Your Tastebuds Will Go Bananas & Your Body Will Say Thanks A Bunch! The Scoop On Banana 'Nice' Cream
Summer's heating up—chill out & treat yourself!
As we plunge into the hottest part of the summer, frozen treats are a must! Whether sitting poolside getting your tan on (I wish!), or working hard on house and yard projects (like my wonderful hubs), a big bowl of 'nice' cream will be sure to cool you down and satisfy your sweet tooth!
BE SWEET TO YOUR BODY WITH 'NICE' CREAM
Your everyday ice cream is most-likely loaded with refined sugar, saturated fat, and harmful chemicals, dyes, and preservatives. Not to mention, dairy has been linked to all kinds of inflammatory issues, from gas, bloating, and stomach upset, to cystic acne and hormonal imbalances. And why go out of your way to buy a super-expensive ice cream that's "low-fat," "organic," "sugar-free," etc., when you could just make a whole food, healthier alternative at home? Check out my blog post on Refined Sugar vs. Fruit for all of the juicy details on why and how to make the switch to fruit for better health!
All you need is a high-speed blender and a bunch of frozen bananas!
Ripen + Freeze
Bananas are super-inexpensive. Pick up a bunch from the grocery store and let them sit on your counter until they are good and ripe—and by ripe, I mean leopard-spotted! Refer to the very end of my blog post on Refined Sugar vs. Fruit to see what I'm talking about!
Once your bananas are good and ripe, peel them and slice them into chunks. I made the mistake of throwing them in the freezer without peeling the first time, and they were not easy to get into! I usually cut the bananas into about 5 chunks each, that way when you're scooping them out to make your first batch, you'll know exactly how many pieces equal one banana! Store them in a container and freeze overnight.
Blend + Enjoy
Take your frozen bananas out and allow them to thaw for about 10 minutes so you don't rough up your appliances. Using either a food processor or high-speed blender, throw your bananas in and blend (I usually use at least 2). You will probably have to scrape the sides a few times as you go, until the bananas soften a bit and whip into a soft-serve consistency.
Some of My Favorite Mix-ins:
a splash of dairy-free milk of choice (almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, etc.) or coconut water—use these very sparingly or it will turn into more of a smoothie than a soft-serve
a couple of pitted dates
other frozen fruit—I love adding in raspberries or mangos!
a bit of spinach and mint leaves and you've got green mint 'nice' cream!
Toppings! The Fun Part:
shredded coconut
cacao nibs or cacao powder
goji berries or dried mulberries
nuts or nut butters
hemp, chia, and/or ground flax seed
or keep it fruity and simple and just add some fresh fruit on top!
If you want your 'nice' cream to have the consistency of regular ice cream instead of soft-serve, just put it back in the freezer and allow it to solidify! If you're like me, it's going to look oh-so-good, and you won't be able to wait any longer! Just remember, it melts fast! Enjoy promptly after blending, or you might be left with banana soup! :P
Below is a twist on a classic—Raspberry Banana 'Nice' Cream!
As Seen On YouTube
Your tastebuds will go bananas & YOUR BODY WILL say THANKS A BUNCH!
When all you're eating is whole foods, you won't have to worry about your waistline growing! Banana 'Nice' Cream can be both an indulgence, and an everyday healthy snack! Enjoy, and thank God for nature's energy bar—the banana!
