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6 ways to make your bananas last longer

Is there anything more delicious than fresh fruit? Fresh fruit is definitely up there, and it’s hard to beat the taste of a ripe banana. If you’re like us, you’re always trying to keep bananas fresh, especially if you’ve bought a bunch but only want to eat one at a time. Here are some of the most effective ways you can keep bananas from browning too quickly. Hang them Turns out there’s a scientific reason you should be hanging your bananas from a hook. Bananas start ripening as soon as they’re picked from trees – ethylene gas releases from the stems as soon as they’re picked, but when you hang bananas from a hook, the gas works more slowly. Hanging bananas also prevents them from bruising, which they’re more prone to do as they continue ripening. Buy a fruit basket with a built-in hook or a small under-cabinet hook made specifically for bananas. Either way, keep your bananas at room temperature while they ripen on the hook. Buy green bananas The easiest way to prolong your bananas’ shelf life is to buy the greenest bananas you can find. They’re picked while still green, then slowly ripen over time to reach that bright yellow we love. Instead of grabbing perfectly ripened bananas you’re eyeing, grab a green bunch you can hang from your hook and watch ripen. Wrap banana stems Remember that ethylene gas that makes bananas ripen? It comes from the stems, which means you can wrap those stems – with plastic or aluminium foil – to slow down the ripening process. For best results, take your bananas apart and wrap their stems individually. Place ripe bananas in the fridge One of the cardinal rules of banana storage is to never store them in the fridge. But rules are meant to be broken, especially when it comes to bananas. You should keep green bananas out of the fridge, but once your bananas have completely ripened, you can move them to the fridge where the cool temperatures will keep them from ripening further (for a few days at least). Freeze your bananas Freezing bananas is one of the easiest ways to keep them preserved for future use. But how you freeze bananas could have a big impact on how well they thaw. Freezing the entire bunch will darken the peels, and they’ll thaw poorly. Instead, consider freezing peeled, individual bananas or banana slices in resealable airtight bags. Buy a banana storage container Bruising can wreak havoc on your bananas. It leads to squishy parts and faster ripening, which is where hard cases built specifically for bananas come in handy. You can now buy reusable containers designed to hold one banana at a time, which are a great way to keep ripe bananas ready for lunch (or for your afternoon snack). Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/6-ways-to-make-your-bananas-last-longer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Food & Wine

Tropical banana cake with salted peanut caramel sauce

If you’re really looking to go all out, this tropical banana cake with salted peanut caramel sauce is a striking dessert that tastes as good as it looks. If there are any leftovers of, they will keep for a few days in the fridge. Serves: Six to eight Ingredients: Banana cake <ul> <li>125g butter, softened</li> <li>1 cup brown sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>2 tablespoons rum</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>3 ripe bananas, mashed</li> <li>1/4 cup coconut milk</li> <li>1/2 cup desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/2 cup chopped tropical dried fruits, plus extra for garnish</li> <li>2 cups self-raising flour</li> </ul> Salted peanut caramel sauce <ul> <li>200g caster sugar</li> <li>60ml (4 tablespoons) water</li> <li>60g butter, cut into small cubes</li> <li>1/2 cup cream</li> <li>1 teaspoon soy sauce</li> <li>80g salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped</li> </ul> Filling <ul> <li>300ml cream</li> <li>1 tablespoon icing sugar</li> <li>250g sour cream, whisked</li> <li>2 bananas, sliced, tossed in a little lemon or lime juice to prevent browning</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Heat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 22cm spring-form tin.</li> <li>Cream butter and brown sugar together. Add vanilla and rum, beating to combine. Beat in eggs, mashed bananas and coconut milk. Add desiccated coconut and dried fruits, sift the flour over and gently fold to combine. </li> <li>Spoon into prepared tin and bake 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool. The cake can be made the day before it is needed.</li> <li>For the sauce, place caster sugar and water in a small saucepan and swirl the pan over a medium-high heat until sugar dissolves.</li> <li>Bring to the boil and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until a rich caramel colour. Add butter carefully (mixture may spit) and whisk to combine.</li> <li>Add cream and soy sauce, whisking to combine.</li> <li>Add half the chopped peanuts. Serve immediately or leave covered on the bench (the sauce will become solid if refrigerated). </li> <li>For the filling, whip cream with icing sugar then mix into whisked sour cream.</li> <li>Keep chilled until needed. </li> <li>To assemble, split the cold cake and cover the bottom piece with a layer of sliced banana. Top with half the cream mixture then add the other layer of cake.</li> <li>Cover the top with remaining cream and garnish with remaining peanuts and extra dried tropical fruits. Pour over the caramel sauce and serve.</li> </ol> Written by Bernadette Hogg. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Strawberry and banana smoothie

