Use Up Those Ripe Bananas - Thrifty Thursdays

Bananas can be a great bargain, especially if they're on the verge of getting too ripe. Grocery stores regularly mark such fruit down to ridiculously low levels. If you see some almost too ripe bananas that aren't marked down, ask the produce manager -- he or she will usually do so on the spot.

So what can you do with too ripe bananas? Peel and freeze them to use in smoothies. The frozen banana helps make the smoothie thick without having to add ice which can water down the flavor. Be sure to peel the bananas before freezing, as it's almost impossible to do so later. Plastic zipper bags are wonderful for storing individual portions of frozen bananas, making Smoothie making a snap!

So what else to do with those healthy, delicious bananas before they turn completely brown? Try one of these recipes at the links below:

• Maple Banana Hot Cereal -- This easy to make cereal recipe dresses up farina or Cream of Wheat or oatmeal with healthy bananas, cinnamon and a touch of sweetness from maple syrup.
• Banana Stuffed French Toast -- Stuffed French Toast always makes its recipient feel special. Why not treat your family, or better yet, yourself, to this indulgent breakfast treat.
• Wheaties Banana Split -- Top with fruit and this dish is still your breakfast of champions.
• Banana French Silk Pie -- This very elegant dessert is surprisingly easy to make.
• Banana Peach Compote Baby Food - Bananas are rich in potassium and fiber and one of the easiest foods to prepare for your baby.
• Bananas with Coconut Cream -- This unique quick and easy recipe provides a wonderful way to make an unusual and delicious dessert from almost too-ripe bananas.
• Old Fashioned Southern Banana Pudding --
  
• Bananas Floodtide (really Bananas Foster) -- Recipe from Connecticut's Inn at Mystic, a quick to prepare banana dessert that began in New Orleans -- flame for a spectacular presentation.
• Jacques Torres' Chocolate Soup with Caramelized Bananas -- This unique dessert consists of a hot chocolate soup over caramelized bananas and topped with a spectacular meringue crown.
• Warm Banana Upside Down Cakes with Hot Chocolate Sauce (pictured top of this post) -- This decadent cake, rich with the flavors of chocolate and bananas, has to be tasted to be believed.
• Banana Meringue Pie -- A light diabetic friendly recipe.
  
• Awesome Banana Walnut Shake -- (pictured right)
  
• Frozen Banana Daiquiris -- This fruity frozen version is one of this drink's most popular incarnations.

Banana Bread and Variations
Without a doubt banana bread is one of the world's favorite ways to use ripe bananas. We have a recipe to fit nearly everyone's tastes and dietary requirements.

• Banana Poppyseed Muffins - These tempting muffins are like banana bread in a smaller more portable package, perfect for lunch boxes or a quick morning snack on the go. They freeze well too.
• Strawberry Macadamia Nut Banana Bread -- This great recipe by John Winkler of San Pedro, California, was a finalist in the 1997 Oxnard, California Strawberry Festival's Berry Off Cooking Contest.
• Guatemalan Banana Bread -- Here's a unique twist on banana bread from Guatemala featuring coconut milk, raisins, and cashews.
• Alabama Banana Bread -- This dense rich banana bread is great cold or warmed. It freezes exceptionally well.
• Healthy Banana Bread -- Leanne Ely created this healthy recipe the whole family will love. Perfect for a healthy lunch box or brown bag addition, it keeps in the fridge for up to 10 days.
• Gluten Free Banana Bread -- Not only is this tasty banana bread perfect for folks with gluten sensitivities, it's also vegan.
• Whole Grain Banana Walnut Muffins -- Perfect for the kids' lunch box or as an after-school treat, these moist mini muffins make good snacking anytime.

Thrifty Thursdays is a blog event created by my fried Amanda Formaro from Amanda's Cookin' blog. I've agreed to participate, so look for a frugal themed post here each Thursday. In addition to reading my posts, be sure to visit Amanda's blog for a round-up of all the thrifty home and cooking tips and recipes that came in this week from folks around the blogosphere.