During the relentless summer heat, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees week after week, my craving for something refreshingly cold becomes insatiable. To quench my thirst, I’ve been enjoying iced green tea and always keep a trusty Yeti filled with ice water by my side. However, as I find myself standing in the ice cream aisle, I’m faced with a dilemma. Should I indulge in another pint of my favorite Ben and Jerry’s, The Tonight Dough ice cream? Trust me, if you haven’t tried it, you’re truly missing out.
Despite the temptation, I remind myself of the importance of caring for my body and opt for a healthier summer treat. Enter my beloved “Monkey Coins,” which are essentially frozen bananas coated in delicious chocolate. As a child, my annual trip to Disneyland always included a cherished tradition of indulging in a “Monkey Tail.” After a day spent dashing from one ride to the next, sinking my teeth into the chocolate-covered frozen banana pop provided a delightful, sweet escape.
Now, my own version of the treat, Monkey Coins, offers the same tasty experience with even more chocolate in every bite. If you’re interested, here’s a wonderfully easy recipe. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences; precision isn’t necessary.
Ingredients
- 2 very ripe bananas
- Chocolate of your choice (I used Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Bar)
- 1-2 teaspoons of Coconut Oil
- Sea Salt
Steps
- Slice the bananas into 1/4″-1/2″ slices.
- Chop chocolate into small pieces and mix in enough coconut oil to moisten the chocolate. Microwave at 15 second intervals, stirring in between until you have a nice smooth chocolate.
- Dip banana slices into chocolate and place them on a parchment lined sheet pan.
- Sprinkle with sea salt and freeze. After completely frozen, place them in a zip lock bag.
Feel free to use your creativity here. You can coat them in peanut butter first or add chopped nuts. There are so many possibilities. With a few more weeks of summer to go, I will definitely be keeping these as a staple in my freezer.
There is so much beauty in everyday life. In this season of my life, I love sharing these Chocolate Coins with my granddaughters and hearing about all that excites them. I also cherish the evenings on the couch with my husband, sharing these and talking about our day. Whatever your life looks like at the moment, don’t forget to take the time to enjoy the little things—those little things often become the big things!
In the spirit of sweet treats, let’s remember goodness of the Lord. Psalm 34:8 reminds us to “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” In your day today, slow down and enjoy the beauty of this gift of another day. Relish in the presence of God for He is so very good. He is our sustenance, our refuge, our hope, our joy and our delight.
May we continue to live…
Rooted in Him,
