My sister Meghan forwarded me a banana recipe from the Food Network the other day.  It was for a banana “ice cream,” and the recipe called for nothing more than bananas, peanut butter and honey.  It reminded me of a recipe I saw in a recent issue of Whole Living Magazine for a vegan “ice cream” that blended frozen bananas with berries.

With these two recipes serving as my inspiration, I came up with my own recipe for a creamy, delicious and completely healthy frozen treat.  I scooped some of this “ice cream” into cones, and the four of us headed outside to enjoy the sights and sounds of our city while we enjoyed a perfectly healthy dessert.

It turned out to be one of those quintessential summer evenings that I hope we never forget: almost too-hot temperatures, a clear pinky-blue sky, cicadas chirping in the background (a rarity in the city!) and sticky ice cream fingers.  We lingered a little longer than necessary, just enjoying this quiet time together as a family.

As my kids grow older, I don’t want them to lose touch with the simple things in life.  Right now, all it takes is a quick batch of homemade ice cream to keep them contentedly close by.  As we all licked our cones, Evie told me silly stories and Mack showed off his latest tricks.  They were both so happy to have this special family time.  I closed my eyes and cherished this simple moment.  I want my growing family to always stay connected and close, even if it means I have to make a daily batch of homemade healthy ice cream!

Healthy Banana “Ice Cream”

5 ripe bananas (a few brown spots are good)

1/3 cup peanut butter (I prefer using homemade peanut butter)

A couple spoonfuls of honey

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4-1/2 cup milk

Spread parchment paper onto a large cookie sheet.  Slice bananas into 1″ rounds and set in a single layer on the cookie sheet.  Put in freezer for 2-3 hours.

Once banana chunks are frozen, drop into a food processor.  Add peanut butter, honey, cinnamon and a few tablespoons of milk.  Turn on the food processor and continue to add milk to keep the blades running smoothly.  Process for 3-4 minutes, or until the mixture reaches the appearance and consistency of frozen yogurt.  Serve immediately or pop in the freezer til you’re ready to enjoy!