Perfection in a Peel?

This week, credit goes to Jill Easton for bringing bananas and all their wonders to my attention. Of course, I had to share them with you. I've never been a big banana fan, but my kids love them, and every once in a while I'm mysteriously compelled to eat one out of the blue. My husband gets incredibly itchy ears after eating a banana, and we finally found out that it's an allergic reaction weirdly related to ragweed (hayfever). It only happens if he eats raw bananas, so if he eats banana bread, he's fine. So, anyway, whether you go monkey for bananas or not, you might find this information interesting too. And remember, if you're going to buy bananas, BUY ORGANIC.

A banana gives an instant, sustained, and substantial boost of energy. Research has shown that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout (the banana is the number one fruit among the world's leading athletes). But energy isn't the fruit's only benefit. Take a look at this list of purported health boosts from the beautiful banana...

Depression:
Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood, and generally make you feel happier.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so, if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. (This is one I've GOT to try).
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Ulcers:
The banana neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature.
Smoking:
The B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium found in bananas help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas regularly can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

P.S. I was still feeling stressed after a miserable migraine yesterday, so I started my day with a banana, and who knows if it's just the power of suggestion, but it felt like a soothing breakfast for my tense tummy. Worth a try!

Make Your Own Granola Bars

Eons ago, back when I worked for the Forest Service in Washington State, a friend of mine introduced me to a great little recipe for energy bars on the back of the Grape-Nuts cereal box. During long days in the field, food was quite the commodity. The trick was packing enough to get you through, but not more than you could comfortably carry. And living on a seasonal paycheck made scrimping a priority as well. Those energy bars were just the right snack because they saved me money, gave me a boost, and tasted good too.
As it turns out, circumstances are not so different today, except now it's my kids I have to feed in order to sustain them through long days in the outback (well, okay, school). Of course, I want to provide healthy food for their lunches, but I cringe every time I buy a box of organic granola bars that costs too much and creates a bunch of trash in the process. So, the other day I was flipping through my jumbled recipe box and happened upon that old energy bar recipe, ripped right off the cereal box so many years ago.
While the Grape-Nuts recipe is good, it begged me to make it better. For one, it calls for corn syrup, which these days generally contains high fructose corn syrup (a nasty no-no). It also calls for an additional cup of sugar, which I don't think it needs, and “reduced fat” peanut butter. Reduced fat just rubs me wrong. If nature made something fat, leave it that way. So, I did some tinkering and came up with a tasty snack bar recipe—for kids and grownups alike—that can be made in bulk and frozen. If you hate any of the ingredients, just substitute the same amount in cereal or something else you like. And feel free to double or triple the recipe to save time later on.

Jen's Super Snack Bars
1 cup honey (preferably local raw)
¾ cup peanut butter (preferably organic)
3 ½ cups cereal (Grape-Nuts, Rice Krispies, Ezekial Sprouted Grain cereal, or a mixture of whatever you like)
½ cup chocolate chips (mini-sized chips are fun) or dried fruit pieces
¼ cup finely shredded coconut
¼ cup chopped almonds

Bring the honey and peanut butter just to boiling in a saucepan, stirring frequently. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients and then add the honey/peanut butter. Stir to coat the dry stuff well. Press the mixture firmly into casseroles dishes, pie pans, etc. I make them about an inch and a half thick. Cool and cut into bars. Freeze individual bars in Ziplocks, foil, or containers—and try not to eat them all at once!