Rat Cake and Banana Muffins

One of my little preschool friends told me today that her mom makes good "rat cake". Hmmm.....Rat Cake. "With real rats?" I asked. "Yep" she says. Her mom denies any knowledge of this recipe. Sure, don't share the recipe for using up excess rats.

I, however will share a good recipe for using excess bananas. When they turn a little brown, only one of my boys will eat them, and then only during a short window of opportunity. I just throw them in the freezer, peel and all, and worry about them later. I like the following recipe because it uses 5 bananas. They are indeed very moist.

Nuke those frozen bananas enough to make them squishy, break open one end of the peel, and squeeze them out into the mixing bowl. Put the peels into the compost bucket or worm bin. You don't have a worm bin? We'll talk.

If the nanas sit on the counter too long, fruit flies magically appear. My brother says they come into the house on the bananas. He sealed the (freshly purchased) bananas in a bag and some days later, there the little pests were. It explains a lot. Anyway, they gotta go. I make a fruit fly trap with a plastic bag. A tall skinny one like a bread bag works well. Put it inside a pitcher or vase or something if it keeps collapsing. It must stay open. Put something tempting (to fruit flies) inside, like banana peels or icky stuff from the crisper. Vinegar works in a pinch. Leave it on the counter overnight. Make sure there isn't any competition from other fruit on the counter. In the morning, SNEAK UP on the bag and grab the top shut. This must immediately leave the house. Repeat with new bags as needed.


Kona Inn Banana Muffins

1/2 cup shortening or margarine
5 very ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 cup sugar (white or brown)
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
optional: 1/2 cup walnuts

Grease and flour muffin tins or spray with non-stick spray or use those paper liners (my choice). Beat shortening or margarine with bananas until bananas are liquid and margarine is in little pieces. Mix in sugar and eggs. Mix in dry ingrdients. Fill muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees about 15 minutes. Makes 12-18 muffins.