I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For....ICE CREAM!!!

Little known fact about me....I want to open an ice cream shop.  True story! But, until the time comes where I can afford to open one {if anyone would like to donate money to help open my shop just let me know!}  I regularly make ice cream for the kids in my Cuisinart ICE-50BC.  I love this machine.  I've had it for over 4 years and it's still in great condition and works excellently.  Cuisinart is an awesome company and their products are super sturdy.  

I love trying new flavors and mix-ins.  Many times I make them into ice cream sandwiches and I even made Mantha an ice cream cake for her birthday.  Sunny really wanted to make ice cream so, we made these.  The banana one isn't as creamy as normal frozen yogurt but, it's really delicious.  If you don't have an ice cream maker you can freeze it then puree it in a blender or food processor.



Both recipes are adapted from The Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Cookbook by Mable and Gar Hoffman

Banana-Maple-Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt

Calories --64
Fat -- 0.7g
Sugar -- 6.5g
Protein -- 3.2g

Ingredients
2 bananas
1/2 cup sugar free maple syrup
1 T lemon juice
.5 cup fat free milk
1 cup plain yogurt

Directions

1. Puree first 3 ingredients in food processor until smooth
2. Stir in milk and yogurt
3. Freeze in ice cream maker

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream
Calories  -- 243
Fat -- 15.7g
Sugar -- 18.5g
Protein -- 5.5g

Ingredients
1 cup chocolate chips
2 cups milk (I used fat free and that's what the calorie count has in it)
.5 cup sugar
.5 cup chunky peanut butter
2 cups half and half (plain creamer will also work)

Directions

1. Combine chocolate chips, milk, and sugar in a saucepan.  
2. Heat over medium until the chocolate is melted.
3. Stir in peanut butter and melt.
4. Cool completely
5. Stir in whipping cream and freeze in ice cream maker

Would you be interested in seeing more ice cream recipes?  What are your favorite flavors?  Let me know!

Donut Date Night

I might be a health nut (or freak if you prefer) but, I'm also a mom that occasionally enjoys spoiling her kids.  Tonite was one of those nites.  Mo went to a birthday party so I decided to indulge Kay's sweet tooth (which will be her downfall later in life, just like me.)  I took her to the nearby Dunkin Donuts.  Okay, I can't lie, I also enjoyed spoiling myself with coffee.  

 
Why no donuts?  It's a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins combo store.  Kay decided that she wanted ice cream instead of a donut.  

I ordered a Pumpkin White Chocolate Latte.  It was delish!  Perfectly pumpkin-y and just the right about of chocolate.  Plus, a medium only has 280 calories and no fat!  

Tonite was a nite about learning, not just desserts.  Kay learned that her tummy has adjusted to our new diet way of eating.  Her stomach is very upset right now from the hot chocolate and ice cream.  She even told me she wished she had gotten a donut instead. 

I look out for my kids healthy 99.7% of the time.  Indulgences should be no different.  Next time I won't even offer to let her get the unhealthier option.  I've always said you can indulge in a healthy way.  I need to start applying this to my kids too.  

Do you indulge your kids in ways you wouldn't indulge yourself?

Mental Fitness

After 2 days of walking on the beach at sunrise by mental clarity has been greatly helped.  My physical fitness has been helped also though.  I walked 3 miles and did 12 minutes of stairs.  On the downside I've been overloading on the desserts.  

Today's dessert was actually quite diet friendly.  It was banana soft serve.  I was inspired by the Yonana machine.  

If you've never heard of the Yonana machine it's an ice cream maker that you put frozen bananas into and it turns them into soft serve.  You can also add other mix-ins so it's not just plain banana soft serve.

Banana Soft Serve

5 bananas

1 T peanut butter (optional)

2 T milk

1. Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
2. Place the banana puree in an ice cream maker and freeze.  (I ran my ice cream maker for about 25 minutes)

No ice cream maker?  No problem!
Use your food processor instead of blender.  Freeze the bananas for a few hours before pureeing and leave out the milk.  Process until smooth.

Sorry I didn't get a picture.  Honestly it's not a very photogenic dessert.  BUT, it is delicious.  Low in calories and loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Kay finished hers in record time.

Would you spend money on the Yonana machine or does the ice cream maker/food processor way work perfectly fine for you?  I know it does for me.