OLDER DADS: HEALTHY CHERRY CHOCOLATE ICE: Vegan, make ahead, low sugar

One of the nicest, tastiest, healthiest ice creams; and it is ideal for older Dads on Fathers' Day...

Sensational creamy soft ice containing just cherries, banana & chocolate 
'No-fat and healthy.  Unbelievable!' 'Absolutely brilliant & utterly delicious!'

This dessert is not just an excellent party dish for older people; it's also a sensational treat for all times.  It's stuffed with fat purple cherries and dark chocolate shards and though dairy-free is incredibly creamy (opt for milk/cream).

And unlike many other vegan products, it is not over-processed or full of additives. 

Bananas have smooth, easily digested flesh.  They're excellent at muting hunger pangs and at helping to return the digestive system to order.  They're also naturally sweet -- the perfect low-sugar solution when sweet cravings hit.  

Making this gloriously coloured, sassy concoction is easy BUT you do have to plan ahead.  At least a day in advance, the bananas and cherries are chopped  and frozen; after that, it's just a question of giving things a good whizz in a blender.

If you ever thought you could't eat ice cream for health reasons, think again!

Cost: £2-£3, depending on choice of ingredients
Makes: 2-3 portions but recipe doubles easily

Ingred:

  2 small ripe but not black bananas, sliced and frozen
  1 cup pitted or chopped cherries, frozen (from fresh are best but supermarket frozen will be ok)
  splash fresh orange juice.  OR cherry brandy/brandy/whiskey/chocolate based liquor (opt) Or milk or cream (opt)
  1/2 tsp vanilla (opt)

  small handful fresh cherries
  50 gm dark chocolate, in shards
   
Method:

1. Peel and slice  bananas, lay them out on a ridged tray, freeze
   
2. Bag up and return to freezer until ready to make the ice cream
3. Remove stalks from 1 cup cherries; cut off the fat sides (like prepping a mango) then chop the flesh surrounding the pits in small pieces.  (If you have the funds, there are cherry stoning devices on the net.) 
4. Place the cherry pieces in a sealable freezer bag, making the layer as flat as you can by pressing out the bulges. 
   
    
5. Freeze flat and store.
6. Making the ice cream: Put frozen banana slices, frozen cherries  and a slosh of chosen liquid in blender; process until all is fully combined.  The mix should look like soft-serve ice cream. (See tips below)
7. Stir through fresh cherries and chopped chocolate, distributing evenly for a rustic appearance; for something smoother, pulse until coarsely combined.  

Comments:
'A revelation.  I usually avoid ice cream because of the high fat and sugar content; this recipe avoids that.  I recommend this to all oldies, dieters and anyone wanting to eat healthily.  It will definitely be made again!'  Retired writer 
'It was absolutely brilliant - and totally  delicious!' Semi-retired consultant

Tips:

• If your blender isn't very powerful, you may need to stop the machine a couple of times to push down the mixture to move it along.  The time this takes will unfortunately encourage the ice cream to melt and it will have to be re-frozen after the cherries and chocolate are added.  67 uses a smoothie maker instead of an ageing, not very efficient blender.
• the frugal can reduce the amount of 2nd stage fresh cherries and chocolate or not add them at all
• cherries can be replaced by any other berries and the chocolate, by nuts or dried fruit. 

More fruit desserts in Recipes II on NavBar

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This recipes has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and  may not be reproduced without the author's written permission