Going Bananas

As I’ve mentioned before, we have copious amounts of bananas growing in our backyard. We were told that when the last leaf falls from the tree, the bananas are ready to cut and hang so they can ripen. 

We’ve had a bunch hanging inside this little workshop/laundry area of our house for the last 3 or 4 weeks. We’ve been anxiously awaiting the bunch of green bananas to turn yellow. Last week, one banana started and by the end of the week the entire bunch was ripe and ready to eat!

We were so excited and so was the mouse/rat/rodent who meticulously visits. He/she peels part of one banana every night and munches away until morning. What’s humorous to me is the fact that our “friend” can’t get all the peel out of the way so the inside ends of the banana are left, but the middle is completely clean! I’m also imagining our “friend” walking away with a very full belly by sunrise!

One thing that amazes me is the sheer size of a banana leaf! They are HUGE and used in a variety of ways. In the village we used them as mats to sit on or some of the kids used them as umbrellas if an unexpected shower came up or as shade if it was a super sunny day. In the garden, if any greens were gathered, you could wrap part of the leaf around it so the food would survived the trip back to the house.

Here the kids show just how BIG the leaves are...

My plan for all these bananas? 

I’ll be freezing some, making banana bread and a banana cake...if I can keep my kids from eating all them first!