Healthy One Ingredient Ice Cream

Mmmmm...I just finished one of these and couldn't wait another minute to tell you about it. This ice cream is healthy, creamy, delicious, and made out of one ingredient: frozen bananas. It takes literally two minutes to make and is the perfect ending to any meal. You can add anything to it and make it any flavor you want. The picture happens to be my favorite, mint chocolate, but the possibilities are endless. Chocolate peanut butter, cherry chocolate, raspberry, banana caramel, ect. 

Healthy One Ingredient Ice Cream

Ingredients: 

1 frozen banana* 

any flavor combo add ins**

fat free whipped cream (optional)

Place frozen banana and added ingredients into a high speed blender or food processor (the better the blender, the better the ice cream). Blend until creamy. Add any mix-ins desired (raisins, chocolate chips, cookie crumbs, ect.) Top with fat free whipped cream. If you want a thicker ice cream, stick it in the freezer until set.

*Let your bananas ripen until they are black before you put them in the freezer. The riper the banana, the sweeter it is due to the higher amount of natural sugar. I let my bananas ripen for as long as possible, peel them (impossible to peal after frozen), and place them in a zip lock baggies in the freezer.

**Favorite Flavors- add before blending

Mint Chocolate- 2 drops peppermint extract (it's strong), squirt of sugar free chocolate syrup or a tablespoon of cocoa

Chocolate Cherry (or raspberry)- 6-7 frozen cherries, squirt of sugar free chocolate syrup or cocoa

Chocolate Peanut Butter- tablespoon of peanut butter (or peanut butter powder), squirt of sugar free chocolate syrup or cocoa

Caramel- spoonful of fat free/sugar free caramel

Try adding any other fruit, such as frozen raspberries or blueberries 

I haven't tried it yet, but I plan on making a cafe mocha flavor by adding instant coffee granules

Chocolate Mug Cake

Beware of this recipe. It's so easy, it's hard to find an excuse not to make it. Not to mention the fact that is is super healthy, with no flour, fat or sugar. This cake is quick, easy, delicious, and a life savior for all my fellow health nuts. It takes me longer to eat this baby than to make it, and I enjoy every second of it.

Chocolate Mug Cake

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cocoa (dark or regular)

3 tablespoons egg beaters

1 tablespoon pumpkin puree (you can also use applesauce) 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon milk

2-3 tablespoons sweetener (truvia, splenda, stevia, ect.)

any add-ins- I like to use PB2 (or peanutbutter) or a few drops of peppermint extract

spray of fat free whipped cream

Directions:

Mix in a mug (or a bowl) and microwave on high for 1 minute. If you like a less-molten cake, go for a minute and a half. Add whipped cream to your hearts desire. 

Creamy Pumpkin Pie

Around the holidays, when I get a craving, it's for one thing; pumpkin pie. I have two options. 1: ignore craving and dream of pumpkins. 2: make a healthy pumpkin pie that I can eat as much as I want. I think I'll go with two. After making a few decent pies that I enjoyed (can't say the same for my family) I finally got this one right. The filling is light, creamy, and just as good as regular pie. While nothing beats a flaky, buttery pie crust, this one is a nice, healthy substitute that goes well with the filling. Next time you're making a pumpkin pie, try this one. My family liked it(crazy, I know) and yours will too. 

Creamy Pumpkin Pie                                                                                                                             

Ingredients:

3/4 cup pecans
3/4 cup oats (ground in food processor)
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
1/4 cup canola oil (or less)
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons skim milk

Filling:
1 15 oz.can  pumpkin
2/3 cup Truvia, Stevia, or Splenda
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves                                                                                                                    1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 
1 egg yolk
1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
2 egg whites

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine the pecans, flours, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and process until ground. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil and maple syrup. Add the skim milk. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Press into a 9-inch pie pan, making sure the crust is of uniform thickness. mold the edges as you please and bake for 10 minutes. Cool.

Combine the filling ingredients, except egg whites, in a bowl and whisk until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold the whites (don't stir) into the filling mixture, until the egg whites are fully incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake about 45 minutes, until the center is  set. Cool well before serving. Top with a dollop of light whipped cream.

(adapted from www.whatwouldcathyeat.com)

Icy Mocha Frappe

When I'm searching for a really light treat, I always make this Frappe. It's a blended, icy coffee drink that's really satisfying despite it's lack of fat and sugar. You can add anything you want to the basic recipe, such as raspberries, bananas, peanut butter, caramel, vanilla, or peppermint extract. 

Icy Mocha Frappe 

Ingredients:

1 cup ice

3/4- 1 cup cold coffee

splash skim milk (substitute any kind)

few squirts of sugar free chocolate syrup

1 T (or to taste) Truvia, Stevia, or Splenda

Directions:

Throw all the ingredients into a blender and blend. If your feeling naughty top with a squeeze of light whipped cream.