5 Ways to Use a Ripe Banana (or Two)

Melissa Devereaux — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:45:15 +0000

Every time I buy bananas, I over-commit. I eat one or two as a snack, slice half of one into my cereal, and watch as the little brown freckles appear and deepen each morning. They stare up at me from the fruit bowl. Why, bananas? Why must you leave us so quickly? And then, after my bananas turn a nice shade of, well, an unfortunate color, I am forced to either use them or retire them. To the trash? No way! If I can’t use them now, I save my bananas in the freezer for a reincarnation. And while they sit in their cryogenic chamber, I contemplate their destination. The key is to always be one step ahead of the banana. (What do I mean? Have a quick mental stash of banana recipes that will put them to good use before they’re bad.) There is always banana bread, but it can be fun to try something different.

One. Banana Blueberry Smoothie
After peeling and cutting them up into chunks, I put them in a freezer safe Ziploc bag. They’re perfect for smoothies.

Two. Banana Coconut Walnut Muffins
These muffins are delicious. I substitute applesauce for butter to make them healthier. Adding walnuts gives them a punch of protein.

Three. Chocolate Covered Bananas
These treats are a fun and healthy snack. If you’re cooking with kids, they’ll love all the toppings (and the dipping).

Four. Grilled Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich
No offence jelly, but for me peanut butter and bananas are the perfect pair. This sandwich makes a delicious and nutritious breakfast or lunch. And if you want it for dessert, just throw in a few chocolate chips. Use a ripe (not frozen) banana.

Five. Banana Pear Baby Puree
My daughter Olive just turned 6 months old and we’re experimenting with food. But this isn’t just for babies! Try it on yogurt. Shh, we won’t tell.

What do you do with your ripe bananas? We want to know.

Photos by Melissa Devereaux

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5 Ways to Use a Ripe Banana (or Two)