Smoothies are a great way to start the day as well as up your fruit and vege intake. They'll also give you a good boost of vitamins and minerals in something that's easy to drink, refreshing and delicious. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 banana (pre-frozen) </li> <li>5 medium-sized strawberries </li> <li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence or extract</li> <li>1/2 cup natural yoghurt</li> <li>1/2 cup milk (cow's, almond, or soy)</li> <li>1 tablespoon ground LSA</li> <li>1 teaspoon runny honey (optional)</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.</li> <li>If you don't have frozen bananas, use fresh bananas and a small handful of ice cubes.</li> <li>To serve, pour into glasses.</li> </ol> Written by Nadia Lim. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

The value of a banana: understanding absurd and ephemeral artwork

In September 2020, the Guggenheim Museum in New York acquired <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/guggenheim-banana-cattelan-1909179">Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian</a> by anonymous donation. The work – a banana duct-taped to a wall — was first shown and sold at the <a href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/this-art-is-bananas-maurizio-cattelan-presents-first-new-work-for-an-art-fair-in-15-years#:%7E:text=The%20maverick%20Italian%20artist%20Maurizio,wall%20with%20grey%20duct%20tape.">Art Basel fair in Miami Beach</a> in the autumn of 2019 where it generated attention, derision and <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/art-basel-2019-art-banana-memes-1203395572/">innumerable memes</a>. Social media was, for a brief time, overflowing with images of <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/people-are-coming-up-their-own-duct-tape-art-after-banana-in-art-basel-sells-for-rs-85-lakh-2416655.html">just about anything duct-taped to walls</a>: tamales, beer cans, cabbage, a <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1668205-duct-tape-banana">durian</a> fruit, a sandal, someone’s cat. <a href="https://adage.com/article/digital/brands-are-trying-one-art-basel-banana/2221661">Companies quickly countered with online ads</a> where their products, from deodorants to French fries, were shown duct-taped to the wall with a modest price tag. Comedian reignited a set of questions that seem to flare up with some regularity: what makes something a high-priced artwork when another, seemingly identical, object is not? Since the work was shown at an art fair, it is relevant to consider what exactly is being bought when acquiring an artwork like Comedian. The original banana had to be replaced several times during the course of the fair, once after it was eaten as <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50704136">a stunt by another artist</a>. The collectors who bought and subsequently donated the work to the Guggenheim did not receive an actual banana or a piece of duct tape. Instead, what they got was a document, a so-called certificate of authenticity that granted them the right to recreate the work and instructions of how to do so. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/arts/design/banana-art-guggenheim.html">It stipulated</a>, among other things, that the banana should be hung 175cm above ground and that it should be replaced every seven to ten days. <h2>A banana is a banana is a banana</h2> Although the art world has accepted the idea of <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/r/readymade">ready-made</a> everyday objects as art, at least since the mid-20th century, Cattelan’s artwork invited a collective focus on the structure of evaluation of artworks. If anyone can tape anything to the wall — as many did — what is the point of a document granting the legal right to do the same? Let’s compare Comedian to another fruit-based artwork: Zoe Leonard’s <a href="https://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/92277.html">Strange Fruit</a> (1992-1997), a large installation of fruit peels, carefully stitched together by the artist. It was made during the Aids crisis and functioned as a ritualised act of mourning and memorialising. After closely working with a conservator who developed a method of halting material decay at a particular point, <a href="http://contemporary.burlington.org.uk/journal/journal/intent-in-the-making-the-life-of-zoe-leonards-strange-fruit">Leonard decided</a> that it was more in line with the work’s idea to have it turn slowly into dust. In contrast to Comedian, replacing the fruit peels was not an option since the specific acts of stitching as mourning was key to the work’s meaning. The material manifestation of Leonard’s organic objects is far from stable – time passes and they change – but it is crucial that it is these precise pieces of fruit that undergo that transformation. Conceptual artists in the 1960s argued that an artwork’s identity is not to be found in its physical manifestation but in the artist’s idea. That idea can, but does not have to, take material form. Following that logic, the material object is a manifestation of an idea, and it is the idea that is bought and sold on the art market. When the object is reproducible or immaterial, the certificate of authenticity ensures the artwork’s identity as an artwork. Comedian is not dependent on a specific banana, any banana could be used without altering the meaning of the work. That, however, is very different from saying that any banana and piece of duct tape is an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan. <h2>Poking fun at the market</h2> Even though the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/dec/06/maurizio-cattelan-banana-duct-tape-comedian-art-basel-miami">US$120,000 (£92,000) price tag for Comedian</a> was by contemporary art standards fairly moderate, it is obviously a huge mark-up for the act of combining two very cheap and readily available materials. The work’s title hints that it is aware of the comedic absurdity of its own evaluation on the art market. Also, the banana’s upward curve on the wall recalls a stylised smiling face, and the banana peel, as we know, is involved in the most basic of slapstick skits. Comedian was in fact not the first time Cattelan poked fun at the market, art dealers and their place within this system. In 1995, he made his dealer Emmanuel Perrotin (in whose booth at Art Basel Comedian was shown) <a href="https://www.frieze.com/article/maurizio-cattelan">dress up as a giant pink penis-shaped bunny</a> for the duration of his exhibition at Perrotin’s Paris gallery. The piece was called “Errotin le vrai lapin (Errotin the true rabbit). By making Perrotin wear a ridiculous and humiliating phallic costume while carrying out his day-to-day work as a commercial gallery owner, the spectacle of the art market came into sharp view. Comedian is not the only of Cattelan’s works that has drawn attention to the Guggenheim in recent years. In 2016, the artist installed the work <a href="https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/maurizio-cattelan-america">America</a> in one of the lavatories of the museum. The 18-karat gold toilet is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the excesses of America’s rich; a piece of satirical participatory art that welcomes people to actually use it. It has reverberations of <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/duchamp-fountain-t07573">Marcel Duchamp</a> and <a href="https://whitney.org/media/760">Sherrie Levine</a>’s lavatorial works. It <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/the-art-museum-that-offered-donald-trump-a-solid-gold-toilet">could have been President Trump</a>’s after he requested to borrow a Van Gogh from the Guggenheim but was offered America instead – he declined. It then was taken in by Blenheim Palace in Oxford in 2019 where art critic Jonathan Jones <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/sep/13/maurizio-cattelan-blenheim-palace-review-hitler-golden-toilet-blenheim-churchill">commented, "</a>How does it feel to urinate on gold? Much like peeing on porcelain. But here, among all the photos of young Winston, it also feels like pissing on British history." Soon after, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/arts/design/gold-toilet-america.html#:%7E:text=14%2C%20a%20fully%2Dfunctioning%20toilet,the%20birthplace%20of%20Winston%20Churchill.&text=The%20police%20may%20not%20know,palace%2C%20have%20plenty%20of%20theories.">it was stolen</a>. Its whereabouts remain unknown. Cattelan’s works — like other pieces — must be considered in relation to other artworks and the structures in which it operates. The questions they raise are relevant but in part unanswerable: are we to take Comedian seriously, or is it an elaborate joke? And if it is a joke, who is in on it and who, or what, is mocked? Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-value-of-a-banana-understanding-absurd-and-ephemeral-artwork-147689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Healthy banana bread

