Choco-Smothered Banana Pops -- Another Cool Idea

Chocolatey and healthy

I have some leftover bananas that will turn overly brown in a day or two so I tossed one in the freezer after peeling.  I got some dark chocolate (Goya from 7-Eleven) bars on the way home and made some healthful popsicles from the banana.

Nothing fancy here.  Cut the banana in half.  Get a stick (I use spare bamboo chopsticks from the neighborhood Chinese restaurant) and insert in the banana pieces like a popsicle.  Freeze.  Melt the dark chocolate bars in a double boiler or microwave (I use a medium setting for around two minutes).  Dip the banana pops in the chocolate.  Add pitted nuts if you so prefer (or use a Snickers bar instead for the chocolate coating).  Refreeze.

Any which way you look at it, this is a healthful treat -- you get potassium from the banana, flavonoids from the dark choco, and extra protein if you add nuts.  And it doesn't cost much to make.  Worth a try.

CoCooler for the Hot Summer

Simple, healthful, cool

When the temperature's soaring, it's nice to have something in the fridge to cool you down.  Yeah, a Magnum is always welcome but at times, I wish there were more healthful alternatives.  I love coconut water for its taste and rehydrating properties.  One particularly hot afternoon, I left some fresh coconut water in the freezer.  That set me thinking, now why can't I take this healthy drink and make it some sort of healthful cooler.

Making CoCoolers is simple:  Just combine 1/2 portion of coco water (when I can't get the fresh kind from Mang Fidel at the street corner, I use Tropicana's Coco Quench - P81 from Rustan's or popular supermarkets) and 1/2 portion of full cream milk (I use Cowhead, Magnolia or whatever's available).  Just mix and put in the freezer, stirring from time to time so the milk doesn't settle at the bottom.  When semi-solid,  stick in a piece of wood (I use spare bamboo chopsticks).  Enjoy!