One of my favortie frozen treats is frozen chocolate dipped bananas. Oh it brings back momories of being a child. It is my guiltless pleasure, much better for you than ice cream. I have never tried to make them myself, but thought why not. Can't be that hard. So here went nothing and turned into everything. I usually get my frozen bananas dipped in chocokate and nuts but I had no almonds and those are my favorite, so I decided to try coconut instead. Voila!!

 
FROZEN BANANA BITES

What you'll need . . .

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
• Unsweetened coconut flakes

Instructions:

1. Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 5 to 6 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops.
5. Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened.
6. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream) . . . I suggest then covering with some plastic wrap (or really you can do all of this in some kind of Rubbermaid container) and let freeze overnight.

No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Happy Summer Solstice! Welcome to the first official day of summer and the heat came with it. I have to admit I feel a bit like summer break has been going on for quite a while in our household, but I know that many of my friends’ children are just finishing up the school year and that is certainly reason to celebrate.

What exactly is the summer solstice? On this day, the Earth’s and the moon’s axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun, and therefore we have the longest period of daylight today. So how are you going to make the most of it? I recommend making something delicious. In fact, I recommend making these no bake peanut butter bars. I made them for the first time today and boy are they delicious. And the vote was unanimous, from my kids, that they are thumbs up delicious. Recipe adapted from southernplate.com

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon GF vanilla extract
2 cups smooth GF peanut butter
2- 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
11.5 ounce bag milk chocolate (or semi-sweet) chips
Gluten Free Pretzel sticks, I used Synders of Hanover GF

Put butter, brown sugar, and peanut butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave until butter and peanut butter are melted, one to two minutes (time will vary by microwave). Remove from microwave and add vanilla and confectioner’s sugar. Mix all of the ingredients together until they form a ball of dough that leaves the side of the bowl. Put in a 9×13 pan and press down.
Pour chocolate chips in a small microwave bowl and microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted. Pour over top of peanut butter mixture and spread evenly. Break pretzel sticks up into smaller pieces and sprinkle on top. Push gently into chocolate. Allow to cool completely at room temperature or place in the refrigerator until chocolate hardens. Slice into squares. Makes about 24 squares.