Coconut Cream Banana Pudding

I love dessert, but I'm one of those rare people who can consume just a few bites and be completely satisfied with a dessert.  I don't like to make whole cakes, pies, or a complete pan of any type of dessert unless I'm taking it to a party.  At home it will just get thrown in the trash.  I'm a single serving dessert kind of gal.  One serving desserts make me happy, their super delicious, quick and easy to make, and always satisfying without the guilt and temptation to eat more. This Banana Coconut Cream dessert is exactly that.  It's light, takes minutes to make, and is gone just as quickly.  The key to this dessert is refrigeration. Unlike whole milk cream, you don't need to whip coconut cream for it to set into pillow like mountains, just put it into the refrigerator and  The coconut cream will set up nicely. If you want to make this for an after dinner snack, put the cream into the refrigerator at least an hour before you want to make this.  The best part of this dessert--besides the fact that it's out of this world delicious--is that it only requires four ingredients, and you don't have to cook any of them!

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Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: none

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup of coconut cream

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of maple syrup--can sub agave

2 bananas( one smashed with a fork, the other sliced)

5  ginger snaps roughly crumbled (can sub with graham crackers, or granola, or vanilla wafers, or nuts)

Directions: Smash banana, with a fork and set aside.  To a small bowl add the coconut cream, vanilla extract, and maple syrup, mix well, cover and refrigerate  until coconut cream has set--meaning it's firm like a custard.  Once set, remove from the refrigerator, and fold in the mashed banana. If you're short on time, you can fold the mashed banana into the cream when you add the vanilla and the sweetener.  Check out the video below  to see exactly how I put it together.  If you like this dessert then you'll love my Banana Marshmallow Split, it's also a single serving dessert, super easy and delicious!

Click on the link to see how I put this dessert together: https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=6LHcyfEoQg8

While you're at it  click here to subscribe to my channel.

Pineapple and Coconut Cream Creamsicles

Pineapple and Coconut Cream Creamsicles

So it's official, the Zoku Quick Pop Maker is my new favorite kitchen gadget! It has become my daughters favorite too.  Although I'm pretty sure that she is more a fan of what comes out of the quick pop maker than the actual quick pop maker.  We have been making all sorts of popsicles since we got it.  Page is a big fan of the creamsicle--she is her mother's daughter after all, but she is also a fan of simple juice pop's.  Pineapple is a favorite of hers, she just loves it.  I decided to pair it with coconut cream, and let me tell you---THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: none

Ingredients:

1 cup of Pureed pineapple

1/2 cup of coconut cream

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of maple syrup or your favorite sugar

Directions: Add the cream, vanilla extract and maple syrup to a cup, mix well and set aside.  If using classic pop molds, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined.  Divide mixture evenly among molds and freeze for 6-8 hours or until frozen solid. If you are using the Zoku Quick pop maker, Pour  the pineapple puree into the molds and allow to set for 2-3 minutes.  At the 2 minute mark siphon out the remaining unfrozen puree with a straw or a unused infant aspirator--I purchased one just for this.  Zoku sells a tool kit for $20 which includes a siphon tool, but the aspirator is $3 and does the job equally as well.  After you have removed all of the juice, pour cream into the molds, and allow to set for another 4-5 minutes, then follow the directions for removing the pops.  If you aren't going to eat the pops right away, you can store them in sandwhich size zip lock bags and place them in the freezer until you're ready to eat them.  These never last longer than a few hours in our house, so I can't say how long you could store them that way.  If you like these, you'll probably love my Orange creamsicle, and Strawberry Creamsicle recipes too.

