About
Some horticulturists suspect that the banana was the earth's first fruit. Banana plants have been in cultivation since the time of recorded history. One of the first records of bananas dates back to Alexander the Great's conquest of India where he first discovered bananas in 327 B.C.
Storage
Bananas that require further ripening should be left at room temperature, but away from heat or direct sun. To speed ripening, place them in a loosely closed paper bag. Putting an apple in the bag will further speed the process. Once ripened to your liking, bananas can be held at room temperature for a day or two. Then, you can store them in the refrigerator to slow down ripening; although the skins will turn dark, the fruits will remain perfectly edible. Never refrigerate unripe bananas: The exposure to cold interrupts their ripening cycle, and it will not resume even if the fruits are returned to room temperature.
Vegan Banana Muffins
- 1 1/2 cups of spelt flour
- 1/2 cup of whole oats
- 1/4 cup of ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed well
- 1/3 cup sunflower oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 3/4 cup ground walnuts (omit to make school friendly)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
