Banana Blog

Latest entry - 22 December 2009 @ 10:39am, UK

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, the Banana Link team.



Previously on the Banana Blog...



Banana Blog entry - 15 December 2009 @ 10:03am, UK

Now for something Christmassy ... try our festive Christmas Banana Bread Recipe!

Ingredients:

 1/2 cup butter, softened
 1 cup sugar
 2 eggs
 2 cups all-purpose flour
 1 teaspoon baking soda
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1-1/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
 1/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries


Instructions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Beat in the bananas just until combined. Stir in the walnuts, chocolate chips and cherries.

Pour into a greased 9x5" baking tray. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 70-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from baking tray to a wire rack. Yield: 1 loaf (approx 16 slices).

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 slice) equals 235 calories, 10 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 42 mg cholesterol, 184 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 1 g fibre, 4 g protein.

Enjoy!


Banana Blog entry - 24 November 2009 @ 10:01am, UK

Banana factoid ... British consumers ate more than 40 million boxes of bananas in 2002.



Banana Blog entry - 17 November 2009 @ 13:52pm, UK

Did you know ... The majority of banana plantation workers do not earn enough to live and support their families – some earn less than £1 per day, absolutely shocking.



Banana Blog entry - 03 November 2009 @ 16:01pm, UK

Did you know ... The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.


Banana Blog entry - 03 November 2009 @ 14:11pm, UK

Did you know ... The strings that go up and down the length of bananas are called Phloem Bundles. They help distribute nutrients to every part of the growing bananas.


Banana Blog entry - 03 November 2009 @ 13:24pm, UK
Did you know ... The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a "hand" of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 15:38pm, GMT

Did you know ... a typical banana contains 103 calories/103 kcal, 1.09g Protein, 0.33g Fat, 22.84g Carbohydrates, 12.23g Sugar, 5mg Calcium, 0.26g Iron, 358mg Potassium, 1mg Sodium, 0.15mg Zinc, 1 microgram of Selenium and 8.7mg of Vitamin C.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 13:31pm, GMT

Banana peels, like the fruit itself, are rich in potassium - an important nutrient for both you and your garden. Dry out banana peels during the winter months and in early spring grind them up in a food processor and use them as a mulch to give new plants and seedlings a healthy start.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 12:25pm, GMT

Who needs Botox when you have bananas?  That's right; You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturises your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer.
 
Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 11:31am, GMT

Give your 'trick or treaters' something different this Halloween with a tasty frozen "banana-sicle". You can even top them with chocolate, toffee or melted butterscotch for added wow factor!

As an unusual treat for friends and family, peel and cut four ripe bananas in half (across the middle). Stick a wooden ice-cream stick into the flat end of each piece. Place them all on a piece of wax paper, and then put it in the freezer. A few hours later, serve them up as simply yummy frozen banana-sicles. If you want to go all-out, quickly dip your frozen bananas in 6 ounces (170 grams) melted butterscotch or chocolate morsels (chopped nuts or shredded coconut are optional), then refreeze.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 10:23am, GMT

Are the leaves on your houseplants looking dingy or dusty? Don't bother misting them with water -- that just spreads the dirt around. Rather, wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel. It'll remove all the gunk on the surface and replace it with a lustrous shine.


Banana Blog entry - 27 October 2009 @ 10:09am, GMT

Are you feeling a little under the weather and stressed?  Bananas contain potassium, a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat by sending oxygen to the brain and regulating your body's water balance.  When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack!


Banana Blog entry - 13 October 2009 @ 14:00pm, GMT

A less well known fact is that bananas are good for difficulty with sleeping, especially in children. A banana before bedtime will help to promote sleep, and they are also good for people suffering from stomach upsets as they are fairly easy to digest when ripe. 


Banana Blog entry - 13 October 2009 @ 12:00pm, GMT

Did you know that Immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in the early years (1892-1920s) were given bananas to eat. Many had never seen them and didn't know how to eat them - some ate the whole thing, peel and all! 


Banana Blog entry -13 October 2009 @ 10:00am, GMT

Banana factoid - An average American eats 26 pounds of bananas every year - that's about 150 bananas. Here's a question for you - how many banana's do you think the UK consumes in total each year?

Answer: Britons consume five billion bananas a year!
source: www.tes.co.uk 


Banana Blog entry - 29 September 2009 @ 14:04pm, GMT

The Banana Blog has just been added to the Support Caribbean Bananas website and is now up and running! :)


Banana Blog entry - 29 September 2009 @ 12:55pm, GMT

Did you know...

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Cited from pjlighthouse.com, click http://www.pjlighthouse.com/?p=1347&akst_action=share-this to read the full article.

Keep an eye out for future blog posts from the Banana blog, bringing you the latest news, thoughts and factoids from the Caribbean Banana front line.