Funky Monkey Vegan Ice Cream

One my best friends, Matt, works for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, in Columbus, OH.  If you've never heard of them before, and you are a dairy eater, their ice creams are seriously insanely good.  Like the most ridiculously awesome flavors and REAL ingredients.  It's pretty much the only ice cream that I'll eat anymore, usually had as a special treat when he sends us a goodie package or we are visiting him.  Favorite flavors include Sweet Potato with Torched Marshmallow and Salty Caramel.  One of their newest flavors is Banana French Toast, YES PLEASE!

While trying to prevent myself from going to Dean & Deluca and buying (and eating) a whole pint one day, I started wondering about easy at home vegan options for ice cream as most non-dairy brands are fairly expensive too.

I saw a post on Pinterest last summer when looking for homemade vegan ice cream options that didn't require an ice cream maker.  One post suggested making banana "ice cream" simply by freezing a banana, letting it soften a bit after taking it out of the freezer, and blending it into an ice cream like consistency.  This alone was awesome flavor wise and texturally, but then I started thinking what could make it better.

The perfect match came with pairing the banana with my Chocolate Peanut Butter Cashew Cream.  Cashews, if you couldn't tell, are one of favorite ingredients to get creative with, and they add such a rich, creamy texture to any dish.

The result is SOOOO good and barely takes any effort at all.  The texture is very much like ice cream and the flavors combine beautifully together.  Try topping it with your favorites.  I did cacao nibs!

Ingredients
Serves 1

• one banana
• 1/4 c Chocolate Peanut Butter Cashew Cream
• unsweetened non-dairy milk

1. Slice the banana and mix with 1/4 c   
2. Add 1/4 c cashew cream to the banana and mix together.
3. Place in freezer until frozen.
4. Take out the banana/cashew mixture 20 mins or so before ready to serve and let begin to soften.  
5. Add just a splash of non-dairy milk to get things going and blend (I used my immersion blender) until a smooth ice cream consistency.  Be sure not to add too much milk or you will end up with something more like a milk shake which isn't bad either!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cashew Cream

This recipe combines two of my favorite ingredients to use in the kitchen: cashews and powdered peanut butter.  By making your own cashew cream you create a simple and healthy spread that can be used in a multitude of different ways.  The easiest of course is spreading the cashew cream on toast for an easy and healthy breakfast.  Other uses could be using it in place of frosting to top a vegan cupcake or to add some richness and flavor to smoothies or dairy free shakes.  Try making this simple recipe and see what creative delicious uses it inspires.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews (soaked overnight or at least for five hours)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 c almond milk
• 6-8 T Chocolate Powdered Peanut Putter (such as Just Good Stuff or PB2)

1. Drain the cashews and discard the water.
2. Using an immersion blender or high speed blender, blend the cashews, almond milk, and vanilla until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
3. Add the powdered peanut butter and blend until completely mixed.
4. Place in a container and allow the cashew cream to chill and thicken in the refrigerator for a few hours.  

Buddy's Hotel Survival Smoothie

This year on tour I brought my immersion blender.  I've been experimenting with creating different power packed plant based smoothies to fuel me through our performances of ELF!  I've been looking for a super power packed combination and I think I've found a great mix of hemp seeds, nut butter, and chocolatey green goodness to start my day off right.

All you need are these ingredients, an immersion blender, a plastic mixing cup, and a spoon!

Serves 1

• one banana
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 3 heaping spoonfuls of hemp seeds
• 2 heaping spoonfuls of peaunut butter
• 1 spoonful of Cacao Green Superfood powder (Amazing Greens)
• 1 small cup of ice

1. Blend the hemp seeds with 1/2 cup of the almond milk until it's a creamy consistency.
2. Add the peanut butter, superfood mix, the banana (broken up into small pieces), and the remaining almond milk and blend until thoroughly mixed.
3. Add the ice a little at a time until ice is blended through the mixture and enjoy!

been pollen, PB, and cacao nib crackers

Looking for a power snack?  These crackers are packed full of protein and whole food nutrition.  Wheat crackers fill you with fiber, peanut butter and hemp seeds provide a protein punch, bee pollen is a whole food full of mineral and nutrients and is a natural defender against seasonal allergies, and cacao nibs add in some antioxidant power while providing a hint of healthy chocolately goodness.  Eat this as an afternoon snack to keep you going til dinner or add them to any breakfast or lunch meal as a sweet satisfying side snack.  

What you'll need:

• Low Fat Whole Wheat Crackers - I used Ak-Mak 100% Whole Wheat Sesame Crackers
• Natural Peanut Butter - Try getting the fresh ground kind that most supermarket deli's are providing now.  The only ingredient...ground peanuts!
• Hemp Seeds
• Bee Pollen
• Cacao Nibs

Simply spread the peanut butter on the crackers and sprinkle on hemp seeds, pollen, and nibs to your perfect taste proportions and enjoy!

chia seed breakfast

It can get confusing keeping track of every new buzzy superfood that you should be eating for this reason or that...  But if you're looking to get in on the superfood movement and aren't sure where to start, then look no further than the chia seed.  A super concentrated food used by the ancient cultures of Mexico, chia is packed with omega 3, protein, fiber, and calcium, among other awesome nutrients!

Here's an easy way to add chia to your day.  Simply mix 1 Tbs of chia seeds with 1 serving of peanut butter until you get the consistency you want.  I like to use Trader Joe's all natural no salt added crunchy peanut butter cause it's already kind of runny, so adding to the chia seeds to it makes it a little thicker.  

Spread on your favorite whole grain bread or flat and enjoy chia!