Frozen Banana No Sugar Chocolate Coconut Ice Cream

I Scream, You Scream...

Frozen Banana Coconut Chocolate Ice Cream 

So, I came across the link for one ingredient frozen banana ice cream could this be true?  I admit, I was skeptical, but guess what?  We are having a BLAST playing with this recipe! 

There is also an enticing chocolate mousse-like recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie out there made with coconut milk cream, so I had the idea to kinda combine the ideas and came up with my own RICH, AMAZING, CREAMY, SMOOTH and just wonderful chocolate vegan, healthy, no sugar "ice cream"! The creative possibilities are endless!  Try a few strawberries....maple syrup, instant coffee....on and on.  Here's how I made these:

* 3 frozen bananas (slice in 1/2 in pieces and freeze on a cookie sheet in the freezer)

* 2 T Thai Kitchen Coconut milk (just toss can in fridge when you buy it and the cream will rise to the surface, this is what makes it super creamy, disregard the clear water settled at the bottom of the can...you can use this cream to whip for vegan whip cream as well! It MUST be this brand only)

* 1/4 cup organic unsweetened cocoa powder

*  2 powdered stevia packets (optional for your sweetness level, but any sweetener can be added or not)

* (unnecessary for sure, but I added a 1/2 scoop of my no sugar vanilla protein powder mix just to amp 

 up the protein in it, but it is made from whey so it's not vegan)

* dark chocolate chips and pretty chocolate wafer cookie added for photographic consideration :)

(nah, they were so yum!)

Back to The 4th of July

Getting it all ready, again!

 It's been two years since my last 4th of July party celebration, and it's on again this year. I've hit my creative flow and I'm in the zone.....last night as I busily created and assembled decorations, I realized, when the sun came up, I actually never went to bed!  Oh how I love the flow.... But this year will be a little different. I am putting energy into creating a menu and dessert area that are mindful of my new commitment to a low sugar and healthier diet with my new montra, "Stylized and kid approved parties without all the sugar or processed food!" So come back and visit again to see how I pull it all together. My new parties are on a budget, I use a few simple staple items purchased from the dollar store that are changed up, re-decorated and reused in new and resourceful ways. 

Here's a little preview of the process.....

 Firecrackers in the works here using dollar store glass vases, scrap booking paper, some red ribbon I found on a Christmas clearance for .15 cents and a few inexpensive craft store stickers and stars.  It really is easy, inexpensive and since so much is reused and adapted for so many other holiday themes, it doesn't require much storage at all!

Ahh, below are some wonderful memories of  my children and their friends enjoying the previous Independence Day party.  Take a look at the upgraded post of that party HERE.

No Bake- Healthy Power Cookies

NO Bake Healthy Power Cookies

Huge success here in the healthy trial kitchen while still on my quest for planning and styling parties without a dessert table full of sugar and processed foods.  Here is my latest kid approved, no bake cookie.  It really tasted like a Resees's cup.  It is protein and fiber packed with heart healthy and Omega oils and vitamin B.  

Here our little guys are all dressed up for the next party, the 4th of July!  I folded the cupcake liners inside out to give more color.

They will be a great kid pick for sure!

No Bake Healthy Power Cookies

adapted from "Gimme some oven" Blog

~1 cup dry old fashioned organic oats (grind a bit in food processor if you don't want bigger oat pieces, I preferred this consistency better and it mixed the flavors more)

~ 1/3 cup of natural organic peanut butter with no added sugar

~1/2 scoop all natural vanilla protein powder mix (I used a natural brand with stevia as the sweetener and no added chemicals or preservatives by Jay Robb sold at GNC)

~ 1/2 cup  no sugar added coconut flakes

~ 2T ground flax

~ 2T wheat germ

~ 1/3 organic honey

Stir all ingredients together,  kneading with hands to push honey and peanut butter oils into dry ingredients.  Form preferred shape (truffle ball or cookie style), place on cookie sheet to place in refrigerator for 1/2 to chill.  Dip into dark organic or grain sweetened melted chocolate.  Set on chilled cookie sheet again to harden chocolate.  Re-chill for about 10 min in fridge.  Place onto serving dish or pretty liners to match your party theme!  They last about a week in covered dish. 

Easy recipe with a mountain of possible additions: almond butter if peanut allergic, dried fruits, chopped nuts, rice grains, tiny dark chocolate chips, chocolate protein powder......

Healthy protein mix is my new secret ingredient I have been experimenting with it in many recipes, I am even working on a frosting mix......since it is mixed with stevia it is all natural and does not contain artificial sweeteners or sugar.  It is a wonderful way to get more protein into some treats and baked goods.