One man's trash...

...is his wife's treasure!
Almost every Monday, hubby leaves me a selection of fruit he will no longer eat. We shop on the weekend, so he has a fresh supply for the week now, and he 'weeds out' the older fruit, as he knows I will put it to good use.
When shopping, there is usually a bin of older produce that the co-op marks down for quick sale. Organic bananas are my favorite thing to buy from there, as they are usually about 39 cents a pound. Two bunches came home this week :) To me these 'old' bananas are just right. I used to like a banana with just a spot or two, or even slightly green. Now I have realized how sweet and wonderful a truly ripe banana is! At least one bunch is always peeled and frozen for one of my favorite recipes...

Triple Thick Chocolate Shake













2-3 frozen bananas, break into chunks
1 tablespoon almond butter*
dash of almond extract
1/4 cup water, or a little more if needed
1-2 heaping teaspoons cocoa powder, or to taste
a little sweetener of choice, optional

Blend all ingredients in high speed blender until very thick and creamy.
Blendtec can use ice cream setting.

If you don't have a powerful blender, you can make this in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade. Even just plain, frozen bananas make a wonderful soft-serve treat! Try it, you will be surprised how yummy it is:)

Here it is as chocolate almond ice cream:


don't worry, I took care of the drip :)








6-8 frozen bananas, break into chunks
1 cup water
1/4 cup almond butter*
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
sweetener of choice, optional

1. blend all ingredients in high speed blender.Blendtec can use ice cream setting
2. transfer mixture to ice cream maker, follow manufactures directions, using about half the usual time to freeze. At this point mix in anything like nuts, chocolate chips, etc.
3. transfer to container and place in freezer for about 1 hour for perfect texture.
if frozen hard, let sit out of freezer about 20 minutes or so before serving.

*note: in both the above recipes the almond butter may be subbed with tahini, and the almond extract may be replaced with vanilla bean seeds.

chocolate sauce:
2 tablespoons agave
1 tablespoon raw cocoa powder

1. mix together in small bowl.
2. drizzle over ice cream or use to flavor nut milks

The ice cream maker is one of my favorite appliances in my happy raw kitchen:) The one I have is a factory refurbished Cuisinart model found at a kitchen store for 20 dollars. Here are several options if you don't have or want a machine.

How to make ice cream without a machine

Kids love to make ice cream this way

Any fruit 'smoothie' can be made into a delicious frozen treat. Simply blend any fruit with a little water and your choice of sweetener. Either of the above recipes can be made in Popsicle molds, the chocolate tastes like a fudgesicle:)
This sorbet was mostly peaches. They were a little wrinkly , but so sweet and juicy:)