Sunday, July 11, 2010

You'll Go Bananas For This Icy Treat

Hot summer days are here. Are you looking for an easy, healthy alternative to ice cream? Look no further! This sweet, frosty treat has no fat or cholesterol if you use soy milk, and very little if you use nonfat or low fat milk. It's also full of vitamins and minerals, and pretty inexpensive, too. The soy milk or juice version is great for those who are lactose intolerant, or vegans.

I always buy some overripe bananas on sale, peel them, and keep them in a gallon-size storage bag in my freezer. When I want a treat, I pull out one or two, break them into chunks, and throw them in my blender. If I want a more ice cream-like concoction, I add low fat milk or soy milk. If I want more of a sorbet, I add whatever fruit juice I have laying around. Add it a little at a time, until you get just enough where it can blend without bogging down the motor, but not so much that it's too thin. You want it as thick as possible. If I want chocolate "ice cream", I add a little hot cocoa mix. If I want fruity ice cream or sorbet, I add a little jam or a piece of overripe fruit. Blend until smooth. Use a rubber scraper to transfer the mixture to a bowl. Place the bowl in the freezer. Remove it every fifteen minutes and give it a stir, until it freezes to the right consistency.

Enjoy your guilt-free summer treat!

6 comments:

Preeti @ Heart and Mind said...

Betsy,

This is such a good idea, Zenguy and R love banana a lot so this will be a super thing to make. I always make slightly ripe banana into banana bread often but never tried it to make frozen drink from frozen banana, I wonder why? I guess I was meant to read the recipe here! I am going to try it. Have you tried it with strawberry and bananas?

Anonymous said...

Sounds delicious!

Betsy Bargain said...

Preeti,

I have made it with strawberries, and that is delicious. I have also used plums, peaches, and blueberries. I have also made the chocolate version with cocoa mix and it's yummy! I hope you like it!

Anon,

I hope you get around to trying it. I think you will like it.

Preeti @ heart and mind said...

Betsy,

Wow, these sounds yummy. I have to try with cocoa powder soon. You should write a book on this nifty things, I like your ideas.

Anonymous said...

Just the thing for this triple digit weather we've been having!

Betsy Bargain said...

Preeti,

Maybe I will do that one of these days!

Anon,

Hope it helps you cool off during the heat wave!