Orange Creamsicles

How to make Homemade Orange Creamsicles--How to make Half and Half bars

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Another favorite frozen treat of mine when I was a little girl was orange creamsicles. We used to call them half and half bars, because that's exactly what they were, half juice pop and half cream center.  Whatever you call them, I think we can all agree that they are super delicious. Unfortunately creamsicles are not made the way they used to be made, they have a ton of ingredients in the boxed versions in the store, none of which contain real juice or cream. This recipe takes care of that.  I used freshly squeezed orange juice for these, but if you can find some fresh juice in the store that does not have added sugar and preservatives, then go for it.  If you decide to squeeze the juice yourself, just make sure that the oranges that you're using are very sweet, that way you don't have to add sugar to sweeten the juice.  If heavy cream isn't your thing (my vegan friends) don't fret, I've done these with coconut cream, and they are just as yummy if not more.   Lastly I used the Zoku Quick Pop Maker to make these, it's the only way to get a true half and half bar, with that creamy center filling, but if you don't want to spend the $25 (for a single), $38( for the duo), or $50 (for the triple) pop maker, you can still make these, but you'll have to blend the mixture, or just pour half juice and half cream into regular molds, ( I used Zoku Classic pop molds), you'll get a verticle half and half bar--still delicious.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup of freshly squeezed organic orange juice

1 cup of heavy cream or coconut cream

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of maple syrup

Directions: Add the cream, vanilla extract and maple syrup to a cup, mix well and set aside.  If using classic pop molds, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined.  Divide mixture evenly among molds and freeze for 6-8 hours or until frozen solid.

If you are using the Quick pop maker, Pour the orange juice into the molds and allow to set for 2-3 minutes.  At the 3 minute mark siphon out the remaining unfrozen juice with a straw or a unused infant aspirator--I purchased one just for this.  Zoku sells a tool kit for $20 which includes a siphon tool, but the aspirator is $3 and does the job equally as well.  After you have removed all of the juice, pour cream into the molds, and allow to set for another 4-5 minutes, then follow the directions for removing the pops. 

If you aren't going to eat the pops right away, you can store them in sandwhich size zip lock bags and place them in the freezer until you're ready to eat them.  These never last longer than a few hours in our house, so I can't say how long you could store them that way. 

 These are the Orange and Coconut Creamsicles that I made using the classic Zoku popsicle molds

Flourless Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Starbucks Inspired Flourless Chocolate Meringue Cookies

This heat has definitely made me a Starbucks fan. Everyday I find myself going there to buy a shaken green iced tea, and since I'm there, I pick up  a treat--their flourless, gluten free, chocolate cookie. It's probably the healthiest treat option in their refrigerated showcase, and my daughter and I love it. However, this afternoon tea and cookie thing is getting expensive, at $5 a day--$7 when we indulge at Disney--it's getting a bit out of control. I love treating myself, but I hate mindless spending too. I'd much rather spend that $200/month on a new kitchen gadget--like a Searzall, or a chamber vacuum sealer to go along with the new immersion circulator that my husband got me for Mother's Day.  So what's a girl to do? Buy a box of organic green mint tea, and make the meringue cookies myself, of course!  The best thing about these cookies is that besides the cream of tartar, I already had all of the ingredients.  These cookies are chewy, gooey and light all at the same time--just like the Starbucks cookies, but unlike the Starbucks version, these contain no added oil, so they are super low-fat, low-calorie and gluten free! Score!!!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time : 10-15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
2 egg whites
5 ounces of bitter sweet dark chocolate (60%)
1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar
3/4 of powdered sugar (I used maple sugar)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:  Pre-heat the oven to 375. Melt the 5 ounces of chocolate in a double boiler and set aside. 

Add the two egg whites to a bowl and beat on low until bubbles form, add the cream of tartar and beat on high, add in the sugar and beat until peaks are stiff and fluffy---you can turn the bowl upside down with out the mixture running. 

Pour in the melted chocolate and fold it into the egg white fluff--be gentle-- fold until the white streaks disappear.

Fold in the chocolate chips, then spoon onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  

Bake for 10-12 minutes, the cookies should be soft and pliable. 

Let them cool for 10 minutes, then move them to a cookie rack to continue cooling 5-7 minutes. Serve and enjoy. 

