Deluxe Banana Split Soft-Serve

Last night I was craving - of all things - a banana split from Dairy Queen.  I don't know about you, but I have wonderful memories of heading to Dairy Queen after school, or on the weekends, or with my mom, for a special ice cream treat.  Sometimes I ordered a Chocolate Dip Cone, other times I ordered a Peanut Buster Parfait (come on...you know you remember it!), every once in a while I would order an Oreo Blizzard; but undoubtedly - at least eight times out of ten - I ordered a Banana Split!  There was just something about the combination of vanilla soft-serve, strawberries, cherries, peanuts, and chocolate syrup that made my taste buds go crazy!

And although Bo and I didn't head out to a Dairy Queen last night, YOU BETTER BELIEVE I got my banana split fix!

To start, I used my recipe for Homemade Peach Compote to create a delicious - but healthy - strawberry sauce.  I honestly think that I could have eaten this straight out of the jar with a spoon and been pretty happy!

Then the real work fun began!  I:

• whipped together a decadent chocolate sauce;
• chopped some salted peanuts; and
• got out all of the ingredients for my favorite Secret Ingredient Soft-Serve.  

After preparing all of the separate components of the Banana Split, it was time to assemble my delectable masterpiece.

Seriously...doesn't that look SO good?!

Deluxe Banana Split Soft-Serve
Serves 2

For the Strawberry Compote:
15 strawberries, diced
1/2T cornstarch
2 packets stevia
2T maple syrup
2T water

For the Chocolate Syrup:
2T dark chocolate chips
1/2tsp coconut oil

For the Banana Soft-Serve:
2 frozen bananas
2T almond milk (or milk of choice)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For Garnish:
salted peanuts, chopped
maraschino cherry, optional

Directions:

• For the Strawberry Compote: Toss the diced strawberries with the cornstarch to coat.  Place the strawberries, stevia, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium; continue cooking at a low boil for 5 minutes.  Use a potato masher to mash the strawberries (until a jam-like consistency is formed).  Pour into a small jar and refrigerate until cooled and set.
• For the Chocolate Syrup: Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl.  Heat - in 30 second increments - in the microwave until fully melted and incorporated.  Keep warm until ready to serve.
• For the Banana Soft-Serve: Place the frozen banana chunks in your food processor; process for 1-2 minutes until bananas are broken up and beginning to smooth out.  Add the almond milk and vanilla extract and process until smooth.
• Next, spoon 2-4T (depending upon taste and preference) of the Strawberry Compote into the food processor with the Banana Soft-Serve.  Pulse a couple of times until the compote is swirled into the soft-serve.
• Note: At this point - depending upon whether or not your soft-serve is beginning to get too soft - you may need to freeze it for 5-10 minutes to re-harden.
• Pour the soft-serve into small bowls, drizzle the chocolate syrup on top, and garnish with the chopped peanuts and cherry.
• Enjoy IMMEDIATELY as the soft-serve will melt quickly!

I was even nice enough to make one for Bo too!  

Go ahead - admit it - I have that "Wife of the Year" award in the bag. ;)

Question of the Day:

Do you like traditional banana splits?  If not, what is your favorite ice cream treat?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Secret Ingredient Soft-Serve

I love ice cream.  So, I eat it about once a week!

WHAT?!  A vegan who eats ice cream?!  Heresy!

Actually, this post is evidence that vegans can eat ice cream whenever they want to.  And this recipe isn't just for vegans; it is husband-approved too!  Even more shocking, this ice cream is healthy!  Yes, you aren't imagining things.  The words "ice cream" and "healthy" were absolutely used in the same sentence.

So what's in this cold, creamy concoction?!

Secret Ingredient Soft-Serve
Serves 2

2 very ripe, frozen bananas
2-4 T unsweetened almond milk (or other milk)
Flavor additions of your choosing (see below for some of my favorites)

Flavor Additions:
Peanut Butter Swirl - peanut butter
Mint Chocolate Chip - mint extract, chocolate chips
Fudge Tracks - peanut butter, chocolate chips, vanilla extract
Cherry Chocolate Bomb - frozen cherries, chocolate chips
Pina Colada - coconut extract, mango chunks, shredded coconut
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry - frozen strawberries, cocoa powder, chocolate chips

And the flavor additions list could go on...and on...and on...

Directions:

• Place frozen banana chunks in your food processor (before freezing, break up each banana into 4-6 pieces).
• Process 1-2 minutes until bananas are broken up and beginning to smoothe out. (see picture below)

• Add a scant 2 T of milk for each banana (i.e. scant 4 T for two bananas)
• Process until smooth.
• Add flavor additions of your choosing.
• Process until smooth.

Today's flavor is Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie (peanut butter, butter extract, salted peanuts).  YUMM-O!

While I was making this I had an idea for Chunky Butter Pecan soft-serve!  Just swap out the peanut butter for almond butter (or pecan butter from Whole Foods), and substitute the salted peanuts for roasted pecans.  If you ask me, that sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving-esque ice cream!  You could even add a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree!  I know, I know, now I am getting weird!  Maybe I will try it first and then let you know how it goes :)

If you want to get really fancy, you could make some old-fashioned vanilla bean soft-serve (vanilla extract, beans from a vanilla pod) and serve it over the Apple Crumble Bars I made last night!

I borrowed the recipe from Chocolate-Covered Katie (one of my personal favorite blogs)!  She is a genuis in the kitchen!

Last night I served this with a dollop of vanilla yogurt, but it was calling out for some soft-serve.  Too bad I didn't have any frozen bananas on hand at the time (insert sad face here).  Oh well, lessoned learned.  Next time I will be prepared!

Next time - I am feeling a non-food related post...stay tuned!

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo