Banana, Cherry Smoothie with Coconut

Servings: 1
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ice
• 1 cup almond or coconut milk*
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup cherries, pitted
• 1/4 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened
• dash of vanilla extract

Directions:

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend for about 30–45 seconds or until completely smooth. Pour and enjoy!

*For the freshest coconut milk, make homemade coconut milk. (See video at this link.)

Courtney from Columbus, KS, won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

Honey, Whole Grain Einkorn, Banana Bread

Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole grain einkorn flour
• generous pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup raw honey
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 3–4 overripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with additional coconut oil or butter. Set aside.

Whisk flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon together. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and honey together until well combined. Pour oil in while still beating and add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Add flour mixture and chocolate chips (if using) and quickly mix just until almost completely combined. Batter should still be lumpy.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45–60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Recipe courtesy of Sarah Shilhavy

Coconut Oil, Chocolate, Banana Bonbons

Servings: 24 bonbons/8 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 large organic, sun-dried Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 2/3 cup unrefined coconut oil
• 1 cup organic 100% cacao powder
• 6 ripe, organic bananas
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes

Equipment:

• 24 paper mini muffin or candy cup liners (1 1/2-inch)
• small pot
• 4 cup heat-proof glass measuring cup
• calibrated thermometer
• mini ice cream scoop (the one bigger than a melon baller but not as big as a traditional ice cream scooper)

Directions:

In a small bowl, soak dates with 1/2 cup water at room temperature for 24 hours. Drain and reserve 1/3 cup of the liquid. This is your date syrup. Use the date pieces and remaining date syrup (if any) in another recipe or smoothie.

Place glass measuring cup in a small pot. Fill pot halfway up the side of the glass measuring cup with water. Be sure not to get water in the glass. Heat until the water is 110 degrees F; use your thermometer to be sure. Maintain 110 degrees F.

Place coconut oil in the measuring cup and heat until completely liquid. Whisk in the date syrup. Whisk in the cacao powder 1/4 cup at a time. Be sure to whisk until smooth each time. Repeat until all of the cacao powder is incorporated; this is your chocolate.

Peel bananas. Lay each banana on its side onto a flat surface. Starting on one side, use the ice cream scoop and press down on the banana to make a full scoop. Wet your hand with water and press the cut piece of banana into the scoop to form the bonbon shape. Press the release lever and remove the formed bonbon into your hand. Place this flat side down in the center of a flattened muffin liner. Repeat with all of the bananas. You should be able to get 4 formed bonbons per banana and have left over trimmings.

Whisk chocolate again. Hold the papered bonbon in the palm of your hand. Gently cover the top of the bonbon with a small amount of chocolate. Allow it to run down the sides to completely cover the banana and slightly pool at the bottom. Push the paper cup sides down to allow the chocolate to cover part of the bottom of the banana. Use a flat cake spatula and gently remove the bonbon from the paper and transfer to a small sheet pan lined with waxed paper without touching the sides. The bonbon will slowly slide off the spatula when slightly tilted.

Pinch some of the shredded coconut onto the top of the bonbon. Scrape the excess chocolate off the paper back into the Pyrex, stir well, and wipe your cake spatula clean with a damp cloth. Repeat the above until all the bananas are covered in chocolate, transferred, and garnished. Next, place flat in the freezer for at least 3 hours to fully set. If serving right away, remove from the freezer, set for 5 minutes, gently remove, and serve. If serving later, remove from the pan and place in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 1 week.

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