I wanted to share- HEALTHY "ICE CREAM" and MORE!

[toledo13]

Hello fellow WISHERS!! I wanted to share with you a fantastic recipe for healthy 'ice cream'. In fact, it's not ice cream at all... it's FROZEN BANANAS.

Tonight I made Strawberry/Banana Ice Cream that was fantastic. All I did was freeze a couple of bananas (cut up in chunks), and blended them in the food processor with some fresh organic strawberries (washed, and tops cut off). I'm going to attempt to post a picture here... but if it doesn't come out, I wrote about it in my recent blog post: http://anniessimplelife.blogspot.com/2009/07/oh-tuesday-you-can-go-away-now.html. It's the very last picture.... but here comes my attempt to post it here!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zPZSTAI5jiw/Sl0UQep8-YI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4vd2Bibzn1M/s1600-h/DSCF3285.JPG

Honestly, it tastes so much like ice cream it's crazy!!! And it's just the same nutritional value of eating the whole fruit. :banana:

[toledo13]

Hello fellow WISHERS!! I wanted to share with you a fantastic recipe for healthy 'ice cream'. In fact, it's not ice cream at all... it's FROZEN BANANAS.

Tonight I made Strawberry/Banana Ice Cream that was fantastic. All I did was freeze a couple of bananas (cut up in chunks), and blended them in the food processor with some fresh organic strawberries (washed, and tops cut off). I'm going to attempt to post a picture here... but if it doesn't come out, I wrote about it in my recent blog post: http://anniessimplelife.blogspot.com/2009/07/oh-tuesday-you-can-go-away-now.html. It's the very last picture.... but here comes my attempt to post it here!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zPZSTAI5jiw/Sl0UQep8-YI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4vd2Bibzn1M/s1600-h/DSCF3285.JPG

Honestly, it tastes so much like ice cream it's crazy!!! And it's just the same nutritional value of eating the whole fruit. :banana:

Well shoot- the picture didn't work. Oh well, if you want to see a picture, check out the link. SORRY GUYS!

[Seahunt]

toledo13 here's some help in posting your picture :cutie::

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zPZSTAI5jiw/Sl0UQep8-YI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4vd2Bibzn1M/s320/DSCF3285.JPG

Looks tasty! Thanks for posting this. I have been freezing bananas for smoothies for a long time, but just started occasionally just eating one of the frozen bananas by itself as a treat. Pretty yummy, but blending with strawberries and eating like ice cream sounds even better! :goodvibes

(BTW, from your blog I :love: that greek yogurt also - especially in honey flavor - but now I will be sure and check for mold spots before I dig in! :eek:)

[toledo13]

toledo13 here's some help in posting your picture :cutie::

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zPZSTAI5jiw/Sl0UQep8-YI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4vd2Bibzn1M/s320/DSCF3285.JPG

Looks tasty! Thanks for posting this. I have been freezing bananas for smoothies for a long time, but just started occasionally just eating one of the frozen bananas by itself as a treat. Pretty yummy, but blending with strawberries and eating like ice cream sounds even better! :goodvibes

(BTW, from your blog I :love: that greek yogurt also - especially in honey flavor - but now I will be sure and check for mold spots before I dig in! :eek:)

OMG THANK YOU FOR POSTING THE PICTURE. Any idea what I was doing wrong? I tell you, it REALLY tasted like ice cream... and it's HEALTHY!

[DisneyGalUK]

Wow that looks great!
I know you posted the recipe, but I want to attempt to make this - it was just frozen banana chunks and then fresh strawberries put in the blender?

I cant wait to try it, I need something enough like ice-cream to satisfy the cravings and to stop me from jumping head first into the tub of full fat ice cream!

[toledo13]

Wow that looks great!
I know you posted the recipe, but I want to attempt to make this - it was just frozen banana chunks and then fresh strawberries put in the blender?

I cant wait to try it, I need something enough like ice-cream to satisfy the cravings and to stop me from jumping head first into the tub of full fat ice cream!

Hi! Yep, just frozen banana chunks and fresh strawberries- THAT'S IT!! I used my Cuisinart Food Processor. You have to let it run a little bit to 'melt' the frozen bananas so it becomes creamy, rather than 'Dippin Dots'... though that would be good too!!

[DisneyGalUK]

:thumbsup2 Thank you so much!

Ive just bought a load of fresh fruit today, I am definitely trying this tomorrow!

[ohMom]

you are a wealth of info!! that sound awesome! i'm not a huge banana fan, i wonder if any other fruits would work just as well, or do you think you need the creaminess of banana? mango banana sounds good?

