Gluten-free, dairy-free and delicious dessert

Please welcome my guest, poet and author T. L. Cooper—with a delicious dessert that is gluten- and dairy-free. I have a friend who has those dietary restrictions, and I know the difficulty of cooking to meet them. This recipe is a perfect dessert. My friend and my grandson both want some now!

 Growing up on a farm in Tollesboro, Kentucky provided T. L. Cooper with a fertile place for her imagination to germinate.  She wrote her first short story around age eight, but even earlier she started entertaining her family with stories about saving a groundhog that lived in her father’s bar.  She studied corrections and juvenile services and psychology at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree.  She has lived in Kentucky, Ohio, and Idaho.  Extensive travel within the United States as well as visits to Germany, England, Spain, France, Jordan, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai provided her with rich opportunities to learn about different cultures, beliefs, and people.   Her poems, short stories, articles, and essays have appeared online, in books, and in magazines. Her published work includes a novel, All She Ever Wanted and four books of poetry, Strength in Silhouette: Poems, Love in Silhouette: Poems, Reflections in Silhouette: Poems, and Memory in Silhouette: Poems. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, golf, and traveling. Currently, she resides in Albany, Oregon.

T. L. tells me she came up with this recipe one night when she had a chocolate craving. Her husband taste it and loved it. I plan to try it for my grandson soon.

TLC’s Frozen Chocolate Banana Almond cream

By T. L. Cooper

Serves: 2

Prep time: 10 minutes

Start to Finish: 2 hours ten minutes

Texture will be reminiscent of ice cream. If you prefer a milder chocolate flavor, cut down the amount of cocoa powder.

 2 large bananas

½ cup almond butter

4 Tbsp. cocoa powder, or to taste

2 Tbsp. apple butter

2 tsp. maple syrup

¼ tsp. vanilla (optional)

Peel bananas. Place all ingredients in food processor. Pulse a couple of times. Process until smooth, approximately 30-60 seconds, scraping bowl once. Place in serving dishes. Cover and place in freezer for two hours. If desired, sprinkle a few chopped almonds and/or chocolate chips on top. Serve.

Per serving (excluding unknown items): 584 calories; 39 g fat (54.4% calories from fat); 13 g protein; 61 g carbohydrate; 0 mg cholesterol; 11 mg sodium. Exchange: 1-1/2 grams starch; 1 lean meat; 2 fruit; 7 fat; 1 other carbohydrates.