After hearing tex rave about frozen bananas for years, I finally decided to try one. Put it in the freezer earlier today and just pulled it out. Guess what? I didn't peel it first. D'oh! and Double D'oh. It was like a brick and I couldn't even cut it or bang it open. I am now assuming that one must first peel the banana before freezing. Right?
Love,
Polly, who is really blessed today because she is laughing royally at herself! and
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I apologize. I thought I mentioned that little detail. Hahahahahahaha. Sorry.
Yep, I peel 'em and put them in ziploc type bags, about three or four to a quart size bag, (depending on the size of the bananas). You can separate them by twisting one banana away from the one below it, (by pushing each end in opposite directions, sideways, while still the bag--before opening it). This makes removing a single banana much easier. This can be avoided by placing each banana in its own bag, of course.
I find it's best to not let them get fully ripe, since they seem to continue to slowly ripen, even in the freezer. After a couple of weks, you will notice a definite difference in their ripeness.
Another thing I like to do is let it thaw for roughly 15 minutes. To do that, I just dump it into a plastic sandwich bag, or something. The plastic bag comes in handy, because the heat from your hand will cause the banana to begin to thaw on the surface, even if you don't let it thaw for a while first, and they can get a bit slick to hold on too. Besides, it will save having to wash your hand, afterwards. LOL. You'll develop your own preferences, though, after you try a few of them.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yes, the things I have learned here are truly amazing! Imagine! How to make a frozen banana! What's even more amazing is that I couldn't figure it out myself, despite 25 YEARS of education! Somehow I must have missed the lecture on frozen bananas. LOL!
The directions are perfect! Having been an old chem. major, I am the kind of cook, apparently, who needs very specific instructions. Don't forget, I have always maintained that I am cooking-impaired! But I am proud that my cooking seems to be evolving. I would love to cook one of my caveman meals for the 2 of you! Wouldn't that be a fun time????? Our mouths and faces would be sore from laughing and talking all night. I have no doubt about that!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
That would be, as they say, an awesome experience. LOL.
Actually, I didn't originate the frozen banana idea, but I do eat one or two every day. I can't remember who suggested it originally. Could it have been Jean? Or Katy?
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks for an "AHA" moment, Oma. I can't do chocolate, but I will definitely start rolling the bananas in nuts! Again, such a simple but AWESOME idea!
I finally did it right, and I just finished eating my first frozen banana. WOW! I think it tastes more like rich banana ice cream than a watery banana popsickle. I was surprised at the creamy, "gourmet" taste. And it seems so much more "filling" than a plain old banana. Why is that?WOW again! Thanks for providing me with a dessert besides my standard medjool dates! I am elated! Something new that tastes like old-fashioned comfort food! WAHOO! Matthew, you are in for a treat.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
You should be an ad writer in your spare time. That sounded so good that I had to go get one out of the freezer. LOL.
They are pretty good grazing.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I'm enjoying this thread immensely! Ha!
Actually, I'm the first person I can remember mentioning this on the old board, at least for as long as I've been a member of the group, which is only a few months longer than Tex, so you could've heard it from most anyone after that.
In truth, though, I got the idea from someone who, I think, had learned to do that at..wouldyabelieve..WEIGHT WATCHERS! Perhaps someone reading this will be able to tell us if they are the organization that popularized this great idea.
At any rate, I'm so glad that you like it, Polly, and sure hope you don't develop any reactions to it!
Wayne, Oma, or Matthew, have any of you tried breaking up the frozen (slightly melted) banana pieces and throwing them into your smoothy? That's still another way of getting the drink cold, particularly if you're low on ice.
Another thing I've done lately is to throw a small Whole Foods brand bag of frozen fruit (thus far either organic strawberries or org. blueberries) into the blender with a whole banana (haven't done the banana other than room temperature with this), and a small can of cold applejuice into a blender, and let er rip. Then, I sometimes pour the result into a little cup to eat with a spoon, like ice cream.
It's not quite as sweet as some might like, but when it's not all that hot outside, frozen organic fruit smoothed out with a banana just can't be beat as a simple, healthy dessert for after dinner. The store brand frozen organic isn't cheap, but when you figure how much a store bought dessert with mostly carbs and bad fat would cost, I believe this is a bargain. Without ice added, it's just a different consistency, but it depends heavily on the quality of the fruit, so that's why I like to use the frozen organic, for consistency, organic seems to be the most tasty fruit in most cases.
Remember what we've been hearing, that if one is limited in terms of the amount of organic fruits that one can buy, the best place to invest that is in strawberries and apples as they have the most pesticides, apparently.
I make my smoothies exactly like you do, with the frozen berries. I also like to make them thicker and eat them like ice cream. Hmmmm, great minds........
If you originated the frozen banana idea, thank you very much for improving the quality of my life!!!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I make mine pretty much the same too, with everything frozen, except the apple cider, or coconut milk, (whichever I use for the liquid portion. I always use either a whole, or a half, frozen banana. A few pieces of maple candy work like a charm, if you want a sweeter smoothie.
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Oh, forgot to mention that I do it that last way with a regular banana because when the weather's cool, I don't want my teeth chattering! Ha!
I think now that it's beginning to get warmer, will have to do both the fruit AND banana frozen to make it a cooling drink.
Need to do something with the coconut milk around here too, so that's a good idea you've given me, Wayne.
I always use Frozen Berries but will try frozen banana's. I throw a banana in about every smoothie. It's ao soothing and filling. The only sugar I add is a little honey. And THICK is the only way to go(Like Ice cream) Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
Don't forget to let em thaw a bit or else they may damage your machine. For some reason bananas seem to stay really hard in mine for too long a time if I take em right out of the freezer and into the blender.
Is that what you've experience, Tex or anyone else?
No, I use them straight out out of the freezer, without any thawing at all. I don't even bother to separate frozen clumps of berries.
I use a smoothie maker, rather than a blender, and I've never seen any indication of any damage. It makes a lot of noise, that sounds like everything is flying apart, but it works just fine.
I think the basic difference between a smoothie maker and a bleneder, is that a smoothie maker has a spigot on the side, at the bottom, for dispensing the finished product, and it has a stirring rod that you can use to force frozen chunks into the blades.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
and 
