[Ninja Baker] Going Bananas

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Mar 28, 2011, 1:51:18 AM3/28/11

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Are you stressed? Go bananas! It’s okay.

And if your ducks are in a row, all the more reason to go bananas!

Rock the boat! Variety is the spice of life.

Here are some tried and true Ninja Baker and friends going banana suggestions:

Pay someone else’s parking meter anonymously. A quarter or two will not break the bank.

If you’re a penny pinching generic brand buying guy or gal, treat yourself to designer condiments or cereals.

(Try the plebeian offering if you're magnetized to the

higher price tag.)

What do you see? A superhero? An insect?

Read the clouds. Remember when you stared out the backseat window on family trips? "Ooo, that one is a dinosaur! Oh, look! A turtle!"

Secretly leave notes on the windshields of car. Nice ones. Messages such as “You’re great!” may make someone's day.

Dance on the beach　On the street. Do spin turns down deserted corridors.

Go swing on the playground. Sure you might look silly to some. But who cares? It’s so much fun. Especially if you’re chatting with a kidlet. If you don’t have a child, borrow one. (After asking permission, of course.)

Windmill fun in the Netherlands.
Photo courtesy of David Cassidy.

Maria Cassidy in front of the Taj Mahal.
Photo courtesy of David Cassidy.

Jump for joy!

Camel riders in Morocco.
Photo courtesy of David Cassidy.

Explore new neighborhoods. Drive in another direction.

Save gas: Ride a camel. Go to Morocco. Or the San Diego Zoo.

Or hop on a bike!

Maria Cassidy bicycling around Santa Monica.
Photo courtesy of David Cassidy..

Take a risk. If you’re 58 and fantasize about winning the next American Idol but refuse singing lessons because you know the cutoff age is 28; take the lessons anyway. There’s always America’s Got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent. Who knows? You could be the mature version of Justin Bieber, the overnight tween wonder discovered on YouTube.

If you’re interested in eating and enjoying everything you want guilt free – read Geneen Roth's Women, Food and God. Be gentle with yourself. The suggested guidelines in the book are simple. But not easy. My mastery of Ms. Roth's principles are far from perfect. I appreciate, however, the aha moments which lead to peace with food.

Now that you can eat anything…Go bananas with the following recipes

The Ninja Baker's Mini Banana Cream Pie

A standard American fave…

Banana Cream Pie – the mini version:

Ingredients:

Mini graham cracker crusts

The Cake Boss’ Italian custard

(The recipe is found in Buddy Valastro’s Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia)

Ninja Baker Note: . As mentioned in the recipe, the more you beat the mixture over the heat, a thicker custard will appear.

A viable option is to try the Italian Cream at the Best Recipes site.

Fresh Bananas

Whipped cream

Thanks to the Keebler elves assembly is simple. Into the crusts spoon in your custard. Garnish with sliced bananas. Pipe whipped cream on top. And if serving immediately, add a few more slices of banana if you like. If not, place your mini pie into the fridge.

Banana Macarons

Do you wish to go bananas in a more refined fashion? Try:

Le Cordon Bleu Macarons with a Ninja Baker Banana Twist

Ingredients:

Until your scale says 50 grams, to ¼ cup coconut flour, sifted, keep adding ground almonds, also sifted.

80 grams powdered sugar, sifted

45 grams egg whites

(Readily available if you are making the Cake Boss’ Italian Custard)

20 grams sugar or superfine sugar

A capful or so of banana extract

(Sandra Lee says it’s a teaspoon but I tend to think some non-McCormick brands have smaller caps.)

Yellow food coloring

(The gel kind is best because it doesn’t tamper with liquid levels.)

1. Combine sifted almonds, coconut flour and sifted powdered sugar

2. Whip egg whites rapidement, lift up to get air – with a Kitchen Aid – or by hand.

(Skip arm exercises at the gym if you choose the latter.)

3. Add the granulated sugar…very little at a time

4. Pour in banana extract and yellow food coloring

5. Mix the sifted almonds, coconut flour and powdered sugar in with the egg whites and granulated sugar.

6. Mix extremely well

(Cracked tops are allegedly the signs of under mixing.)

7. Put the mixture into a piping bag. Use a size 8 tip

8. Pipe flat circles onto the baking sheet. Press with finger tips to press down tips if necessary

Bake at 160 degrees a la France so bake at USA 290 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

(You may need more time if your macarons are on the medium to large size.)

Constantly open and close door every 2 minutes or so for up to a minute.

Louis XIV and his courtesans at Versailles consumed their share of sweets.
Maybe even les macarons.
Photo courtesy of David Cassidy.

Cool the macarons.

Sandwich chocolate glaze between the cookies.

Chocolate Glaze

Ingredients:

1 tub of Cool Whip

6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate

Place all ingredients into a bowl in the microwave for one minute. Stir. Put the bowl back into the microwave for another 30 seconds.

Stir again. Until all the chocolate bits are dissolved.

Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.

Slather chocolate glaze on a macaron and sandwich with another.

Voila. Bon appetit!

The Ninja Baker's Mini Boston Cream Pie

Back to the shores of the Colonies…

Mini Boston Cream Pies

History buffs: Click here if you want to find out why the cake was called a pie. Other nifty tidbits about the Parker House original are also discussed.

What you’ll need:

White cupcakes

Banana Filling

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

Instant banana pudding

1 packet of powdered whipped topping

Mix all ingredients together into fluffy deliciousness.

Mini Boston Cream Pie
Photo courtesy of David Watkinson

Chocolate Glaze

Ingredients:

1 tub of Cool Whip

6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate

Place all ingredients into a bowl in the microwave for one minute. Stir. Put the bowl back into the microwave for another 30 seconds.

Stir again. Until all the chocolate bits are dissolved.

Let it sit for at least 15 minutes.

On top of the cupcakes, spoon in filling.

Drizzle glaze on top.

Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

Wishing you carefree fun.

Photo courtesy of David Cassidy.

The Ninja Baker