Don’t you love the magic shell you can find in the grocery store in with all the ice cream sauces; near the ice cream cones?  It seems like a wonderful invention – until you take the time to read the ingredients!  Apparently, the way the ‘magic’ is created is with a bunch of preservatives!  Yuck!

Since I pretty much gave up processed foods, I wouldn’t consider eating something like magic shell – knowing it has so many artificial ingredients.  So, I am really excited about the easy recipe I found for a magic chocolate shell – using no processed ingredients!

You can see the chocolate shell starting to set – it takes only about 30 seconds!

The recipe is from a book called 100 Days of Real Food: Fast & Fabulous: The Easy and Delicious Way to Cut Out Processed Food by Lisa Leake.

This simple recipe is perfect as a first post for the new year because, although combined with Ms. Leake’s ‘ice cream’ suggestion it seems very decadent, it fits right in with most any healthful eating resolution!

Homemade Magic Chocolate Shell

Melt 2 Tablespoons coconut oil until just melted (a few seconds), in the microwave.  Add 2 Tablespoons honey and 4 teaspoons cocoa powder (I used ‘special dark’ 100% cacao).  Whisk until well combined.

Pour over cold ice cream – after about 30 seconds, it will turn into a hard shell!

Chocolate shell over whipped banana ‘ice cream’ is the perfect guilt-free Valentine’s Day treat!

If sauce should harden in the bowl before using, simply microwave to melt.  Store leftovers for up to 1 week in fridge and use microwave to melt as needed.

I enjoy my chocolate shell over Ms. Leake’s super easy-to-make alternative to traditional ice cream – frozen whipped bananas!  To make your own, simply cut 4 to 5 peeled bananas into 3 or 4 pieces each and freeze.  In a blender, combine the frozen bananas with ¼ cup milk (I use unsweetened almond milk and sometimes add a little organic peanut butter!)  Blend and keep adding small amounts of milk until the consistency resembles ice cream.

(Note:  I sometimes need to soften the frozen bananas up slightly in the microwave before blending if they are too rock solid – my blender can’t handle it!)

Banana ‘ice cream’ and homemade magic chocolate shell make for a guilt-free treat!  Enjoy!Thank you for stopping by!  Happy, happy 2017 – wishing you the very best year yet!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie