Ice Cream for Breakfast?!?!

I've been meaning to make banana 'ice cream' for agesss because it's such a simple but healthy dessert that you can have for breakfast (!!!) and it's extremely delicious and honestly tastes like an ice cream sundae. I've put 'ice cream' in quotations because this recipe is dairy free and completely vegan!

I know a lot of people already know how to make banana 'ice cream', but I thought I'd give it my own twist and show you my favourite way to enjoy it.

CHOCOLATE BANANA 'ICE CREAM'

Ingredients

2 frozen bananas (make sure they are ripe before you freeze them)

2 tbsp coconut milk

A drop of vanilla extract

1 tbsp cocoa powder

Method:

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

You can also use a high speed blender, but you may need to add more liquid for it to blend well.

Then simply scoop into a bowl, top with whatever toppings you like and enjoy! 

I topped mine with dried mulberries, some cinnamon pana vegan chocolate and frozen raspberries.

Other variations include (using the 2 frozen bananas and 2 tbsp coconut milk as a base):

• Berry Ice Cream - add in approx 1 cup of frozen berries and 1-2 tsp sugar (I use coconut sugar)
• Cinnamon Swirl Ice Cream - add in 1-2 tsp cinnamon (depending on how much cinnamon you like) and 2 dates
• Passion Mango Ice Cream - add approx 2 frozen mango cheeks and the pulp of 3 passionfruits

For those of you who have never tried banana 'ice cream', I recommend you do so asap because it is life changing and delicious (okay, maybe not life changing but definitely extremely delicious). It is also a really simple recipe which can be adapted and changed depending on the type of ingredients you have at hand. And yes, YOU CAN HAVE THIS FOR BREAKFAST (because essentially, it is just like a smoothie but 1000000 times better). 

If end up making this, don't forget to tag me on instagram - @healthandhappinesss or tag #healthandhappinesss as I'd love to see your creations!

Alessandra xx

Vegan Banana Bread

I've been watching a ton of vegan/vegetarian/health documentaries recently since my half yearly exams finished. It's really opened my mind to different ways of eating, especially the benefits of plant based diets.

These documentaries (such as Earthlings, Food Inc, Forks Over Knives, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead - these are just a few that I've watched) have made me realise that I want to make a difference in this world, I want to co-exist with the environment. 

Nevertheless, I guess this post is somewhat fitting - I've got a recipe for vegan banana bread! (Note: this recipe is adapted from The Healthy Maven :) ) 

INGREDIENTS

4 ripe bananas

2 cups of wholewheat flour

1/3 cup almond meal or LSA mix

1 tsp cinnamon (or more if you'd like)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 applesauce mixed with 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup vegetable oil (or vegan butter)

1/4 maple syrup

1/2 almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius
2. Combine flour, almond meal, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt, then set aside.
3. Mash bananas in a separate bowl, adding applesauce, oil, maple syrup, almond milk and vanilla extract.
4. Mix all ingredients together, then scoop mixture into a lined bread tin.
5. Bake for 60 minutes, then leave to cool for about 10 minutes.
6. Enjoy! (ps - this banana bread tastes awesome toasted with some peanut butter)

More food/health/life posts are to come soon :)

Alessandra x

@healthandhappinesss