Image: Getty Ingredients <ul> <li>4 ripe bananas</li> <li>100g Community Co almond meal (use coconut flour for a nut free version)</li> <li>4 eggs</li> <li>1 tbsp Community Co Olive Oil Spread</li> <li>1 tsp baking powder</li> <li>2 tsp cinnamon</li> </ul> <h2>Method</h2> 1.Preheat oven to 180 degrees. 2.Break 3 and a half of the 4 bananas into chunks and place into your food processor with the eggs and blend until smooth. 3. Melt the olive oil spread and blend into the banana/egg mixture. 4. Add the rest of the ingredients into the food processor. 5. Line a loaf tin with baking paper and pour the mixture into the tin. 6. Cut the remaining banana into disks and decorate the loaf with it Serves: 4

Food & Wine

Simply delicious coconut and banana custard

Simple to make, sublime and smooth to taste, without the dairy products and refined sugar that most custard desserts contain. You can sprinkle a few cubes of peeled mango, sliced strawberries or blueberries over each custard before serving, and a small teaspoon of maple syrup to make it look pretty. A sprinkling of cinnamon over the top adds to the flavour. Enjoy! Time to prepare: 20 minutes Serves: 8 small custards Ingredients: 2 cups coconut cream ¼ cup coconut nectar, or maple or rice syrup 1 large banana 1 tablespoon pure vanilla essence (vanilla extract) 1 teaspoon agar-agar powder Directions: 1. Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring, for 4–5 minutes until it thickens slightly. 2. Transfer the mixture to small moulds and allow to set in the refrigerator for a few hours. Tips: Agar-agar is a seaweed-based gelling agent used as a vegetarian replacement for gelatin. As a rule of thumb, to thicken 1 cup of liquid, use 1 teaspoon of agar-agar powder, 1 tablespoon of agar-agar flaked or ½ an agar-agar bar. Using the powder yields more consistent results. Substitute gelatin with the same amount of agar-agar powder. The solution you are trying to thicken with the agar-agar powder needs to be heated to boiling point and then allowed to simmer for about 5 minutes. Recipe extracted from Feed Your Brain: The Cookbook by Delia McCabe (RRP $34.99). Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/coconut-and-banana-custards.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

