German Chocolate Banana Ice Cream

Banana Ice Cream for those that don't already know about this delectable treat, is a simple blending of frozen bananas to create a frozen treat similar to ice cream without the dairy, sugar, salt or in the case of store bought ice cream, chemicals.

It's super easy and even for the most dedicated ice-cream eater (me) it replaces the need to ever buy ice-cream or frozen yogurt again. YAY!

I have to confess, when I am home alone and not preparing food for others, this often will be my meal of choice, covered in fresh berries and maybe a handful of walnuts. It's fully satisfying.

You can customize it to your every taste.


German Chocolate

Yesterday I started making a German Chocolate version. Today being Father's Day, it has become all too clear that it was no coincidence.

German Chocolate Cake was a favorite of my dad's. He passed when I was very young, but not before he got me hooked on this favorite flavor combo, which is rich chocolate, coconut and pecans.

So for today, I dedicate this recipe to my dad, a very special man who changed my life forever.

Ingredients:

4 frozen bananas, sliced in coins before freezing makes it easier to blend

splash of vanilla

1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened

2 tablespoons Cacao, Cocoa or Carob

2 tablespoons pecans, chopped

2 tablespoons dried unsweetened coconut

For Blender:

Blend bananas with splash of vanilla and add enough almond milk to get it mixing. Often it's better to pulse to get it going. When you get the vortex and it's creamy, add in the coconut and cacao, cocoa or carob and blend until well combined. The coconut will make it no so creamy. Stir in pecans until well combined.

For Food Processor:

Add the frozen bananas and pulse to get it mixing. 

Adding an unfrozen banana will help it mix better too but that's optional.

If not using an unfrozen banana then add milk as needed. You want it to look creamy with no chunks.

Add the cacao, cocoa or carob and coconut and blend again. Stir in nuts.

It should be the consistency of soft serve now and you have a choice:

Eat as is or freeze in a sealable container to harden.

Personally I usually just eat it soft serve style and creamy but here I made enough for 4 (did I say 4?- oops!) so I froze it to scoop out later.

It needs to soften a bit before ready to scoop. Top with additional pecans and coconut bits.

And there you have it, German Chocolate Banana Ice Cream.

I think this is a perfect share for Gluten-Free Cats' Raw Thursday as well as Healthy Vegan Fridays.

Now go get yourself more bananas!

Happy Father's Day!!!

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My Banana Loving Monkey

Meet Lili, my little monkey.

This is really not a usual post with recipes although I will make a banana mango smoothie for you all. This is more of an introduction to my little sidekick, Lili or as I often call her my little monkey.

I have had boxers for 23 years now and they are such little comedians but this one absolutely loves bananas! It just cracks me up.

But not just any banana, she is particular.

So this is how it goes….

I always have bananas ripening on the counter and when they are ready, ripe, and spotted like this one, I peel them, chop and freeze them for smoothies. But I've noticed that when I start to peel bananas, someone shows up at my side. She will stand and stare and if I don't notice her, she will start to nudge, ever so gently until she gets my attention.

This is what she's after. (I don't usually give it to her like this though.)  She wants the banana.  But it has to be perfectly ripe. Not even slightly green, and no spots or bruises either on the meat of the banana. She can tell if there was a bruise next to the piece I give her. I can't. But she can and she will have no part of it. No, this little monkey is very particular about her bananas.

It kind of tells you something doesn't it? Animals instinctively know what is ripe and good to eat.

For years I ate slightly green bananas, and saved the brown spotted ones for banana bread, like most people. But the problem with greenish bananas is that they are not ripe, too starchy and tough for a lot of people to digest. Ever get those banana after burps? I did. Sorry gross I know but it just goes to show us that we are not doing it right. 

So take a tip from Lili the Monkey Dog: Bananas are not ripe and fully sugared until there are some spots.

Green fruit is not ripe. Not even limes but that's another post.

So my Lili monkey had a birthday last weekend. She's a rescue, so we are guesstimating but Cinco De Mayo seemed festive and easy to remember. So in honor of her birthday, I made her (and myself) a smoothie I know she loves, Banana Mango. I usually give her a little smoothie every day over her kibbles. She waits for it and no longer will eat kibble dry. Go figure.

So here's her favorite (she told me ;-) Banana Mango Smoothie:

Start with 4 ripe Champagne Mangos and 4 ripe bananas. 

First a little info about "Champagne" mangos or "Ataulfo" mangos. They come from Mexico and are smaller than the more popular reddish Tommy Atkins mangoes that you usually see in the stores. But like most smaller fruit, the yellow "baby" champagne mangos are a little sweeter and slightly tarty (is that a word?) also the flesh is less fibrous and more smooth than the bigger variety. They are definitely checking out. My store had a special so I stocked up.

These mangoes are ripe when they get a little soft and spotty as well.  As you can see above, the meat of the banana is just perfect, not mushy, just sweet and sugary.

The mangos slice up the same as the big mangos, along side the pit in the center. The pit is wider on one side so cut along those wide sides, cutting off each "cheek" and then score the meat both ways. If you bend back the skin, the meat will pop up. I usually just use my thumbs to separate the meat from the skin but a spoon or knife would work too. There is not way around getting messy with mangos. 

So juicy!

Because I like my smoothies a little frosty, I add a little frozen banana to the mix as well, plus a little water to thin it and help it move in the blender.

Blend until desired consistency adding more water to thin if you like.

Here it is, Pure Sweetness!

And here is Lili posing patiently for her birthday picture with her smoothie…

While she did get some on her kibbles, the majority of it was mine! ;-)  So delicious!

Until next time….Stay thirsty my friends. 

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