Wednesday, February 5, 2014

SNOW ORDINARY BANANA

 
 

 

The GATHER blog today featured the picture of a perfect, yellow banana lying in a snow-bank.  It reminded me instantly of an ago, an even farther-back-in-time ago, and of a just-now thing which sorta tied the whole thing together.

 

Chris Dad liked a GOOD RIPE banana.  I don’t remember a time in their house that there wasn’t a big bunch of them draped into one of those BIG clear glass bowls---you know, the pressed-glass ones, nearly punchbowl size, that came with the set you got a piece of every week with a 25.00 purchase at Kroger?  
 
 
 
 
 

Every house in five counties had at least some of that stuff---the pattern so recognizable as what it IS, that it seems to be the emblem of every seventies dining room in the South.
 
 
rubylane photos
 

There were goblets to start---getting everybody hooked on a set of something you had to get at least eight of, and the smaller goblets, and then the sherbets and sandwich plates and other footed bowls leading up to the great big ole baby-bath size that cost another five dollars on top of the minimum.

Chris’ Mom had every piece ever offered in her china cabinet, and in the kitchen/den, the big old bookcase divider was always topped with that bowl of bananas.   And his Dad liked them RIPE.   Ripe on over into the stage that they grew limp---too far gone even for Banana Bread---and smelled like nail-polish remover, drawing clouds of Alabama gnats like the crowds on Game Day at the Tide.

 
 
 


I'd handed Chris a banana the other morning as he went out the door, just in case he needed a quick snack, and then yesterday he brought it back in, all browned and bruised and voluptuously dying from the outside in from its freezing two-days-and-nights in the car.

 

It was still firm and heavy in its skin, and remembering back to the days of frozen ones, removed from Miss Avis' freezer at the Milk Bar---yes Milk Bar---our small town was too provincial for a Dairy Bar, I guess---I gave it a try.

 

She'd take out one of those banana-sicles on a stick, dip the whole thing into some sort of chocolate stuff that froze instantly into a hazy crisp coat, and hand it over for a dime.   Bliss.




Anyway, yesterday, I peeled the one he'd brought back in, and marveled at the creamy cold absolute BANANA-ness of it, its own perfect moment captured inside that elderly exterior.   It was like the banana ice cream from decades of Summers, or a pudding that needs no spoon. 

Do try one, but start with a fresh.   It has to get really ugly on the outside from the freezing, kinda like the time you spilled the Bottle of Bonne Bell 10-0-6 on your brown suede loafers.   Then peel and find your own bliss.  Chocolate optional. 

Hope you're all well and warm!

 

 

4 comments:

  1. Frozen chocolate dipped bananas were one of my favorite boardwalk treats when I was a kid. I can remember walking down the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD trying to find the balance between a melting banana and brain freeze!

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  2. Never tried a frozen one before but my grandfather always had sliced bananas and oranges every day for breakfast. Just the smell of an orange transports me back to Granny's breakfast table sitting on a stool so I could reach the table.
    Donna

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  3. Thanks for the shoutout Rachel. I don't remember the crystal. Seems like they quit doing that sort of thing when I became interested in housekeeping. I wish I'd been around when they were giving out chintz though. I love all of those dishes and what was cheap then is very expensive today.

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  4. Oh my, I have never had a banana like the one you described. When a banana looks over ripe I throw them in the freezer for banana bread one day when I feel energetic. Or...only to throw them out after a much too long rest in the freezer. The banana treat looks so good.

    I do love the goblets you shared and you may remember my post about finding 15 of them for 25 cents a piece in a thrift store. I kind of remember your comment about them. I love the goblets and they look so pretty when setting a table for twelve. Not uncommon in this home as I have a big family. They were all here for chili dinner when my cousin Bob was here. The goblets were enjoying much discussion around my nine foot table. My family knows how much I adore finding a bargain and setting a pretty table. "Even for a chili dinner" HA!

    Since I started reading all of your recent posts, several inches of snow has fallen. We are snowed in for sure. Such fun with just me and my hubby. Also, very beautiful. Good thing we are retired and can love being snowed in. (once in a while)

    Love,
    Jeanne

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