Homemade lavender Infused Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

I am the Queen of kitchen gadgets! If they make it, then there is a 85 percent chance that I have it in my kitchen. As a matter of fact, I have so many kitchen gadgets that I placed a self imposed stop on buying any more kitchen gadget's. As useful as kitchen gadgets are, I just don't have any more room to store these things. I was doing pretty well with my self imposed moratorium, until Sunday! I have been trying to figure out what to buy with a gift card that I've had for months. For the life of me, I just could not make up my mind about what to buy! As I was perusing the humongous aisles in Costco on Sunday, it hit me! Why not an ice cream maker? When I placed the rather large ice cream maker into our cart, my husband said, "Sweetie why don't you buy something for yourself with your  gift card? I can buy this for us." I looked at him and smiled. I love my husband, and in moments like these, I love him even more, but I shook my head and said, " think about who you're talking to, it's ME, an ice cream maker IS personal to me!" He thought about it, laughed and said, " I guess it is!" As we walked out of the store,  I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to make first with my ice cream maker. I love, love, love lavender ice cream, but it's near impossible to find in the grocery store. Lavender is not a typical ice cream flavor, I've only had it a couple of times in my life, and every time that I've had it, I wanted more... it is delish!!!  You can leave out the lavender in this recipe if it's not your thing, and you'll still have the best vanilla bean ice cream that you've ever tasted. I used eggs and made a custard, this makes the ice cream really creamy and rich. You cannot get this level of creaminess without making the custard, so do it! You will not be disappointed, I promise! I used maple syrup to sweeten this, but you can use your sweetener of choice. Don't worry if you don't own an ice cream maker you can still make this. You'll just need some..well a lot of arm power! By the way, I am happy that I have an ice cream maker, but storing this thing is going to be a real problem!

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Ingredients:

8 egg yolks
3/4 cups of maple syrup or sweetener of your choice
1 vanilla bean split down the middle
2-3 Tablespoons of lavender dried
1 1/2 cups of whole milk
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Equipment
Ice cream maker
Or
1 quart size Ziploc bag
1  one gallon Ziploc bag
2 1/2 cups of ice
1/2 cup of salt

Directions:

In a medium bowl, beat together the yolks, and your sweetener of choice. You can beat by hand using a whisk, or use a hand mixer. Beat until thoroughly smooth and creamy. (A couple of minutes by hand.) If you're using maple syrup, or agave, the mixture comes together quite quickly.

Put 1 cup of the cream,  all of the milk, lavender, and salt into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Scrape the vanilla seeds from the beans with the tip of a small knife, and place into the pan; add the pod too. Heat the mixture until just before it starts to simmer (DO NOT LET IT SIMMER). Remove mixture from heat and let it steep for 5 minutes.

Strain the hot mixture, reserving the milk and discarding lavender andvanilla bean pod.

Add half of the hot mixture to the egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Be careful when adding the hot mixture to the egg mixture, go slowly you don't want scrambled eggs.  Stir this mixture into remaining hot mixture in the sauce pan, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. or wooden fork in my case.

Remove from heat, and immediately stir in the remaining cream. Let the mixture cool for  at least 30 minutes.  If you want all the flavors to meld, let it cool to room temperature, then place in an air tight container, and refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight, as I did. Once the cream has cooled sufficiently, freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.


If you don't have an ice cream maker, then place 1 cup of your cooled mixture into one of the 1 quart zip lock bag and seal it. It is very important that the cream mixture is cold when using this method, so try to let it cool for at least 3 hours before trying this method. Next pour the ice and salt into the 1 gallon ziplock bag. Place the bag with the cream mixture into the bag with ice and salt and seal. Make sure neither bag has any excess air. Now here comes the work. Shake the bag until the mixture becomes solid, at least 5-10 minutes, serve and enjoy! 

Here is a really cute way to do this in an old coffee can. Your kids can do this, and save you a lot of arm work...that or just run out and buy an  ice cream maker, but, then, like me, you'll have to find some where to store it.

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