After much consideration, I have finally succumbed to a Yonanas frozen dessert maker!
I decided that, having dedicated so much time this Summer to my Slicecream Parlour, creating some amazing 'ice-creams' from frozen banana, my poor food processor needed a break!
I'm not one for buying unnecessary kitchen gadgets, there are so many possibilities - a gadget for virtually any job - and storing them can be a problem...but this little machine really does 'what it says on the tin'. It takes up very little standing and storage space too, which is a big plus in my book.
It's basically an electric motor and a feeding tube for the frozen fruit. This houses the clever patented blades that do all the hard work.
The bananas can be peeled before freezing, or frozen in their skins.
(Even though the Yonanas instructions say to peel them before freezing, it's very easy to cut the skin off with a knife prior to popping in the machine, especially if left for ten minutes as advised).
Any other frozen fruits you use should also be left for around ten minutes before being put through the machine.
(Even though the Yonanas instructions say to peel them before freezing, it's very easy to cut the skin off with a knife prior to popping in the machine, especially if left for ten minutes as advised).
Any other frozen fruits you use should also be left for around ten minutes before being put through the machine.
What would take around ten minutes in a regular food processor takes literally seconds in the Yonanas machine. As you feed the fruit in, out comes perfectly-textured 'ice-cream'.
It reminded me of my Playdoh machine I had as a child, which I also loved!
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The wonderful thing for people following the WeightWatchers plan, is that these desserts made with pure fruit are zero smartpoints.
It's a really healthy and fun way for children to enjoy fruit too. I reckon this is probably paradise for babies and parents alike at those terrible teething times, as the 'ice-cream' is not 'screamingly' cold and has a texture like perfect soft-scoop ice-cream, lovely and soothing for sore gums.
It's a really healthy and fun way for children to enjoy fruit too. I reckon this is probably paradise for babies and parents alike at those terrible teething times, as the 'ice-cream' is not 'screamingly' cold and has a texture like perfect soft-scoop ice-cream, lovely and soothing for sore gums.
You can add flavours (such as squares of chocolate) into the feeding chute with frozen banana, to produce chocolate chip 'ice-cream', or stir cocoa or drinking chocolate, cinnamon or other flavours of your choice into the processed banana afterwards.
The permutations are endless!
One of the machine's best qualities, apart from being brilliant at what it's designed to do, is that it's incredibly easy to clean afterwards, and is dishwasher proof.
Once you take it apart, there is always a bonus build up of 'ice-cream' lurking in the shoot and behind the white cone that houses the blades. I would then advise that you give all the parts a quick rinse immediately after use, as dried banana is a nightmare to wash off. Even if you are going to put it in the dishwasher, give it a thorough rinse first.
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If you decide to buy one, you should find it for around £49.99. I bought mine from Robert Dyas, but Amazon and some of the TV shopping channels sell it here in the UK too.
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If you're looking for recipe inspiration, here's a link to all my Slicecream Parlour ideas.
(Click HERE for link and scroll through).
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