Banana Ice Cream Treat

My son absolutely LOVES bananas, so we go through a lot of them each week. One of his favorite ways to enjoy them is Banana Ice Cream. Now, I know what you are thinking...banana icecream doesn't sound like the healthiest thing on the menu. Ice cream is a great "treat", but you can serve this version any time you want and your kids will thank you for it. Bananas are rich in potassium and are so sweet and creamy that no extra sugar is needed for this recipe. If you decide to add some dark chocolate chips and toasted walnuts, you can pretend you are indulging in Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey(my personal fave) without any of the guilt!

1 frozen banana
1-2 TBS. milk
dark chocolate chips(optional)
toasted chopped walnuts(optional)

Take your banana out of the freezer and let it sit for a minute or two. Then, throw it in the blender(I use the Vitamix 5000 and it is worth every penny!) or food processor if your blender isn't super powerful. Add milk in by the tablespoon until the banana is broken down and combined, but not too slushy...remember this is supposed to be like ice cream! Mix in or top "ice cream" with walnuts and chocolate and serve. Serves 1.

Honeydew you want a popsicle?

It has been a busy week. When my 3 year old realized that Mommy ran out of homemade frozen treats, it wasn't a pretty sight. With not much to work with, this sweet and juicy pop was born! Now, I am not usually a huge fan of honeydew, but combined with tart limes and plump blueberries it is surprisingly delicious. This popsicle provides a ton of immune boosting Vitamin C which is perfect for kids heading back into the school year. My son's favorite part was that it was green AND blue, his two favorite colors. Make some for your kids this weekend and you will be everyone's favorite mom!


1 ripe honeydew melon, cut into chunks
2 Tbs. agave syrup*
Juice of 2 limes
1 C. blueberries

In a blender, combine melon, lime juice and agave syrup. Blend until smooth and then pour into popsicle molds until they are about 3/4 full. Drop several blueberries into each mold and use a butter knife to push them down throughout the melon puree. Freeze and enjoy! Makes 6-10 depending on the size of your molds.

*Agave syrup comes from the agave plant in Mexico. It is twice as sweet as sugar, but it has a lower glycemic index than sugar does, so it is easier on your blood sugar. Many people use a simple syrup(sugar and water) when adding sweetener to homemade popsicles, but this eliminates that extra step!

Snackimals- A New Favorite Animal Cracker

As you know, I can be particular about what my son eats. It is very important to me that he eats as cleanly as possible, but let's face it, he's a kid. He needs yummy treats every now and again. I recently found the Snackimals brand animal cookies by Barbara's Bakery(barbarasbakery.com) in California. Not only are they made from organic ingredients and are low in sugar, but they have zero trans fats, artificial colors or preservatives. And did I mention that they are SO yummy? Since too much of good thing isn't good...maybe I should hide these little babies from myself! Our faves? Try the vanilla and chocolate chip flavors. Want some for yourself? Try your local health food store or the health section of major grocery chains. Share your family's favorite healthy snacks here.

Mmmm...Tropical Popsicles!

Ok, it's hot out here in the boonies of the Arizona desert. About 113 degrees HOT! There are only so many ways to keep cool during this time of year and most of them are indoors. But if you do venture outside, make sure you are armed with a batch of these fruity, creamy and oh so refreshing popsicles! Pineapple, bananas, coconut and lime are a perfect marriage of tongue tickling flavors and because these popsicles are homemade you don't have to worry about preservatives, food coloring or excess amounts of sugar(your kids are already sweet enough)! The best part? They are super inexpensive to make...about $1 a batch as opposed to spending $4 a box for the all fruit bars at the supermarket. Now all you need is an umbrella and an ocean breeze! Tell me about your family's favorite popsicle recipe at my Community Soup forum here.

1 Cup pineapple chunks(if you use canned, be sure it is no added sugar and packed in juice instead of syrup)
1/2 Cup pineapple juice
1/4-1/2 shredded unsweetened coconut depending on how much you like coconut OR 1/4 tsp. coconut extract
1 ripe banana
Juice of one lime

Throw all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Enjoy!

Berry Yummy

The other day I was watching Giada DeLaurentiis on the Food Network. She made this gorgeous dessert with silky ricotta cheese, citrus and berries that just screamed summer to me. The best part is that altering it just a bit makes it a tad more healthy and just as delicious! Another bonus is pairing the sweet berry sauce with ricotta lowers the effect sugar has on the body and the blood sugar remains stable. This dessert packs a powerful punch of protein, calcium and antioxidants!


Berry Yummy Ricotta Sundaes

berry sauce:

Juice of one orange
Juice of one lemon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 C. sugar
8 large strawberries, quartered
1/2 C. raspberries
1/2 C. blueberries

Put the juice of the orange and lemon into a sauce pan and add sugar and fruit. Let it come to a bubble and simmer for a few minutes. Stir in vanilla and remove from heat.

ricotta cream:
1 15oz. container good quality whole milk ricotta cheese(don't skimp here because it really affects the taste)
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 TBS. honey depending on how sweet you want it. You can also use sugar or agave syrup.
Zest of one orange
Zest of one lemon

2 TBS. toasted almond slivers(reserve for topping)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

To serve: Divide the ricotta mixture among 4 dessert dishes and top with equal amounts of the berry sauce. Sprinkle with toasted almond slivers. Delish! Serves 4