Banana “Caramel” Ice Cream Sundae (and Some Excellent House News)

by Maria Theresa Maggi on July 3, 2015

banana sundae ice cream 2Waiting to hear good housing news can take a lot out of a family, especially when the weather is as hot as its been out here in the west so early in the summer–even in Portland. Thankfully, a good healthy dessert and a feel-good movie are great distractions to the “what ifs” that are naturally built in to home hunting, buying and selling.

I’ve made banana ice cream so many times over the years I would have thought there was nothing new I could do to it to keep me coming back again and again. But I was wrong. It took the challenge of not wanting to use non-dairy milk and having an audience to inspire me to come up with this new version. I’m happy to say that according to my son and daughter-in-law it can even stand with their favorite vegan and gluten free treats from Back To Eden bakery–but without the side effects of all the sugar and fat.

The secret? A couple of dates, and being too tired and hot to make date paste. I just chopped them up and threw them in with the bananas, along with a splash of pineapple juice–or whatever other juice–or even tea–because it sounded good. I wasn’t disappointed, but I was surprised everyone else was thrilled, particularly because even my chocolate-loving kin have asked for this carob fudge again and again.

Though this might blow (or possible exceed) your fruit count for the day, this banana ice cream is even McDougall Maximum Weight Loss friendly. This recipe makes about 3 nice size servings. Reduce or double for either a single serving or more people.

All our healthy ice cream eating and feel-good movie watching while we were waiting to hear good news paid off. Here is a chalk pastel sketch of my soon-to-be new home in the Alberta Arts District of Portland Oregon, if all goes according to plan. So far it’s sailing through. Romeo and I will be able to walk to Mike and Kelly’s. I’ll soon become a member of the Alberta Street Food Co-op.  I’ll have a small, private yard.  And it was sure fun watching the bicycle chase scene in ET while we waited to find out whether my offer would be chosen out of the 6 that were submitted. I remember when ET first came out and I saw it in the theater, the whole house cheered when those bicycles went up into the air. That’s the way I feel about how things are going with purchasing my new home. I’m about as amazed, happy and blessed as I can possibly imagine. Life is sweet and miraculous, even in slow motion.

my new house 1 by MTM

Maria (moonwatcher)

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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Silvia July 4, 2015 at 12:25 am

Wonderful news, Maria!
Now I wish you good luck with the selling part!

Greetings from Silvia in Germany

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2 Maria Theresa Maggi July 4, 2015 at 11:54 am

Thanks Silvia!! So much has happened I forgot to include that I have also sold my home in Moscow, which makes it possible for me to have been a contender to purchase this one. The one in Moscow closes a few days before the one in Portland closes. I’ll have to mention something about that in my next post. Can’t keep up with myself!! Thanks for all the wonderful good thoughts–they make a difference! 🙂

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3 Danielle July 4, 2015 at 7:13 am

Wow, Maria, your new house is charming! Good luck with everything!

I’ve made banana ice cream with frozen blueberries added at the last minute (I make the banana ice cream with unfrozen bananas, pureed in the food processor and then mixed in my ice cream bowl attachment of my KitchenAid). It’s extremely yummy that way too! Next time, I’ll try it with the dates 🙂

Happy 4th.

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4 Maria Theresa Maggi July 4, 2015 at 11:56 am

Thanks Danielle! Your strategy with throwing frozen blueberries in sounds good. And I bet the texture of your ice cream made in the ice cream bowl attachment is wonderful. This method is a little more rugged. 🙂 Hope you enjoy experimenting with the dates. 🙂

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5 Teresa July 4, 2015 at 8:35 am

I love Portland! Our nephew and his fiancée live close to where your hopefully new home will be. I visited in June and will be back this month and then again in August for the wedding.

I also spent 5 days in Moscow last month helping our sons move out of their shared apartment. The older son is moving to LA for grad school. The younger is staying for his final year at U of I. I also love Moscow, especially how it is such a walker friendly community. And really just a great environment.

It must have been hard to leave Moscow, but being in Portland especially with family, will be awesome!

Your drawing is beautiful! And I’m going to make the banana ice cream this evening! Happy 4th!

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6 Teresa July 4, 2015 at 8:54 am

Wow! I see I am being redundant! I didn’t think my comment on one of your earlier articles posted. Oh, well, now I see it!

