I scream for ice cream!

Summer has just begun, and I've already been to Marble Slab Creamery, Dairy Queen, and several Gelato shops. What's a sweet tooth to do? Each craving comes with a conundrum... Ice cream isn't usually natural or healthy. I'd feel much better if I could use my own ingredients. So it was time to try making some "frozen dessert" myself!

Attempt #1 Raspberry Chocolate Chip Frozen Yogurt
Recipe:  http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/raspberry_chocolate_chip_frozen_yogurt.html

Verdict: Not bad. I tried to cut down on the sugar to be extra healthy, but it's too sour without the full sugar. Also, I would prefer the chocolate chips to be brownie chunks, since the chocolate chips taste pretty waxy when they're cold.

Attempt #2 Blueberry and Rosemary Sprig Coconut Ice Cream

Recipe: http://paleomg.com/sneak-peek-recipe-blueberry-rosemary-ice-cream/

Verdict: Surprisingly good! A very unique, almost palate cleansing ice cream. I only had low fat coconut milk in the house, but I threw in a couple teaspoons of coconut oil to make up for it.

Attempt #3 Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Recipe: http://naturallyella.com/2013/06/07/chocolate-peanut-butter-swirl-ice-cream/

Verdict: Time for a full fat version! The chocolate base is like the best hot chocolate you've ever tasted, and the peanut butter swirl is the perfect compliment. I only wish I made more!!

Baking Basics - Banana Bread

I think the first thing I ever baked was banana bread. It's classic, delicious, and really hard to screw up. My favourite recipe is at: Simply Recipes

Banana Bread Recipe

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 1 hour
• Yield: Makes one loaf

INGREDIENTS

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

METHOD

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

My Healthy Tricks:

• substitute part coconut oil and part vegan butter for the 1/3 butter
• use equal parts whole wheat flour and all purpose flour
• reduce the sugar to less than 3/4 cup, and top up to 3/4 with agave

Helpful Hints:

• Add cinnamon (and occasionally nutmeg!) for extra flavour
• Don't over-mix the batter
• If you have bananas going bad, peel them and put in a ziploc in the freezer. All ready to defrost when you're ready to bake! Note: Drain the liquid after defrosting them, otherwise your bread will be mushy
• A few chocolate chips and crushed nuts on top of the loaf can't hurt...

Num, Num!

Eating Well

First things first: I love food. Not all types - anything spicy is off the menu. But Italian, French, and anything with butter is usually a winner.

As a busy city girl with an office job, limited gym time, and a voracious sweet tooth, I've had to get creative. I want a balanced life where I can enjoy many flavours, but at the same time be a responsible, nutritious eater. My current secret? EatingWell.com. This site has been a life saver for easy, healthier options to great recipes! I'll post a lot of my own kitchen experiments later in this blog, but note that most of my daily inspiration comes from this beautiful website. Happy cooking!