Summer Heat

It is hot. No, no, that doesn't cover it. It is brutally blisteringly hot. I checked the weather this morning and the heat index was close to ninety degrees, at 7am...Why? I guess it is the appropriate weather for the first day of summer, woo! It has gotten to the point, temperature wise, that running is no longer plausible. Unless I want to get up at 5am. Which I don't. So, I have been getting by on my granny power walks and long bike rides. I am going to miss running for a while, but absence makes the heart grow fonder right? Hopefully...

Now that it is officially summer, it is time for peaches. Every time that I eat a peach or see a peach I think about Georgia. Which leads me to think of the song by Ray Charles "Georgia On My Mind". Then it gets stuck in my head. Not that I'm complaining. It's just a weird process that I thought I would share. Anyways, me and peaches have been going through a rough patch in our relationship. You see, instead of eating a delicious, ripe, juicy peach I have had the disgusting pleasure to eat a gritty, coarse, dry peach. Gross. So gross that I had to break up with peaches claiming that the problem was me, not peaches (but we all know the truth).

Yesterday, I overcame my previous bad experiences with peaches. I sliced a golden peach open, admiring the amazing burst of color, similar to the fiery rays of a sunset, and fell in love. It was the best peach that I have eaten in years. So I gladly chopped up the rest of the peach, sprinkled the pieces along with blueberries on a bowl of shredded wheat. So good. If I could I would have just replayed my morning over and over again because nothing, not even that delectable little brown square of dark chocolate, tasted as wonderful as that peach.

Now I am a girl addicted. I must have another peach! But, I wanted to try a little something to spice up the peach (not that it isn't amazing just they way it is, I would even sing that Bruno Mars song "Just the Way You Are" song to it) just because I can. So, what I'm thinking is grilled peaches. I have heard of grilling peaches before, but have never experienced them for myself. Mostly because I am terrified of the grill. Maybe because I am not very experienced as a cook, especially on the grill. Open flames and me just don't seem to get along. But this is a challenge that I am willing to take on, full throttle! I just need some help starting up the grill, it's the best for everyone's safety...

Enough about the peaches, I'll have to wait for someone to come home and assist me.

Since it has been so stifling, I decided against baking and for freezing! When I was little, I was obsessed with the freezer. I used to freeze peanut butter, whipped cream...yeah, not so good ideas. But now that I have matured, so have my freezer skills. Today is the day for frozen bananas. I love frozen bananas, they taste better than ice cream. Well, they taste good on ice cream...

Nevertheless, frozen banana time!

Grown Up Frozen Bananas

1/2 banana (or a whole, just use 1 Tbsp nutella, instead of 1/2 Tbsp)
1/2 Tbsp-1 Tbsp Nutella (or chocolate)
1/2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
pinch of shredded coconut

Cut peeled banana in half. Insert a popsicle stick into the bottom of the banana. (Or if you don't have popsicle sticks, use a plastic knife.)
Spread with nutella. Sprinkle with walnuts and shredded coconuts.
Wrap in wax paper and set in freezer for about 6 hours or until completely frozen.

(plastic knife=creativity award)

Yay! Frozen nanners!

Off to beat the heat, stay cool my friends!