Bananananananas

An elementary school in the UK banned bananas for two years because of a teacher's extreme allergy to bananas. This story reminded me of the nature of food allergies in recent years. It has almost gotten to the point where it is necessary to talk to people about what they can or can't eat before you invite them over for dinner.

I am not a big fan of people with allergies who feel the world just knows about their allergy and should adjust to them. When I worked at Johnson & Wales there was a girl who came up to get a pastry and it looked and smelled like there was an apple in the pastry, but the girl picked it up without asking me what kind of pastry it was. She came back 2 minutes later screaming at me about how she's allergic to apples and I should have warned her. I know that everyone needs to be cooperative about food allergies, but it is the person's job with the allergy to ask questions and know what they're eating.

Some allergies are very serious. I have a very good friend who can not eat raw almonds and she has to bring an epipen with her wherever she goes, because if she eats a raw almond her throat will close up and she could die. I have often heard people say that people with food allergies are over dramatic, but this is a serious health concern and eating can be a hazardous and scary process to these people; not the enjoyable delicious process I know and love.

If you are dealing with someone who has a food allergy it is important to be very careful about what you are cooking with and what kind of tools you are using. If someone has a peanut allergy, you can't make a peanut butter and jelly with a knife you are using to cut the bananas foster for dessert. I know this sounds silly, but there was another baking and pastry major at JWU that had a peanut allergy and couldn't even wash dishes with peanut butter on them. Some people are just that sensitive. So not only is it important to be upfront and know about allergies, but then make sure you are extra careful about anything that touches the food the person with the allergies is going to eat.

This poor teacher in the UK can not get anywhere near bananas, which is supposedly an allergy possibly related to an allergy to latex. I am not a huge banana eater, but it is a good snack and a great source of potassium. I found this recipe online this morning and honestly can't wait to try it. If any of you try it or a variation of it before I do let me know how it went.

2 Tablespoons Lime Juice (if you don't have limes I would try oranges or lemons, something acidic)
2 Tablespoons Honey (try brown sugar if your cupboards don't have any honey)
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Cinnamon
Strawberries with the green part chopped off (hulled) and cut in half
Bananas sliced into 1/2 inch thick round slices
Wooden Skewers (These are probably readily available now near all of the grilling stuff in the grocery store)

Whisk the juice, honey, oil, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Throw in the bananas and strawberries and toss around. Skewer the fruit pieces with as many pieces as you want per skewer. Keep the glaze that's still in the bowl.

Make sure the grill is well oiled and there are no pieces of hamburger or steak from what you were grilling for dinner. Grill for 2 minutes covered on one side. Brush the rest of the glaze over the fruit and grill on the other side for two minutes. If the fruit seems to be sticking try to release it with a spatula.

You can of course use other fruit. Peaches, nectarines, and pineapple are delicious grilled. Experiment and remember not to turn off the grill after you're done with your famous grilled chicken.

Happy Eating!!!

Emily