Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas

I’m about to get on my soap box today but before I do that I’m gonna tell you a little about the recipe I’m bringing you. This is a fun and kid friendly treat that the whole family can get in on making and everyone can customize to their own tastes. Whats even better is that it is inexpensive (can you believe how cheap bananas are?) and a much healthier alternative to ice cream and frozen novelty treats at the grocery store. Of course, as with anything there is a lighter version and a bring-on-the-calories version so I’ll leave that part up to you to decide. I love frozen bananas plain myself, but they do pack quite a wallop when you coat them in chocolate and dust them with sprinkles or nuts!

Having introduced the recipe, now I’m gonna get on my soap box.

~clears throat and pulls out a tiny wooden box from her back to stand up on as she starts her sermon~

I’m a big believer in all things happening for a reason. I also believe that the reason things happen is to help us become better people or so that we can help others in some way. Whether it be a little unexpected money (is there someone I am supposed to help with this?) , a problem or situation I’m struggling with (how this make me a better person?), or sometimes just a saying or quote that is weighing heavily on my heart (is there someone in my life that needs to hear this today?).

Oftentimes a quote will start nagging at me, one that just seems to stick in my head until I take time to turn it over and do something with it. It’s always a little bit of timeless wisdom that can reach out and resonate with us or help us get our heads on a little straighter. When this happens, I figure someone needs to hear it as much as I do and I’ll post it here or on our Facebook page.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m special or better than anyone else, all I’m saying is that I believe things happen for a reason and that we are all here for a reason. While I can’t testify to what your reason is, I know mine and I’ll just bet yours is somewhat similar. I think we all share a common thread, we’re here to build each other up as we go about our growing and becoming whatever it is we are meant to be.

You know how you hear “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”? Well I think we need to look at the flipside of that as well (and I’ve even mentioned this before on SP).

If you think something nice, you should say it whenever possible.

So often we keep our kind thoughts to ourselves but I do my best to say them out loud when I can. Have you ever been in the grocery store and had someone compliment you on your blouse or your hairstyle? I’ll admit this is tricky if its someone of the opposite gender so I’m not encouraging that but just last week I saw this lady in Krogers and she had the prettiest blouse on. It was light blue linen with embroidery all over it. She was an older lady with the kindest eyes and I just had to stop and tell her how beautiful her shirt was. She was so kind and gracious in return and I feel certain that one little encounter made both of our days a little brighter.

So here is what I posted it on Facebook and sure enough, people chimed in with “that is just what I needed to hear today” so I got the affirmation that I did what I was supposed to do with it. Just in case you’re one of the folks I am supposed to share this with today I’m gonna put it here, too.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain – and most fools do.” ~Dale Carnegie.

Great reminder that we need to build each other up and not keep company with folks who tear others down. Thankful for all the wonderful people in my life (that means you!).

Does this quote speak to you today or is there something that is weighing on your heart that you think will lift somebody else up? I’d love to hear in the comments section!

I just wonder, how many people can we as a group lift up today?

To make frozen bananas you’ll need: Banana and some cling wrap or little zipper baggies to freeze them in.

That is all you really need. But the rest of makes it a little nicer and a whole lot more fun.

I like to use a little orange juice to dip the bananas in after I peel them to give me more time to get them all squared away before they brown. If you don’t have orange juice, just peel them and put them in the bags kinda quick and freeze them, they won’t turn brown. Some folks like to use lemon juice but I don’t care for the sour tang it gives them.

I also like to use Popsicle sticks if I can find them but have made them plenty of times without.

If you can’t find Popsicle sticks, you can omit them entirely or use plastic forks.

If you’d like to have chocolate covered bananas, you’ll need some chocolate and whatever you’d like to coat them with (if anything)

When it comes to my chocolate, I get the el cheapo chocolate “flavored” coating, otherwise known as Almond Bark. Almond bark is just a cheap candy coating, and doesn’t have any nuts or anything in it despite the name.

I like to roll mine in nuts but the kids get a kick out of sprinkles.

Peel your banana and cut it in half.

Pour a little bit of orange juice in a bowl and…

Dip your banana in the juice, roll it around to coat.

Put a stick in it and repeat with all of your bananas

When you are done wrap them in cling wrap and place them in the freezer until frozen solid.

Then take out your frozen bananas and heat your chocolate coating in the microwave until melted.

To melt your chocolate coating: heat it in forty five second intervals, stirring after each one, until it is smooth and creamy. Make sure you don’t have any drops of water in your bowl or on your spoon as the least little bit of water will cause your candy coating to clot and it won’t be all smooth like you need it to be.

ou can either dip your banana directly into the chocolate or you can spoon it over your banana,

whatever cranks your tractor.

Then roll it around in your nuts or sprinkles.

Looky there how purty!

I still think plain ones are the best though!