5 extraordinary uses for bananas

We all know bananas are delicious, but did you know they can very useful around the garden? Here are five extraordinary uses for bananas you probably didn't know about. Attract birds Put an overripe banana on a raised platform in the garden, punching a few holes in it to make it accessible to butterflies as well as birds. Remove it at night so you don’t attract possums. Polish leaves Are the leaves on your indoor plants looking dull or dusty? Wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel to remove the surface dust and replace it with a clean, lustrous shine. Deter aphids If aphids attack your roses, bury dried or cut-up banana peels a few centimetres deep around the base of the plant and they’ll soon leave. Don’t use whole peels as possums will dig them up. Feed plants Bananas are rich in potassium, an important garden nutrient. Dry the peels on screens in winter, grind them up in early spring and use as mulch for new plants, or cut into pieces and use as food. Add to compost With their high content of potassium and phosphorus, whole bananas and peels are welcome additions to a compost pile. The fruit breaks down especially fast in hot weather. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/5-extraordinary-uses-bananas">Handyman Australia</a>.

Home & Garden

The most deliciously soft chocolate chip banana bread

Have you ever wanted to combine two sweet flavours to get the ultimate dessert snack you won’t want to put down? This decadent chocolate chip banana bread by <a href="https://asassyspoon.com/chocolate-chip-banana-bread/">A Sassy Spoon</a> is all the best combinations made into one perfect meal. Ingredients <ul> <li>1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature (1/2 cup)</li> <li>1 cup brown sugar, packed</li> <li>1 large egg</li> <li>3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed (frozen bananas are extra sweet)</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla</li> <li>2 cups all-purpose flour</li> <li>1 teaspoon baking powder</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon baking soda</li> <li>1/4 teaspoon salt</li> <li>1 cup dark chocolate chips</li> </ul> Instructions <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius</li> <li>Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper, making sure the parchment is hanging over the sides of the loaf pan. This will help you easily remove the loaf after baking. Spray with non-stick spray and set aside.</li> <li>In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes until smooth. Whisk in the egg then add the mashed bananas and vanilla. Mix, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well combined.</li> <li>Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.</li> <li>Pour the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes until a knife inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!</li> </ol> This recipe makes 1 loaf and approximately 12 slices. Will you try this deliciously moist chocolate chip banana bread? Let us know in the comments below.

Food & Wine

The strange way the Queen eats bananas

It’s completely fascinating to see the ways in which royals live. Former head chef of Buckingham Palace from 1982-1993, Chef Darren McGrady, revealed on <a href="https://www.today.com/food/queen-elizabeth-eats-bananas-knife-fork-former-chef-reveals-t142748">Today Food</a> the Queens’ peculiar ways of eating bananas. With something we wouldn’t think twice about, like picking up and peeling a banana in order to eat it, the Queen and other royals can’t touch the food with their hands and have to go through a tedious routine in order to eat their fruit. McGrady revealed that the Queen enjoys eating her banana with a knife and fork, however this sounds slightly difficult to comprehend. Is it already peeled? Does it roll on the plate? Don’t worry – McGrady has also provided us with the answers and it all comes down to the way the food, or fruit, is prepared in the palace kitchen. He explained that the ends of the banana are cut off and the peel is sliced down the centre to make it easy to push apart with a fork and knife before being sliced in circles for easy eating. This is definitely fancier than how regular people eat bananas. But that’s not all. Not only are bananas eaten in a surprising way but the same goes for pears. “The purveyor would bring about 200 for us to choose the ripest by hand,” McGrady explained. Then they would be eaten by “slicing off the top and eating it with a teaspoon like a boiled egg!” McGrady also revealed the routine of a formal dinner event. “I am often asked what the royal family have for dessert, and people are surprised when I say fresh fruit … That’s because what Americans call dessert, the royal family call pudding,” he said. Dessert is served after ‘pudding’ which usually consists of four kinds of fresh fruit. The Queen’s diet aside from formal royal events is said to be clean, simple and healthy. McGrady shared with <a href="http://recipes-plus.com/article/10-eating-habits-queen-revealed-royal-chef-53">Recipes Plus</a> that the Queen doesn’t eat starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes – although this rule is wavered during banquets and special occasions. The royals don’t eat garlic and steer clear of shellfish, although a lot of the Queen’s meals consist of fish and vegetables, according to the chef. She is also said to enjoy chocolate sponge cake occasionally after a meal. Would you ever eat a banana like the Queen? Let us know in the comments.

