Sweets for my sweet(s)! A twist on an old favorite - and in clever serving sizes that are bite size - keeping portion control well... under control! Yay! Frozen bananas rolled in peanuts is my Mom's favorite treat when we use to go to the Newport Beach Pier. These days home is on the opposite side of the West Coast, and recreating something familiar helps me feel a connection to family even when the miles dictate otherwise:)These frozen banana bites have been dunked in melted unsweetened chocolate squares and rolled in pistachios! The chocolate has been sweetened with Splenda in order to avoid the use of sugar - helps keep the calorie count down as well! Frozen bananas have a creamy texture that can be a healthier alternative to ice cream - and packed with vitamin B6! Chocolate has been linked in helping with mood elevation and packed with flavonol antioxidants as well. Finally, studies have shown that consumption of pistachio nuts helps in lowering LDL's (bad cholesterol) and increasing HDL's (good cholesterol) in the body. So enjoy a few of these after dinner, and let your body and mood reap the benefits - and your company as well;)
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 50 pistachio nuts - chopped
- 1 square of unsweetened baking chocolate
- 7 packets of Splenda
- 3 teaspoons of Almond Milk or Coconut Milk
- divide the bananas into 1 inch pieces - and freeze for about an hour (until firm)
- place toothpicks into each piece
- melt the baking chocolate with the splenda (I just microwave it because I don't have a double boiler! Every 10 seconds I check on the progress, and stir, and repeat until melted. It takes about 40-50 seconds in total!)
- stir in 3 tablespoons of milk
- dip each frozen banana piece into the chocolate letting the excess drip off slightly
- finally, roll in crushed pistachios
- place these back in the freeze for half an hour or until the chocolate has set.
It's creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet - and dunked in sugar-free chocolate! This busy little treat is smile rewarding in each bite!
Love,
Marikym
