Sep 8, 2008

Simple Homemaking

Housekeeping tip of the day:
Did the bananas start turning overripe before you could eat them. Don't sweat it, throw them in the freezer and when you want to bake banana bread, make a smoothie, or banana chocolate chip muffins, you'll be styling.

You don't even have to unwrap them, just put them in with peel and all, or put them peel and all into a freezer bag (this helps them not pick up other flavors like the dreaded 'fish-y' taste), or you can peel them and put them into a freezer container. Thaw them or not (for a smoothie the frozen are perfect) for your recipe. The peels will blacken, but fear not...it doesn't effect the inner bananas quality.

The bananas are good for 3 months or so in the freezer. Remember you can pick up ripe bananas in the reduced for quick clearance section of your grocery. The plus is also, that you'll be saving money this way!

Recipe for a yummy banana smoothie -(serves one)
ingredients:

one frozen banana (if frozen with peel run under hot tap water for a few seconds to release the blackened peel)
1 cup of milk, or soy milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. chocolate syrup or instant coffee flavor (if you want a mocha smoothie, both)
*optional-a handful of ice

Add all ingredients into the blender until the desired consistency is achieved. Pour into your favorite glass and enjoy!

Now I am not a not a 'sugar' girl, so I don't even use the chocolate syrup, but I know my kids like it that way. You can also try it with 1-2 Tbs real maple syrup instead of the coffee or chocolate flavor. Increase the ingredients if you want to share.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm! I do this with bananas because I have a lot of green smoothies. The freezer trick is good too for keeping banana-chomping hubbies and kids out of your stash. ;)

Letitia said...

I do this with bananas, too. Ours are usually used for banana oatmeal muffins~yum.

The time or 2 I have left prayer requests, and when you've seen me request them on my blog...your prayers have been special and a blessing. Maybe I never thanked you. Now I do. It's wonderful when you know someone is lifting you up to the Lord. I continue to lift your adoptions up to Him.

Loved your summer photos, and, yes, we'd rather hang onto it, too. All of your children are so beautiful, but I have wanted to tell you for so long that that little Princess Giggles just melts my heart everytime I see a photo of her.
Praying you sense God's love and His arms wrapped around you this week.

Renata said...

I didn't know that you could freeze them in the peel, but I do love banana smoothies. I'll have to try your recipe - I always use yoghurt when I make them & I've never tried them with the chocolate or coffee - but yours sounds yummy!

Michelle said...

Oh, can you help me kick the sugar habit? I have wanted to be free from it for years, but haven't figured how.

Mom2my10 @ 11th Heaven said...

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Anonymous said...

HI
found you thru Jill's blog.
love your blog & thanks for the great banana tip!

flmom said...

I need to make some banana bread/muffins tomorrow and believe I will add some chocolate chips to the batter as a sweet treat for my boys now that I've read this post - yum!

Duckygirl said...

This is a great tip for bananas, sometimes I know I want to make banana bread later in the week so I'll freeze the bananas just to keep them from the kids (shh don't tell :) ).

-Laura Sims

p.s. thank you for your sweet card!

Renna said...

I've been tossing bananas, peel and all, into my freezer for years. At any given time, when the mood strikes, I usually have enough to bake a loaf of bread. Never did I think about a smoothie, though. I am anxious to try your recipe, Kimmie! :-)

I've found that if you set the frozen 'naners (as our household calls them) on the counter, within a few short minutes, the peel easily slips off.

Lil_Birdie said...

Wow ! great tip about freezing them in their skins , thanks :)

Over ripe bananas make great popcycles too . If you peel them and mash them and stuff them into those cheap little plastic popcyle makers that come with the cap that's a stick and pop them into the greezer they come out tasting great (a little bit like ice cream but much healthier )

Lil_Birdie said...

err sorry greezer = freezer
can't type =P

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