Global Table #7: Whipping Nutrition into Vegan Ice Cream, Popsicles, or Smoothies

Popsicles for Breakfast?

"Mom lets me have popsicles for breakfast," Gia flaunts to visitors while Angela, her mom, never stops smiling.  Angela has studied nutrition and cookery most of her life, and now blends the two into mouth-watering treats.

"When I make the popsicles, I control what goes into them," Angela explains calmly.  

Fresh fruit with a vegetable or two hiding in plain sight, soy milk, yogurt or tofu fuse into easily made, readily accessible nutrition that a four-year old can relish. 

A Vegan Extravaganza

The milkshake version goes well with banana bread.

Recently, another cooperative of moms gathered at a branch library to share similar expertise.  I invited a health-conscious Japanese mom and her two kids to Vegan Ice Cream, a presentation featuring both step-by-step modeling and taste-testing several commercial brands.  

I had anticipated a small crowd as the word vegan seems to deter rather than attract participants. 

I was absolutely wrong. 

Even simple raw ingredients blend into a frothy,
end-of-summer treat.

Nearly sixty people had assembled at the start of the presentation, and librarians kept bringing more folding chairs as more people poured in and the number swelled.  

Who could have guessed that vegan ice cream workshop was the hottest place to be?

Pineapple Banana Vegan Ice Cream

This recipe can make vegan ice cream, shakes, or popsicles, depending on your preference.  Give these simple ingredients a whirl in the blender for a frothy, end-of-summer treat.

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen pineapple

2 cups frozen banana

2 cans coconut milk/cream (thicker is better)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1-2 tablespoons agar (optional)

1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Directions:

(1) You may want to thaw the fruit for 30-60 minutes before starting.  Try to separate chunks as much as possible to save wear and tear on the blender.  

However, the coldness helps the mixture to thicken and gives it a texture like a milkshake.

(2) Mix in ingredients a little at a time.  We added 1/4 of each fruit with 1/2 can of coconut milk at a time.  Toward the end add the agar, vanilla and honey as you wish.

(3) The mixture will harden if you freeze it.  You may want to thaw it a little before serving to soften the ice cream.  However, adding agar should give the ice cream a thick, creamy texture.  

Popsicle Option

Another option is to pour the mixture into popsicles molds.  Spray or spread oil inside the molds so that the popsicles come out more easily.  Then, pour in the pineapple-banana mixture, allowing a little room at the top for expansion as the liquid freezes..  Wipe away any spillage on the sides so that added ice around the rims won't lock in the popsicles.   Then, freeze for a few hours or overnight so that you can have one for breakfast.

Just before serving, run warm water over the outside of the molds.  Popsicles should slip out easily.