Banana helps Sleep Apnea Patients (keyboard damage alert)

[kteague]

I have a grandson who likes bananas (especially banana pudding) but his allergies stop him from eating them. First his chin and neck starts itching, and his throat starts tickling then swells. Wish there was a way short of shots to densensitize him so he could enjoy them.

Yesterday I called my adventurous cooking friend who has introduced me to things I can't even pronounce. As a flight attendant for the corporate jet wing ( ) of a major airline and a worldwide diner, she sometimes "practices" new dishes on friends and family. I was quite smug as I dailed her number to shock her with my bacon/banana venture. Her response - "That sounds so yummy, I've got to try that." And she will. But this may very well be the only time in life I get to 1-Up her in the kitchen. Thanks for that opportunity, Doug.

Doug, for someone not from this part of the world, you certainly have some insider insights. I have a brother who is an Okie. Chicken fried steak's popularity did migrate to my part of the country, but mostly in the country style diners. Though I grew up on southern country food, as a young adult I was was taught how to cook the most popular "soul food" dishes, different but not too dissimilar from what I grew up on. Brown instead of white gravy. More often rice or homemade mac & cheeses than potatoes. Sweet potato pie instead of pumpkin. Collard and other greens instead of spinach. Cornbread dressing. The person who taught me and I laughed at some of the cultural differences, like how she couldn't figure out why white folks cooked the bulb of the turnip and threw away the best part - the greens. By the way, to the best of my memory, I was an adult before I ate food cooked on a grill, pizza, a cheese ball, or an omelet. Ok, end of stroll down memory lane.

Another take on the bacon... The appetizer most likely to be devoured at a gathering is bacon wrapped water chestnuts secured with a toothpick and baked till the bacon is crisp, dipped in a ketchup + brown sugar sauce, and baked again for just a few minutes for the sauce to thicken (but not burn). Ummmm.

One question Doug, when you said to "grill" the bacon/bananas, did that mean an outdoor grill or a griddle type skillet? I did the latter but wonder if I missed out on something by not fixing it on what I call a grill.

Kathy

[Babette]

Oh that sounds easy. Wrap pieces of banana in pieces of bacon and bake them. Easier than frying. Unless it makes a mess of the oven.

Good stories Kathy!!!
B.

[dsm]

Kathy

Grill for us is the top section of the oven, some models it is an element in the top of the oven compartment & other stoves it is its own small compartment. Those (like ours at home) have a slide in tray that can be raised & lowered from the 'grill' element at the top. When we don't
use our electric toaster we use the griller to make toast.

I think grill in many other countries means cooking like we do when using a BBQ & menas cooking on the side that has the 'grill' rather than the flat hotplate.

So I guess we have 2 meanings for what grill means.

The bananas in bacon can be fried in a pan, placed under a griller (Aussie meaning), I am sure it could be done in an oven but that might overcook the bananas. The pan/grill approach puts the heat into the bacon.

Doug

[Babette]

DSM, thanks for the "griller" clarification! That would be a "broiler" in my family. Except BF. He's a former restaurant chef, and they call it a "salamander" - but that's for a big restaurant broiler - not a home model.

I sure miss the old style broiler I had in one apartment. It was completely separate from the oven, and cranked up and down. Made lovely garlic toast. Rachel Ray has one on her "30 minutes" show.

Cheers,
B.

[JeffH]

DSM

I live in Oklahoma and I assure you chicken fried steak is going to be found at most every restaurant in this state. Most eating joints that have lunch specials during the week are probably guaranteed to offer chicken fried steak as one of the options for the day.

BTW, I was with Patty (my GF) this morning at the local hospital. She had to have a procedure and while I was waiting I went to the cafeteria to get breakfast. Of course they had biscuits and gravy in the hospital cafeteria...LOL.


JeffH

[Goofproof]

Astroglide and Banana smoothie, anyone?
B.

On the kitchen table! Jim

I Remember!

[goose]

Banana....yummy!!!!!

Hmmm. Babs, I've always looked at a Salamander as a slimy lizard thing.......So we've gone from banana smoothies, to bacon wrapped banana with or without astroglide, and frying up lizards???

I'll give the banana idea a shot.....may not get me off my little buddy, but it'll taste good.....

cheers
goose

[preemiern]

Another take on the bacon... The appetizer most likely to be devoured at a gathering is bacon wrapped water chestnuts secured with a toothpick and baked till the bacon is crisp, dipped in a ketchup + brown sugar sauce, and baked again for just a few minutes for the sauce to thicken (but not burn). Ummmm.
Kathy

OMG Kathy!!!!! Now that sounds absolutely heavenly!!!!!! Think I'm gonna go buy me some water chestnuts and bacon!! Now...I just wonder how many water chestnuts I need to make a meal!!

[preemiern]

I don't MIND the taste of AstroGlide, but I don't recommend it. It's Silicone, after all.

LOL,
B.

Hey...is Astroglide non fat?

[kopoloff]

This cure is worse than the disease

Give me OSA before bananas any day.

A couple of years ago a cyclone wiped out most of the banana crop in North Queensland, which supplies the bulk of Australia's wants (I won't use the word needs, since no-one actually needs bananas)

There is no truth to the suggestion that I started the cyclone, although I might try it next year!!

K

[dsm]

This cure is worse than the disease

Give me OSA before bananas any day.

A couple of years ago a cyclone wiped out most of the banana crop in North Queensland, which supplies the bulk of Australia's wants (I won't use the word needs, since no-one actually needs bananas)

There is no truth to the suggestion that I started the cyclone, although I might try it next year!!

K

Jeeze mate - youse lot are are flamin outtayer minds - you gotta be from vic or sa - them nanies are the fruit of the gods.
You tryin ta tell me youse 'z neva eaten vegiemite & nanies on toast ????? c'mon, I mean c-'-m-o-n no little aussie bleeder
grew up without a munch of v'mite & nanies - surely ??? (not in my Oz )



DSM

[kopoloff]

Is it true you had to have two slices, one for each mouth, or are you one of the ones with the off centre neck and a bulge between your shoulders?

[kopoloff]

I think I'd prefer OSA, CPAP, XPAP, gas, bloating, dry throat, mouth breathing, rainout, leaking, lip flutter . . . . . . . . to even thinking of eating bananas.

K

See, dsm, this is the depth of my feeling

K

[greenvelvetdragon]

I think I'd prefer OSA, CPAP, XPAP, gas, bloating, dry throat, mouth breathing, rainout, leaking, lip flutter . . . . . . . . to even thinking of eating bananas.

K

See, dsm, this is the depth of my feeling

K

mine too, well said K

GVD-who lives surrounded by evil banana trees in North Queensland......

[roster]

..........
Hmmm. Babs, I've always looked at a Salamander as a slimy lizard thing.......So we've gone from banana smoothies, to bacon wrapped banana with or without astroglide, and frying up lizards???

......goose

I have been doing a lot of hiking this spring and in preparing for some longer hikes I was just reading the SAS Survival Handbook, http://books.google.com/books?id=65-o2q ... =4#PPP1,M1 , when I came across this.

Salamanders and newts, found in and near water, can be caught like frogs and are just as edible.

Frying destroys their delicate flavor. Better if lightly steamed with garlic, butter and a pinch of salt.