Bananas are the most basic of fruit, along with their sidekick, apples, of course. It was drilled into our young and impressionable minds dating back to our favorite friends, Bert and Ernie, and their beloved hit “Apples and Bananas,” where they let their vulnerable sides be known as they professed their love for eating such glorious fruits. Well, let me tell you that Bert and Ernie were definitely on to something, my friends. A childhood costume character would seldom lie to their trusty, loyal followers.
However, after years of eating bananas in the most traditional of manners— hearing the glorious rip of the peel as the skin gave way from your mighty and ravenous hand, and awkwardly sticking a phallic shaped-fruit into your mouth— many of us have grown quite tired of such a cumbersome, mundane fruit. We have moved on to bigger and better things, like ice cream and chocolate. And for good reason— you can only take so much boredom before you succumb to the dark side: the side filled with sugar-laden treats and saturated fats galore. We work hard and we want to be rewarded with something a little more exciting than your average banana. That illustrious sound of a banana peel surrendering to our fingers no longer triggers our salivary glands; rather, we hear melancholy sounds like the noises Charlie Brown’s teachers make when they address the class.
Well, are you all in for a treat. Cue: Banana Island. It is a place filled with creations originating entirely from bananas, with bonus ingredients to take these concoctions to a whole new level—a level that many of you have never reached before. Banana Island is where Health meets Taste Buds and they gracefully fall into a passionate and eternal love affair. On Banana Island, you can expect exotic, yet totally simple, banana creations that will make your taste buds jump off of your tongue and onto the bowl to lick it clean, all while keeping your insides happy and healthy.Chocolate PB Banana Sandwich:
Simply cut your trusty banana into half-inch thick slices, placing peanut butter in between two pieces. When you have finished the sandwich assembling process, you can move onto the chocolate coating. Add one-fourth cup raw cacao powder, one-fourth cup maple syrup, and one-fourth cup water to a bowl. Stir, and proceed to generously dipping your sandwiches into the chocolaty-goodness. Set on wax paper and freeze for two hours, while you make other banana-inspired goodies!
Frozen Banana Popsicles:
Begin by cutting your boring banana in half. Grab a popsicle stick (or any stick-like utensil that you have lying around your kitchen) and put it in so it is holding the banana with a comfortable sturdiness. Take your chocolate sauce that you have already conveniently created for the sandwiches and dip it in as little or as much as your hungry heart desires. Assemble your favorite toppings, like nuts or coconut shreds, and generously roll your Banana Pops so they are sufficiently coated. Place them on wax paper and let them freeze for four hours.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Banana Oat Cookies:
Don’t let previous homemade cookie recipes intimidate you; this recipe is nearly impossible to mess up. Mash two ripe, spotty bananas to a smooth consistency, then mix in one cup of raw oats. Here is where you can personalize it to your liking. Throw in some cinnamon and maple syrup, or raw cacao powder and dark chocolate chips, or perhaps, you are craving the old-fashioned oatmeal-raisin cookie; be creative, be bold, be the banana you want to eat in the world— be anything less than ordinary. Then, throw it on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake it at 375 degrees for about 12-20 minutes, depending on your consistency preference.
Oh-So-Dreamy Banana Ice Cream:
I know what you’re thinking. Ice cream is basically the antithesis of health, but hear me out for a hot second. Simply slice ripe, spotty bananas and set them in a plastic bag in the freezer to harden over night. Once frozen, add them to a blender or food processor, throw in a splash of water to get it blending, and watch as your boring banana does the impossible. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides a few times, but be patient, and watch it become a soft-serve ice cream consistency. Like the cookies, personalize it to make it your own. You can add in anything from raw cacao powder, acai powder, frozen fruit, to nuts, chocolate chips, or nut butters. The possibilities are truly endless. Toppings or "topless," this can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and everything in between. Experiment with the marvelous knowledge I am bestowing upon you, and thank me later.
