched my friends surf. She also followed us home and chased away spawning Halloween Crabs. I dunno… there was a lot of nature happening!
The last sunset with pinks and purples and silhouettes. The last before the airport dash and passport panic (I always think I’m going to lose that dang thing mid-trip!).
Back home and back in the mix! It’s weird and cool to come home to a new home in New Orleans. It feels like an extra vacation and that at some point I’ll have to make my way back to California.
Until I settle and adjust, I’m going to stack banana, milk, a dash of honey, coffee, and chocolate in my blender.
I’ll extend the vacation flavors as long as I can. I’d also like to extend the rather pathetic tan I acquired. Here’s hoping.
This drink exists somewhere in the world between a smoothie and a milkshake. It’s definitely rich with bananas and milk. It has hints of breakfast with the addition of coffee. Chocolate just makes the whole dang thing totally over the top.
This smoothie is the perfect refresher after a morning spent flopping around in the waves trying not to embarrass myself. The trying not to embarrass myself part of the trip was actually the most challenging. This smoothie serves as a necessary and delicious reminder.
Banana, Leche y Cafe con Chocolate
makes 2 drinks
5 ice cubes (mine were medium in size)
2 small ripe bananas, sliced
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped dark chocolate
2 tablespoons used coffee grounds
2 tablespoons lukewarm coffee
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup cold milk
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and well combined, about 3 minutes. Add more ice or more milk to create your desired consistency. Divide between two glasses and enjoy immediately.
Kirsten @ Fit + Fab
I really want to take up surfing now (well have wanted to for 15+ years!) and drink those drinks at the beach! Gorgeous!
Pri
So we could-ve had that coffee you always say after all! :P
So glad you had a great time here and from what I see you had to be at Santa Teresa, which happens to be one of my favorite beaches!
Please do keep baking and I will follow, repeating your recipes here in lovely Costa Rica :)
Kristina
This post brought a little tear to my eye! I lived in Montezuma for a year and it was the best year of my whole life! Such a wonderful place to be. Your pictures brought back so many memories!! We lived 3k down from Montezuma toward Cabuya and I can literally still hear the waves crashing. Glad you found that little piece of perfection!
Shikha la mode
Costa Rica looks like sic a beautiful place – and I love that you are still cooking on vacation! Remember to relax as much as possible!
amiechristo
Your trip looks like it was wonderful. Your commentary always brings things right to life. Definitely going to have to throw this drink right into my mix as I try and coax spring to come forward.
Meredith
I need this immediately!
Seppy's Montreal
I grew up on milk & banana smoothies..!! My grand-father use to make them for us all the time!
http://www.seppysmontreal.com
sundiegoeats
Your vacation pictures are magical and totally agree that for some reason adding bananas to smoothies with milk (regular or nut) takes smoothie to a creamy territory where they tip toe the line into milkshakes….love.
Hannah
Your vacation looks absolutely incredible… definitely need to get to Costa Rica some time. I love the way you write, gorgeous! Would love to see some photos from around New Orleans- I’m from Australia and will be doing a trip to the US & Mexico in June-July, and my partner and I will be in New Orleans for a couple days before heading up to Memphis, any tips?
Thanks for your post!
xo Hannah
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I love costa rica so much! My sister in law is living there right now giving insect exploration tours and yoga classes. I swoon over her fabulous pictures! And yours are just the same :) Also, love this drink!
Erica
Yum! I think Latin America is on to something with such simple smoothies. In Argentina, you can find fresh fruit licuados in any cafe — choose a fruit, and either milk or ice, and that’s it! I am also partial to the banana and milk variety :) Adding coffee and chocolate sounds amazing!
Tracy
I’m going to Costa Rica this summer with my majs’s to celebrate our collective 30th birthdays this year. This drink totally got me super excited!!
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
Bananas. It looks like such a magic getaway. Love shacks selling fresh fish with a side of attitude, have come across them on my island travels, for sure. Sometimes creepy, sometimes loopy, often obnoxious, always worth it. And the fruit! Bliss. x
Anne
I’m normal a lurker, but I have to chime in today. I’m so glad that you loved CR! I’ve lived here for several years now, and I sharing it with people is still one of my very favorite things. This whole post made me smile down to the Britt saucers and the beach sunsets. I’ve made a ton of your recipes here in my Costa Rican kitchen (your strawberry banana pie is now one of my signature desserts!) so of course I already think we know each other. I hope you can hold on to the pura vida for a long, long time!
Bella @ Domingos Gourmet
Hello Joy! I’m glad that you enjoyed your vacations in Costa Rica! My country is small but has a lot to offer! And our sunsets are great! If you ever come again, I would be honored to meet you!
For you and all the readers that have/would like to come to Costa Rica, I leave you this video: https://vimeo.com/68277276