News

Summer banana fruit salad

Who doesn’t love a good fruit salad? Not only do they make for a great afternoon snack, but they’re also a healthy option when you want to feel fuller for longer. This delicious banana fruit salad will not only satisfy your cravings for something sweet, but it’s also easy and quick to whip up. Serves: 6 Prep: 30 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 bananas, sliced (Lady Finger or Cavendish)</li> <li>1 small pineapple peeled, chopped</li> <li>2 mangoes peeled and chopped</li> <li>300g cherries, pitted</li> <li>2 peaches, chopped</li> <li>1 cup purple grapes sliced</li> <li>250g strawberries hulled, halved</li> <li>2 kiwi fruit peeled, chopped</li> <li>½ cup pistachio kernels, toasted, roughly chopped</li> <li>Small basil leaves or edible flower, to garnish, optional</li> <li>Thick Greek yoghurt, to serve</li> </ul> Basil sugar <ul> <li>¼ cup white sugar</li> <li>6 large basil leaves</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>For the basil sugar; place sugar and basil in a small food processor. Process until finely chopped. Transfer to a jar, refrigerate until needed.</li> <li>For the fruit salad; combine all the fruit in a large bowl. Spoon over two-thirds of the basil sugar and stir gently to coat.</li> <li>Sprinkle over the pistachio then remaining basil sugar. Scatter over the basil leaves or flowers and serve with yoghurt.</li> </ol> Tips: <ul> <li>Basil sugar will keep up to 3 weeks in the fridge in an airtight jar.</li> <li>Autumn fruit salad combo: Banana, apple, grapes, kiwi fruit, pear, nashi and passionfruit.</li> <li>Winter fruit salad combo: Banana, apple, custard apple, mandarin, nashi, persimmon, kiwi fruit and passionfruit.</li> <li>Spring fruit salad combo: Banana, grapes, melon, pineapple, tangelo, berries and passionfruit.</li> </ul> Recipe and image courtesy of <a href="https://australianbananas.com.au/">Australian Bananas</a>.

Food & Wine

Banana & mango frozen yoghurt pops

With summer right around the corner, these banana and mango frozen yoghurt pops are the perfect midday treat for when it’s blazing hot outside. The refreshing snack is not only satisfying, but it’s also delicious and easy to make. Try it out for yourself! Makes: 8 Prep: 15 mins + overnight freezing Ingredients: <ul> <li>4 large bananas (Cavendish)</li> <li>1½ cups thick Greek yoghurt</li> <li>2 large mangoes, peeled, fruit chopped</li> <li>1 tablespoon honey</li> <li>200g white chocolate, melted</li> <li>2 tablespoons hundreds and thousands</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Peel and roughly chop bananas. Place into a snap lock bag. Freeze for 4 hours or overnight.</li> <li>Place frozen bananas into food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the mango, yoghurt and honey. Process until smooth.</li> <li>Divide the mixture between 8 plastic cups, insert a paddle pop stick into each. Cover and freeze overnight.</li> <li>Remove the yoghurt pops from the cups. Drizzle with white chocolate and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands. Serve.</li> </ol> Tips: <ul> <li>When fresh mangoes are not available, replace with 1 cup frozen Australian mango or 250g fresh or frozen strawberries or raspberries, pureed.</li> <li>Once frozen, wrap the pops either in or out of the cups tightly with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. They will keep up to 4 weeks in the freezer.</li> </ul> Recipe and image courtesy of <a href="https://australianbananas.com.au/">Australian Bananas</a>.

