I’m totally on a banana ice cream kick right now … I mean when it’s 108 (!!!!!!!) outside in Nor Cal you can do nothing but eat cold things. I mean, I will warm up some soup if I’m at work and the ac is cranked, but at home? After a rough workout? Just give me the ice cream – the healthier the better, but really any will do. But this one is chockfull of healthy summer goodness, nicely browned bananas, a few heart-healthy nuts and just pure deliciousness. I hope you get to enjoy this vegan and gluten-free Walnut Blueberry Nice Cream on your hot summer day!

~

~

~

~

Oh summer, how I am not a big fan. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the sun. But I am from Northern Oregon and seriously, our summers were mostly rain, grey skies, and more rain. That kind of weather is what I love – cooler temperatures, because who in the heck would want to live in nasty 108 degree temps? It’s almost as bad as the South with there muggy, gross weather. I am not about hot or muggy. Don’t like it. But obviously I keep doing it to myself by moving to these locations … next move needs to be cooler weather? But this banana ice cream? So much goodness going on! Fresh blueberries that were so sweet I barely kept myself from just eating them out of the container! The bananas were all brown from being in the fridge and they froze up super quick too. And the walnut? I had some left over the recipe contest at the beginning of the month and what better way to use them up then by making quick butter out of it and adding it to your ice cream? I always try to make a ton of banana ice creams so that I can freeze them in 2-cup portions and enjoy them throughout the week. They do not turn out like real ice cream, meaning they won’t be like soft serve. It comes out more like fruit ice, which I love because it means you have to work at it more by scraping it once it’s defrosted a little. Yum and love!

If you don’t like the frozen fruit ice idea, just freeze a couple bananas in chunks in small ziplock baggies and then you can have your banana delight any night! But especially on this Red, White and Blue weekend – even though it turned out purpleish, it’s still the theme! Just freeze your brown bananas and once frozen, take them out and set them aside to defrost a little. Dump the walnuts and milk into the blender and pulse a little to get the nuts broken up. Wash the blueberries then add them to the blender with the allspice and turn on and let go until pureed. Add the bananas and run until just incorporated and creamy. Pour out and enjoy!

Walnut Blueberry Nice Cream,

2 Brown Bananas, chunked and frozen
1/3 C California Walnuts
3 Tbsp Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1 Pint Blueberries, washed
1/8th Tsp Allspice

1. Peel and break or cut the bananas into chunks. Place in a bowl and freeze.
2. Take bananas out of the freezer once frozen and set aside.
3. Dump walnuts and milk into a blender and pulse until nuts are broken up.
4. Wash then add the blueberries with the allspice to the blender and blend until pureed.
5. Add the bananas and blend until just incorporated.
6. Pour out and enjoy!