It’s August and the kids are back in school! How is this possible? I’ve always thought of summer break as having both July and August off from school but the older I get it seems the earlier the kids go back. I would have fought tooth and nail if I had to give up my summer wardrobe in August, aka a SUMMER month, for my Catholic girl get-up… knee socks, penny loafers, white blouse and plaid jumper! The end of the summer was always a time to shop for new school supplies, maybe a new lunchbox and usually a new pair of shoes since I wore a uniform and didn’t get “real” or “weekend” clothing as often. Honestly, I am so glad I was stuck in a uniform for six years and I’ll tell you why… it’s less pressure to dress in the latest style and less expensive than having to accumulate several outfits for five school days. I had two outfits and I called them my “Saturday and Sunday clothes” as did most of my friends and I didn’t fully appreciate this until I got to high school…!
The “summah” as we say in Rhode Island is a time for lobstah, trips to the beach, whale watching, clambakes and chowdah, Rocky Point Park and endless trips to various ice cream joints statewide. I kid you not! My Ma was THE best at finding new locations for us to try our favorites; mine, chocolate; her’s, black rasberry. We loved Big Alice’s, Sweet Lick’s, Huggies, Kay’s, Brickley’s, and Beau’s, where my Ma won the first annual “Design your own Flavor of Ice Cream” contest. I think she called it Batman Black Raspberry, or something to that tune. I LOVE LOVE LOVE ice cream, who doesn’t? But I can’t eat it like I used to, that’s for sure, and if I did, I would have too much guilt because I’m allergic to cow’s milk and I know how I’ll feel the next day!
So here’s my favorite ice cream recipe, it’s just two ingredients and it tastes amazing! Plus it’s better for you, lower in calories and fat than almost any pint you’ll buy at the store, and it’s easy peesy and cheap to make! You can literally use any fruit for this recipe. I just wanted to pay my Ma a little homage with this blackberry and banana pairing. You can use strawberries, raspberries, blueberries.. whatever, get creative.
2 Ingredient, 1 Bite Ice Cream- serves one
Ingredients:
-2 frozen bananas
-2 cups frozen blackberries
Directions:
1. Take the bananas out of the freezer and let sit until you can easily peel the skins off. You can also toss them in your oven for 5 minutes on 350.
2. Place the blackberries and bananas in a blender and add 1/4 cup water.
3. Blend well.
4. Scrap sides and pour into a large glass or bowl and enjoy!
You can pour it in a glass and take it to go!
_____________________
Let’s talk books because it’s been a couple of weeks since we did so! I just finished listening to the best memoir Born With Teeth by Kate Mulgrew of Orange is the New Black and Star Trek Voyager fame. She has led an incredible life and she still managed to come out on top. Her voice is like no one else’s and she was witty and brutally honest about some of the tougher decisions she had to make to get to where she is today.
My friend Ellen recently recommended Night by Elie Wiesel that I read in an afternoon. Talk about the shortest book you’ll ever read about the longest, most brutal life one man lived during and after the Holocaust. This book brought a tear to my eye and it made me smile for he lived to write his account and no doubt affected many lives because of it. You have to put both read on your summer list… while the summer is still here!
_______________________
Lastly, I have some BIG news to share with you. I’ve never wanted or desired to teach anything but yoga but all that changed this past year when I started going to Club Cardio in Grover Beach and began taking Cardio Kickboxing classes with my now friend Katie Hill. Unfortunately Katie is having to give up the classes to go to nursing school and the owners have asked me to replace her on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:15 a.m. I am beyond thrilled with this new opportunity to explore and grow as a teacher in another format!
I’ll see you on the bag!