Food & Wine

Banana pavlova trifle

This delicious banana pavlova trifle is sure to be a hit at your upcoming Christmas party. Not only is it easy to whip up, but it’s the perfect summer treat for when you’re craving something sweet and refreshing for the warm December evenings. Serves: 8 Prep: 40 mins Cooking: 75 mins Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 cups (500ml) mango nectar</li> <li>½ cup caster sugar</li> <li>4 tsp gelatin powder</li> <li>12 passionfruit, halved</li> <li>8 bananas (Lady Finger)</li> <li>250g mascarpone</li> <li>¼ cup icing sugar</li> <li>1 cup (250g) thick vanilla custard</li> <li>300ml thickened cream, whipped</li> <li>Little pavlovas</li> <li>4 egg whites</li> <li>1 cup caster sugar</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>To make the little pavlovas; preheat oven to 100°C fan forced. Line two baking trays with baking paper. Draw 6 x 10cm circles on one piece of paper. Turn the paper over so pencil mark facing down.</li> <li>Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1 spoon at a time, beating constantly until meringue is thick and glossy. Spoon or pipe 24 little meringue onto the second tray. Spoon the remaining meringue onto the rounds to fill the circles. Bake both trays for 60-75 minutes or until they feel crisp and dry on the surface. Turn the oven off and leave the oven door ajar for 2 hours.</li> <li>Meanwhile, whisk mango nectar, sugar and gelatine together in a medium saucepan to combine. Place over medium heat, heat for 4 minutes until hot, not boiling. Set aside for 10 minutes. Remove the pulp from the passionfruit. Spoon 2 tablespoons into a bowl, cover and refrigerate. Strain the remaining passionfruit, pressing down on the seeds to remove as much juice as possible – you should have 150ml. Discard the seeds. Stir the passionfruit juice into the mango mixture. Pour into a 7-cup capacity trifle bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or until set.</li> <li>Peel 6 bananas and slice into rounds. Arrange over jelly. Break the pavlovas into large pieces, arrange over the banana. Gently stir the mascarpone and icing sugar together. Fold through the custard and cream. Spoon over the pavlova. Refrigerate until ready to serve.</li> <li>Just before serving, peel and slice remaining bananas. Arrange the little meringues and banana slices over the trifle. Drizzle with reserved passionfruit. Serve.</li> </ol> Tips: <ul> <li>To save time, replace homemade pavlova with 150g store bought meringues or pavlova.</li> <li>On a hot summer’s day, place the mixing bowl and beaters into the freezer for 15 minutes to get cold before whipping the cream.</li> </ul> Recipe and image courtesy of <a href="https://australianbananas.com.au/">Australian Bananas</a>.

Food & Wine

Banana and mango shake

A thick banana-flavoured milkshake with a tropical touch, this will certainly appeal to children and adults alike. Ideal at breakfast time as it is filling, nourishing and quick, it can also be enjoyed as a delectable dessert after lunch or dinner. Serves: 2 Ingredients: <ul> <li>½ ripe mango</li> <li>1 small ripe banana, sliced</li> <li>½ cup (125ml) low-fat milk</li> <li>½ cup (125ml) orange juice</li> <li>2 teaspoons lime juice</li> <li>1 teaspoon caster sugar</li> <li>2 heaped tablespoons vanilla frozen yogurt</li> <li>Sprigs of fresh lemon balm to serve (optional)</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Peel the skin from the mango and cut the flesh away from the stone.</li> <li>Chop the flesh roughly.</li> <li>Put into a blender with the banana.</li> <li>Add the milk, orange juice, lime juice, sugar and frozen yogurt and blend on maximum speed for about 30 seconds, or until well combined and frothy.</li> <li>Pour into glasses and serve immediately, decorated with sprigs of lemon balm, if you like.</li> </ol> This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/banana-and-mango-shake">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Food & Wine

Duchess Meghan reveals her “life changing” banana bread recipe

It is a widely known tradition to never rock up to a country home empty handed, and the Duchess of Sussex took that literally when she arrived at Dubbo on Wednesday with homemade banana bread, baked by the royal herself. Meghan, 37, prepared the delicious loaf in the kitchen of the Admiralty House, the place the Duke and Duchess are temporarily calling home in Sydney. She brought it with her as she visited Mountain View Farm where her and husband Prince Harry discussed the plight of farmers and the affect the drought has had on the residents in the region. The bread, which was a combination of chocolate chips and a hint of ginger, proved to be a huge success, as those who were lucky enough to try it praised it endlessly. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpC-NGKFLiV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BpC-NGKFLiV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">The Duchess Of Sussex Baked A Loaf Of Banana Bread For The Picnic They Attended In Dubbo #DubboAustralia #Picnic #DuchessOfSussex #MeghansBananaBread #MeghanMarkle #RoyalBaby #Delicious #Ginger #ChocolateChips #BananaBread</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/the_kensington_royals/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> The Kensington Royals</a> (@the_kensington_royals) on Oct 17, 2018 at 12:45pm PDT </div> </blockquote> And it wasn’t the first time Meghan had dipped her hands into baking the bread. In her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, she shared the recipe for the “Life Changing Bread". The blogpost claims that the bread, although delicious, is also healthy as it’s a low-carb gluten and grain-free loaf. The recipe was passed down from the Duchess’s friend and stylist Talia Brown. An aide had a few words to share about the royal, saying: “She loves baking and just decided to take something along with her on the spur of the moment.” Benita Woodley, who is the daughter of Scott and Elaine, the farmers who are responsible for Mountain View Property where the Duke and Duchess shared a meal, said the bread was delicious. “It was such a nice and thoughtful thing for her to do. We are really touched.” After the news of Meghan’s banana bread hit social media, users began praising the Duchess, with some asking: “Is there anything this woman can’t do?” Marilyn Hulslander from Over60's cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, has been making this special banana bread for the last 40 years, and it's as close to the Duchess's as you're going to get. So, from the Duchess’s kitchen to yours, try the recipe yourself: Banana Bread just like Duchess Meghan's: Serves: 8–10 Ingredients: <ul> <li>125 g unsalted butter, chopped</li> <li>1 cup caster sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>2 large eggs</li> <li>¾ cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2)</li> <li>1¼ cups self-raising flour</li> <li>¾ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C. Lightly grease and flour a loaf tin.</li> <li>Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar thoroughly, adding the vanilla while mixing.</li> <li>Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add the banana and beat on low speed.</li> <li>In a separate bowl, combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt and add to the banana mixture. Continue mixing on low speed until combined, then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.</li> <li>Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 45 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then cut around the sides and turn out onto a wire rack to cool.</li> </ol> Note: This basic recipe can be enhanced by adding ½ cup of chopped walnuts, shaken with a little bit of flour, and stirred into the mixture after you’ve finished beating. You can also add a teaspoon of ground ginger if you like. Will you be trying out this delicious banana bread recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

