Bananas are good for you. Whether you want to eat them as a snack, an energy booster or part of your weight loss regine bananas have many benefits. Bananas are high in fiber and potassium, which aid in weight loss. Bananas are also the only fruit high in vitamin B6. B6 is good for boosting your immunity and lowering your risk of heart disease. If you are trying to lose weight do not eat more then one a day as they are high in sugar. Who knew bananas were a super food to keep you young and not to mention protect from muscle cramps during strenuous activity?
My friend Selaine Jommo who is an awesome pastry chef gave me some great banana recipes.
A great way to use up overripe bananas. Mash up the bananas, put into a freezer bag or container and freeze. I find it easier to freeze in a container so that I can scoop out as much as I need without having to take out the whole bag.
Serves about 6.
Half a cup of milk
2 mashed bananas
5 tablespoons sugar (you can leave it out if you want or dust with icing sugar after cooking)
2 cups flour
Half a teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 tablespoon melted butter/ margarine
Flavoring- grated lemon rind/ cinnamon/ cardamom/ nutmeg/ dessicated coconut. (Optional)
Beat the eggs, butter and banana together. Mix together the sugar flour, baking powder, salt, and flavoring and add to the banana mixture. Beat to the right consistency using the milk. It should be like thick pancake batter but not so runny.
Heat a pancake pan (the one you use for pancakes), pour on some oil and pour in the pancake batter. You can use a scoop or a spoon, and make them thick or thin but not too thick or they won’t cook in the middle. They cook quickly, and can easily burn. Take about 2 minutes or until browned and then flip over and cook the same way. Place on a paper towel and dust with icing sugar if you want.
BANANA MUG CAKE WITH COFFEE ICE CREAM
This is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for that day when you want to indulge in something small and sweet. I highly recommend it.
When making a mug cake: use a bigger mug, less chance of spillage. It tastes more like a pudding, but you can adjust your flour by a teaspoon or two to get a more cakey texture.
1 tbsp butter or oil (sunflower is good)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 mashed ripe banana
3 tbsp all-purpose/ plain flour
3 tbsp brown sugar (works best, but white is ok)
Half a teaspoon of baking powder
Coffee ice cream (1scoop…. Or as many as you want)
Remember, use a bigger mug – ceramic not plastic.
Mix butter, egg and milk, then stir in the banana. Mix the dry ingredients separately, and then add to the banana mix until combined.
Bake in your microwave, yes, go on!! Use the microwave on its highest setting, depending on the voltage. 1 minute is usually enough, but you may require upto a minute more.
Serve with the Coffee Ice cream.
Banana Milkshake
Serves 2.
300 ml milk
4 tablespoons instant coffee powder
150 g vanilla ice cream
2 ripe bananas- sliced and frozen
Pour the milk into a blender/ food processor, add coffee and blend. Add half of the vanilla ice cream, and mix gently, adding all the ice cream until well combined. Finally add bananas and process until smooth. Serve chilled in tall glasses.
FRUIT KEBABS
This is a good way to snack. You don’t even have to grill them, serve chilled in the sauce and sprinkle with coloured desiccated coconut for a fresh look.
50 gm butter- (margarine also works, but…. Just use butter, please)
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lime juice
Whole cherries about 16pcs
2 peaches (substitute with apples, pears or mangoes)
2 slices pineapple
1 banana
4 skewers- soak in water for about 30minutes to prevent burning when grilling.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add honey and lemon juice then mix well. Boil for one minute and cool. This is the syrup. (Add more lemon for a more tangy flavor).
Preheat your grill. Spice up all your fruit and arrange them on the skewers. Use a brush to spread the syrup over the fruit. Cook the skewers on the grill for about 3minutes- syrup side up. Turn over, spread with syrup and grill another 3minutes. Serve sprinkled with desiccated coconut.
Selaine does pastries and cakes so if you would like to order some desserts you can contact her through her Facebook Page.
You can also get other banana recipes that you can make at home here.
