Nutty Frozen Banana Bites

This quickie is SO good I serve it to guests and call it 'frozen banana truffles'.
All you need on hand is 3 staple ingredients- chocolate chips, nuts, and bananas.... and the nuts are optional! You can make them in 10 minutes and serve it in 30 minutes. I haven't made them for a long time til I saw Ellie Krieger on the Food Network this morning, making something very similar---- more like the frozen bananas you can get at the local Dairy Queen. She cut the bananas in half and poked a Popsicle stick in them. I like 'em better this way... bite -sized heaven!! You can decide, and maybe make them both ways- on stick for the kids and in chunks for the adults.

Cut up bananas- probably 1 small banana per person - in small bite size pieces. If you have time, freeze the chunks for 15-30 minutes. This isn't essential but will speed the process.

In the microwave, melt chocolate chips ( regular semi-sweet or dark chocolate, but not milk chocolate. A 6-oz bag will do 2-4 bananas, depending on size. Before you start, add about 1 heaping TB shortening to the dish. This will make the choclate smoother and easier to dip. Zap it for maybe 2 minutes at 50% power- this will vary depending on the wattage of your oven and how old it is...watch carefully..stir and check often so it doesn't begin to overcook at the bottom.

When it's melted and smooth, just dip your banana chunks in one at a time, coating completely, then lift out and drop into a small deep bowl of chopped nuts - pecans seem to work best but experiment with what you have. Use a spoon to spoon the nuts on it. Place on a foil-covered cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer again.

If you don't eat them soon, let freeze hard, then put in a freezer bag or plastic container to store. Serve frozen.