Enjoy Portland!

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7 Shirl July 4, 2015 at 9:22 am

Wow, does this really taste like ice cream? Haven’t had ice cream for almost 4 years, since my 110 pound weight loss! Got to try and then share it with my weight watchers group if it tastes as good as your pictures look!!! So excited!

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8 Maria Theresa Maggi July 4, 2015 at 11:59 am

Welcome Shirl, and congratulations on such an amazing weight loss. I’m not sure I would say this tastes exactly like traditional ice cream, but it’s cold and soft-serve ice-cream like and very delicious in its own right. Be sure to freeze very ripe bananas–that definitely makes it better. I am glad you are excited–let us know how it works out!!

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9 Gloria July 4, 2015 at 9:29 am

Your drawing of your new home (I am being positive) are beautiful. Ice cream sounds wonderful. Happy 4th of July and Congrats on your move.

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10 Maria Theresa Maggi July 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm

Welcome, Gloria and thank you so much for the kind words about my drawing and your well wishes. Hope you enjoy the ice cream, too!

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11 Gena July 4, 2015 at 11:24 am

Maria, it’s so great to hear that this part of the moving journey has worked out so wonderfully–I’m so glad for you! It does always feel like a small miracle when things come together, doesn’t it? I appreciate the humble gratitude and sense of awe that you’re sharing with all of us today.

As for the soft serve, yum yum. I’m a huge lover of dates, and I’ve certainly been known to chop them up directly into banana soft serve, as you’ve done here. I also love carob, and your recipe for the sauce reminds me that it’s been too long since I made anything with it (especially as my partner is very allergic to chocolate!).

I so appreciate hearing how your new chapter of life is coming together, and I look forward to the next update! XO

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12 Maria Theresa Maggi July 4, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Thanka Gena! I am coming down the home stretch with two closings later in July just days apart, plus moving my stuff to Portland–I so appreciate your words here.

And as for the soft serve, I’m not surprised you’ve used the dates as “caramel pieces” like i have, since all your desserts are amazing. I’m so glad to know you love carob, and I hope you and your partner enjoy some of this sauce or something made with it real soon. I can relate to someone who can’t tolerate chocolate–I, too, have issues with it, so carob is one of my favorite ways to treat myself and not miss the chocolate. Thanks, too, for staying tuned for the next update! 🙂 xo

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13 Deborah July 4, 2015 at 5:36 pm

Lovely to hear your news…wishing you all that you need for this transition xo

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14 Maria Theresa Maggi July 5, 2015 at 7:45 am

Thank you Deborah!! xo 🙂

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15 Veronica July 6, 2015 at 10:43 am

Wahoo! Congrats on being the winning bid on the house! That whole process is exhausting, especially if you keep losing bid after bid (like we did in both Seattle and here in Berkeley). Your drawing of the new home looks so great! Lots of greenery. 🙂
I will try adding the dates into my next batch of banana ice cream! And there’s no such thing as too much fruit… 😉 I still have to get my husband to like bananas – it’s a slow process. I’m actually doing slow banana infusion in other things – like strawberry-mango sorbet with a hint of banana; baked goods with banana as the sweetener… Some day soon I’ll make a big batch of just straight up banana ice cream like this and he will understand the magic.
Congratulations again – I’m so glad that things are moving forward and this new chapter can begin!
xoxo

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16 Maria Theresa Maggi July 6, 2015 at 11:47 am

Thanks Veronica!! I so appreciate you sharing my happiness about this! Sounds like you know what those bidding situations are like–crazy!! I am very grateful that my blog writing experience helped me write an honest and “winning” letter about why the condo is so right for me, which in my lucky case was something the seller wanted to see, bless her heart. I am indeed fortunate that telling the truth and being myself mattered in the way it did.

I bet a mango ice cream is scrumptious! Good luck with the gradual approach to getting your husband on the banana bandwagon–it’s a really sweet ride!! 🙂 xoxo

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17 Lee at Veggie Quest July 8, 2015 at 8:11 am

Maria, that sundae looks amazing, and congrats on the nearly-finalized new house! It’s so cute! And walking distance to so much great stuff. And a private yard! Sounds like a little piece of heaven. 🙂 So delighted for you!

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