Some people might call them unappetizing, I call them amazing. The longer they sit, the better. Their outside may scream “I’M ROTTEN” but their inside softly oozes, “I’m a delicious, tropical dreamboat.” (No, literally.)
GIF courtesy of brunchandanepisode.blogspot.com
Overripe bananas, whether you love ‘em, or hate ‘em, they shouldn’t go to waste over a few brown, soft spots. If you don’t find brown bananas a-peeling (pun intended) on their own, here are five ways you can give those edible boomerangs new life, based off of the beloved characters from NBC’s Parks and Recreation.
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Donna Meagle: Banana Face Mask
Photo by Ellen Gibbs
Oh, Donna. Always there to remind us of what really matters in life: ourselves. That’s right. Put yourself first. How can you perform well for others if you don’t start with self-care? That’s what I thought. So go ahead — call in for a mental health day and make this banana face mask. Donna would understand.
Thought bananas were just for eating? Think again. Treat yo’self to a spa day, exfoliate your skin using a simple face mask recipe, or even repair hair using the restorative properties held within the mighty ‘nanner.
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
Chris Traeger: Smoothies or Nice Cream
Photo by Nick Schmidt
Chris would recommend throwing those overripe bananas into a certified organic smoothie blended with acai powder and sprinkled with cacao nibs. Then he’d try coercing you to get off the couch and sign-up for a triathlon. Nice try, Chris, but I think I’ll just take the smoothie and go.
Peel those monkey batons, throw them in the freezer and use them for smoothies. Better yet, make this healthy banana “nice cream” and while you’re at it, top it with one of these delicious add-ons.
GIF courtesy of tumblr.com
Andy Dwyer: Cleaner and Damage Eraser
Photo by Becky Hughes
A real innovator. The same man who brought you the super straw and “repaired” a leaky faucet with a sock, truly deserves the title of do-it-yourselfer. Did you know before Andy made his way up in the Parks Department of Pawnee, he was a shoe shiner? Unfortunately, the banana peel polishing trick put him out of business.
That leather handbag you scored at the thrift store? Take a banana peel to it and rub. The years of wear and tear practically vanish with this natural polisher. Still have extra peels lying around? Get your feet ready for sandal season by treating your dry, cracked heels. What about a necklace that needs some TLC? Make silver shine by buffing it with banana peels.
GIF courtesy of tumblr.com
Ron Swanson: Pest control
Photo by Ellen Gibbs
A man of many skills, Ron Swanson will gladly build you a canoe using only his hands and a hatchet in the course of one day. He’s the real McCoy, the last frontiersman, and an all around Patriot for America. He hunts wild game, large and small. He loves the feeling of victory, even if it’s just from trapping a few measly fruit flies. Ron would definitely approve this simple fruit fly snare — I mean — trap.
Are fruit flies weaseling their way through your screen window? No worries, just make a fruit fly trap. PS — I’ve done this multiple times and it works wonders. To make your trap last even longer, add apple cider vinegar with a squirt of dish soap to the mix.
GIF courtesy of washingtonpost.com
Leslie Knope: Banana Bread
Photo by Kendra Valkema
Classic. Reliable. Never fails. Am I talking about Leslie or banana bread? Or brownies? In fact, I’m talking about all three. Leslie Knope won’t let down the city of Pawnee, just like these recipes that include overripe bananas won’t let down your taste buds.
But if you don’t like banana bread, make foolproof banana pancakes, banana muffins, and even brownies with banana (trust us on this one). Browned bananas can work like your ingredient-binder-sidekick. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. Join the movement. #AllBananasMatter.
Next time you have old bananas laying around, just ask yourself, “What would Leslie Knope do?”
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