Food & Wine

Metal found in Queensland bananas Australian police confirm

Police in Australia have confirmed they are investigating an incident where a metal object was found inside a banana, after needles were found in Queensland strawberries. Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart confirmed police were actively investigating an incident, but did not give details about where the contaminated banana was found. It comes after metal needles were found in strawberries in Queensland. "There are significant leads in relation to that [banana] matter," Stewart said. It's understood the incident with the banana was isolated and involved a person placing a metal object in a banana at a shop. <div class="sics-component__ad-space sics-component__ad-space--storybody "> Stewart said the potential for copycat events was "very real" and the strawberry investigation was ongoing. "We're focusing very, very much on the supply chain, the people involved in that, this is a very, very significant, economically powerful industry, particularly in the south-east of Queensland and obviously of great concern," he said. Stewart said there had been incidents across Australia and Queensland police were working with counterparts interstate. "There's some specific leads that we're following in relation to the banana incident – strawberries are still our major focus," he said. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it is unbelievable that any person could do this knowing the eventual harm or destruction it could do to a human life. Queensland chief health officer Jeanette Young said that there had been no further reports of needles or metal objects found in strawberries in Queensland, and only three brands had been withdrawn from the market. The state government has offered a A$100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the strawberry sabotage. New Zealand company Foodstuffs has halted all imports of Australian strawberries after needles were discovered in strawberries sold in Queensland, Victoria and NSW. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has also ordered the national food safety watchdog to assess Queensland's handling of strawberry contamination. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/107153174/metal-found-in-queensland-bananas-australian-police-confirm">Stuff.co.nz</a>. </div>

Legal

Banana, date and walnut cake with cream cheese icing

This scrumptious banana, date and walnut cake has kindly been shared by community member, Anne Taylor. It’s easy to make and tastes too good. Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 cups self-raising flour</li> <li>1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda</li> <li>½ teaspoon ground nutmeg</li> <li>2 cups pitted dates, chopped</li> <li>⅔ cup brown sugar, firmly packed</li> <li>2 cups walnuts</li> <li>¾ cup orange juice</li> <li>60g butter, melted</li> <li>2 eggs, lightly beaten</li> <li>1 cup ripe mashed bananas</li> </ul> Cream cheese icing <ul> <li>½ cup of butter, slightly softened</li> <li>8 oz. cream cheese, softened</li> <li>4 cups of icing sugar</li> <li>1 tablespoon milk</li> </ul> Method: 1. Grease a 14cm x 21cm loaf pan; line base and two long opposite sides with baking paper, extending paper five-cm above edge of pan. 2. Combine sifted flour, soda and nutmeg in a large bowl; stir in dates, walnuts and brown sugar. Make a well in the centre, add juice, butter, eggs and bananas; mix with a wooden spoon until smooth. Pour mixture into prepared pan. 3. Cook the loaf in a moderate oven, 180º C, for about one hour, or until cooked when tested. Place a sheet of foil over the cake half way through the cooking process. This will keep the loaf from burning. Stand cake in pan for five minutes; turn out onto awire rack to cool. 4. To make icing, use an electric mixer to cream butter and cream cheese on medium speed till smooth. Add milk then icing sugar one cup at a time. One all of the icing sugar is added, mix on high speed for 30 seconds to one minute. Once cake has cooled down, you are set to ice and then serve.