[toledo13]

you are a wealth of info!! that sound awesome! i'm not a huge banana fan, i wonder if any other fruits would work just as well, or do you think you need the creaminess of banana? mango banana sounds good?

haha thanks! :rotfl: I don't LOVE banana either... so I try to find strong flavored fruits to mix in. Mango would probably be GREAT!!!! I've used blueberry-- not strong enough for me. Raspberry is also good. The bananas I think are more for the creaminess, yeah. It sure is good though! The food processor does the best job of whipping it up. YUM!! :banana:

[antmaril]

I just tried this in my food processor and it came out great. It was very much like the texture of ice cream.

Thanks for the tip :thumbsup2

[toledo13]

I just tried this in my food processor and it came out great. It was very much like the texture of ice cream.

Thanks for the tip :thumbsup2

YOU'RE WELCOME!!!! I'm glad it worked out for you!!!! :cool1:

[MelanieC]

Hi everyone - I do this all the time. Sometimes I add lowfat plain organic yogurt too (gives it that creamy tang).

I always add a banana because the banana gives it that sweetness of ice cream that really allows you to not add other sweetners.

I even make a mango lasso with yogurt mango, banana -its fine like that but occasionally I'll add a little honey for an orgiginal mango lassi taste.

[FeelsLikeHome]

Thank you for posting this! I love ice cream, and this sounds like a great way to get my ice cream fix minus the guilt!

[toledo13]

Thank you for posting this! I love ice cream, and this sounds like a great way to get my ice cream fix minus the guilt!

It is SOO good. Tonight I'm going to experiment with adding some cocoa powder and coconut.... and maybe some agave nectar if it needs to be a little sweeter.

[toledo13]

To those that liked my ice cream, here's a recipe for meatless meatloaf. I haven't tried it yet, but I will this evening!!

"MEAT"LOAF

Makes 2 mini loaves or 1 regular loaf

Ingredients:
15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large carrot, skinned and shredded
2 celery stalks, washed and shredded
1 cup coarsely chopped brown mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 tbsp italian seasoning
3 tbsp brown rice flour (or whole wheat if you prefer)
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp ketchup

Directions:
1. Preheat oven 350F and grease your pan
2. Mash black beans in a large bowl
3. Combine all ingredients, stirring until even
4. Pour into pan and using a spatula, pat down firmly and tightly
5. Bake 35 minutes for minis, 45-1 hour for regular loaves
6. Serve with your favorite gravy if desired

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRAVY

Makes 2 cup
Ingredients:
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (you can find this at health food/natural food markets- like Bexley Natural Market)
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or normal whole wheat flour)
2 cups mock beef or vegetable broth
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
few dashes of black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
salt to taste

Directions:
1. in a small skillet, whisk nutritional yeast and flour together and toast over med heat, about 4 mins (until it smells toasty)
2. transfer to a med sauce pan
3. whisk in remaining ingredients
4. bring to a boil and allow to thicken to desired consistency

for an even thicker gravy, add 1 tbsp mixed into 2 tbsp of water.

[happymommy]

After taking four vacations last year, and stopping my denial and getting on the scale, I realized I've gained 10 pounds. Okay, maybe that isn't a whole lot, but I've reason to not gain.

The meatless meatloaf recipe sounds great. I don't like a whole lot of meat, so thanks!

I make smoothies for myself and my kids often - try to use frozen fruit from Costco and when our bananas get a bit brown, I do freeze them for the same thing. I do add splenda and soy milk or fruit juice, depending on what we want. It is so satisfying! Berries are so healthy.

We love quinoa also, so I have to try your "meatloaf" - thanks!

[toledo13]

After taking four vacations last year, and stopping my denial and getting on the scale, I realized I've gained 10 pounds. Okay, maybe that isn't a whole lot, but I've reason to not gain.

The meatless meatloaf recipe sounds great. I don't like a whole lot of meat, so thanks!

I make smoothies for myself and my kids often - try to use frozen fruit from Costco and when our bananas get a bit brown, I do freeze them for the same thing. I do add splenda and soy milk or fruit juice, depending on what we want. It is so satisfying! Berries are so healthy.

We love quinoa also, so I have to try your "meatloaf" - thanks!

You are very welcome! Keep an eye on my blog- I put healthy recipes/food pictures/ideas in there almost every day. Tonight's blog is going to be the adventures of DH and him trying to cook... oye. :laughing::scared1: