National Banana Day!

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Most of us are aware of and love the fabulous fruit that is yellow and can be easily taken along for a snack or lunch because it comes wrapped in its own easy open container. But did you know there are 29 main varieties of bananas and thousands of variations? From small Red Bananas, to the Cavendish bananas, we all are familiar with to the huge Hua Moa banana that often reaches 4 inches in diameter..

They come in different shapes from the Apple banana to the Jamaican banana that is often used instead of a plantain. The lady finger banana is a small or baby size banana and straight. The Mongee banana of Japan is unique because it is grown in subzero temperatures, and the skin is thin and edible. Plantains really are a banana variety and offer a firm starchy texture that is often used in Jamaican cooking.

My kids love Red Bananas with their long shelf, life and small size. It made them perfect for small hands and snack snacks. The deep purple red makes them easily recognizable. Señorita bananas of the Philippines hate cold. While they are seldom found on a grocery shelf, the can often be purchased with farmers at a local market.

Banana recipes are global so it's easy to find them in nearly any breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert recipe book or magazine. Everything from chocolate-covered frozen bananas to Bananas Flambe.

Bananas are so embedded in our culture. There are banana snacks, characters, books and more.

Here are some of our favorite items from Amazon:

Freeze-Dried Bananas Offer Great Travel Snack for Kids and Adults

Second Banana by Keith Graves

Let's Go Bananas Retro T-shirt Design

Funny Banana Throw Blanket as listed on Amazon

Stress Relief Bananas for Therapy, Finger Movement or Sensory Processing

Once Upon A Banana by Jennifer Armstrong

Silly Banana Inspired Tshirt for the whole family

Banana Trophy Award For Fun!

Favorite Banana, Oatmeal & Chocolate Chip Recipe

While banana recipes can range from breads, puddings, waffles, pancakes, and more, the following three ingredient banana oatmeal cookie can be found HERE.

• 2-mashed bananas

• 1 1/2 cups rolled or quick oats

Combine and let’s sit for 30 minutes

• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (could also be walnuts, almonds, carmel chips, coconut or other dried fruit, too)

Add Chocolate Chips. Stir Evenly.

Spray Cookie Sheet

Drop 1 tablespoon size cookie dough onto cookie sheet with space in-between

Should make about 16-18 cookies

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes, until Golden Brown

Let sit on pan for at least 5 minutes before moving to store in air tight container in fridge.

So no matter what you’re doing today, celebrate the incredible, edible fruit: the banana. Eat one, cook with one, read a book on one, or buy a T-shirt, but celebrate this incredibly diverse, crazy delicious food.

Until next time,

More info on a varieties of bananas available.

More Fun Facts about National Banana Day.