Food & Wine

Vegan banana, chocolate chip and oat muffins

Midnight Espresso cafe in Wellington's Cuba St is known for its decadent vegan cakes and muffins, a fact that has not been missed on local Emma Bond. "All of their vegan desserts are pretty amazing, but I'd love the recipe for its banana, chocolate chip and oat muffins to try at home," Bond said. We contacted the cafe and it happily supplied the recipe. Makes: 12 Ingredients: <ul> <li>3 cups oats</li> <li>1 cup of chocolate chips, use vegan chocolate if desired</li> <li>1 tablespoon cinnamon</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> <li>1 tablespoon baking powder</li> <li>2 tablespoons olive oil</li> <li>3 cups almond or soy milk</li> <li>3 ripe bananas, mashed</li> <li>1 tablespoon vanilla essence</li> <li>4 tablespoons linseed</li> <li>250ml cold water </li> </ul> Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line 12 muffins tins. In a blender blend linseed and water and set aside. In a large bowl combine oats, cinnamon, salt, chocolate chips and baking powder. 2. In a separate bowl add olive oil and bananas and combine, then whisk in milk, vanilla and linseed mixture. Add wet mix to dry and combine. 3, Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes. Muffins will not rise much. Midnight Espresso, 178 Cuba St, Wellington. Open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3.30pm. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Stuff.co.nz.

Food & Wine

Why you should never throw out banana peels

Banana peels might seem like an item that’s more at home in your compost bin, but there’s actually a few compelling reasons you might want to hang onto them. We’ve collected a few of the main reasons why you should never throw out banana peels. To see all these clever banana peel uses, scroll through the gallery above.

Money & Banking

Banana Boat disgrace as 50+ sunscreens fail new lab tests

A new lab test has found that seven Banana Boat sunscreens have failed to meet the advertised SPF 50+ claims. The tests were conducted by Eurofins Dermatest according to international standards and each sunscreen spray was tested 10 times. The results of the tests could lead to a potential filing of a class action lawsuit by an Australian mother and her five children. Bannister Law is taking registrations against Edgewell Personal Care Australia, the manufacturer of Banana Boat, after laboratory tests found its sunscreen sprays average ratings were SPF20 or less instead of the advertised SPF50+. "All seven aerosol varieties we tested fell well short of the marketed SPF 50+," said Charles Bannister, founder and principle of Bannister Law. "To claim SPF 50+, products need to test greater that 60+." The best performing sunscreen, Banana Boat Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, achieved an average SPF rating of 20.2. The worst performing sunscreen, Banana Boat SunComfort Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, achieved an SPF rating of 10.7 <img width="500" height="274" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7264633/1_500x274.jpg" alt="1 (47)"/> Leading the class action is a mother and her five children who claim to have been repeatedly burned despite using Banana Boat products, Ultra Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ and Kids Clear Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+. All of her five children are believed to be under the age of 10. Edgewell Personal Care rejected the test results and described them as “anomalous”. "All Banana Boat products meet the SPF claim as labelled on the pack," a company spokesperson tells CHOICE. "These results are entirely inconsistent with the testing we have conducted at Edgewell's reputable labs, in accordance with the Australian mandatory standard as regulated by the TGA." The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Department of Health body responsible for regulating sunscreens, said in May they started investigating aerosol sunscreen following public concerns. "TGA undertook preliminary testing to investigate their delivery rates," a spokesperson tells us. "We found the amount of sunscreen delivered per second differed between brands. "It is important consumers ... 'apply liberally' to ensure proper coverage of the sunscreen." The class action lawsuit is in early stages, but Charles Bannister said it will most likely go ahead. "I don't see any reason why this class action won't proceed," he told CHOICE. "I would encourage the makers of Banana Boat to resolve any issues." Sunscreen SPF claims and regulation were called into question last summer as photos of people who were burned despite applying sunscreen went viral. Since 2015, the category has come under scrutiny after a CHOICE investigation found four out of six sunscreens did not meet advertised SPF 50+ claims. Do you own or have you used any of these Banana Boat products and still suffered from sunburn? Tell us in the comments below.

News

Genius hack to make brown bananas yellow again

It turns out that you don’t have to bin your brown bananas with this easy kitchen hack that restores them to a yellow colour again. In a viral video by YouTuber Brandon Queen, he shows the simple steps that accomplish this fantastic hack. Brandon first starts by taking a rotten banana and putting it in a ziplock bag filled with rice to remove moisture. “This is very much like the concept of putting a cellphone that has been dipped in water inside of rice,” he explains. “The important thing is to make sure you get all the air out.” <iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ttjhOZjL59w?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> He then lets the banana sit for an hour and then gets a hairdryer. Setting the hairdryer to a warm setting, Brandon begins to dry the banana and the bright yellow colour beings to reappear. What is your favourite kitchen hack? Let us know in the comments below.

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Banana, date and walnut cake with cream cheese icing

Vegan banana, chocolate chip and oat muffins

Why you should never throw out banana peels

Banana Boat disgrace as 50+ sunscreens fail new lab tests

Genius hack to make brown bananas yellow again