a healthy decadence

From Dr. Weil

Cocoa-Banana Frozen Dessert

Description
The flavors in this simple dessert remind us of beach fare – frozen bananas on a stick coated with chocolate. This is a healthier version that you can whip up in no time. It contains no added sugar or dairy and is very versatile. Improvise by adding different flavors. Make this a few hours before you plan to serve - it's best when just frozen. Any leftovers will keep for a couple of weeks in the freezer.

Food as Medicine
Bananas are rich in potassium - one banana contains 450 mg, one-fifth of the adult daily requirement - and offer a fair share of magnesium (33 mg), too.

Ingredients

• 4 very ripe bananas
• 2 tablespoons pure unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Instructions
1. Peel the bananas and place in a blender or food processor along with the cocoa powder.
2. Add the vanilla extract and the maple syrup.
3. Blend till very smooth. Pour into individual custard cups or small bowls and freeze until just frozen.

the ultimate chocolate - banana protein smoothie

Ingredients*

• 1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1/2 cup nonfat strained plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 frozen banana
• one scoop chocolate whey protein powder
• 3-6 ice cubes
• splash of brewed coffee

If you want enough to share or have some left over for later in the day, increase the almond milk to one cup and use a whole banana.

* all these things go into the blender

baking banana - cookies!

Gina at Skinny Taste has created an easy peasy recipe for Chewy Low Fat Banana Nut Oatmeal Cookies. According to Gina, these cookies have all the flavors of the all-American favorite banana nut bread. I haven't made them yet, but I'm thinking adding mini chocolate chips might boost these cookies to super star status.

[Image source]

Sugar & Everything Nice

I borrowed this photo from this website that contains the recipe. It would be ideal if someone made this, tasted it and let me know how wonderful it truly tastes.

Banana Butterscotch Cake

Too Many Bananas!?!

How could you have too many bananas? Is there such a thing?

Make banana cream scones. Learn the Story of a Joyful Kitchen and visit Heather but more importantly, use those bananas. Then tell me how these scones tasted. I love me some scone-age.

Photo courtesy of Heather's Dish.

Weekend Reading

Not sure where you live, but the weekend forecast around here is sunny and 70s which equals beach and a book... and not just any book. Sometimes Tolstoy or Proust can be a bit heavy for a beach retreat, you know? My solution: revert back to your childhood days where "Choose Your Own Adventure" was the biggest rage. Emma Campbell Webster has recaptured the page-turning excitement in this "grown-up" version. The main character is Elizabeth Bennet--but you are by no means stuck in a Mr. Darcy world. I have taken many quick adventures with this book and so far have managed to *gasp* marry Mr. Collins, spend a spooky weekend in Northanger Abbey, take a trip with Jane to Bath, all the while collecting (or losing!) Confidence and Intelligence points. It's silly, clever, and simple.

If you have a baby banana attached to your hip (as I currently do) then you know that your beach bag will be overflowing with so much equipment it seems as though you packed for an army and not a tiny little being. Stuff a board book into any pocket left--it will be very useful when trying to coax your child to sit still under an umbrella for snacktime. A lasting favorite in our collection is Rod Campbell's Dear Zoo. Nothing makes the little ones happier than a lift-the-flap book full of animals. Spoiler Alert: the book ends with a puppy being the perfect pet, which of course is every child's dream, right?

Perfect hot weather snack? Frozen chocolate covered bananas. Add some sprinkles or nuts for pizzaz. Find out how to make them here.

Upside Down Banana Toffee Cake

Upside Down Banana Toffee Cake brought to you by the foodess. (Photo courtesy of the the foodess.)