Do people still have Fruitbowls?

[butterscotch]

@Chilliboot

I think that banana stands were popular around the same time as those mug trees, equally pointless all all things considered but vaguely similar, probably about what was in vogue at the time

I don’t remember why I got the banana hook/stand but I know for sure it’s not because it was in vogue. That’s the one reason I don’t buy things.

I think it might have had to do with ripening or fruit flies/bugs.

[PixieKnuckles]

@Bruce

I used to have banana trees in the garden but they are a lot of work, they only produce one crop and have to be removed so the next tree can grow from suckers (it’s a lot of useless waste material).

Wow this is interesting to know!

@Bruce

Am very fond of dates,so I love Ramadam as the supermarket stocks tons of them, they are so much nicer than those indifferent dry specimens my old man used to buy at Christmas in the UK. Remember those? long boxes with a plastic fork - very variable quality.

We can still get them over here, in the local fruit shops anyway. I do enjoy dates, but oh so fiddly and messy to get the stone out first before eating! And yes, I don’t think I have eaten a fresh date…must make that a mission.

@butterscotch

I think it might have had to do with ripening or fruit flies/bugs.

I just had a quick look at the purpose of them, and couldn’t find one. I did discover that you are supposed to separate the bananas entirely from the stem, so I don’t see the point in hanging them in a bunch in the first place!

[Bruce]

@PixieKnuckles

We can still get them over here, in the local fruit shops anyway. I do enjoy dates, but oh so fiddly and messy to get the stone out first before eating!

They’ve usually had the stone removed here and are just so juicy, the ones of my childhood seem like an awful memory.

[Chilliboot]

I’m pretty sure it was about ripening the bananas as you say and keeping them away from other fruit, it’s just the similar style and design that brought back memories of mug trees, it might have been an 80’s thing.

[Chilliboot]

These three are somewhat beyond hanging and gibbeting, banana bread here we come

[PixieKnuckles]

Delicious…I made banana bread too…it’s lovely. (Just realised it was 6 months ago though, heavens I need to rustle up some more!)

I have just made a strawberry and kiwi smoothie though, that was pretty yum

[AnnieS]

@Maree

I love a fruit bowl but we haven’t had one for a couple of years now because of those pesky little fruit flies.

Ah yes that’s the other reason the fruit is in the fridge. Those little flies are so annoying, especially when they end up in your tea.

[AnnieS]

@Bruce

Lemons I leave on the tree until I need them.

I’ll bet they taste much better than the ones we buy in UK supermarkets. I have a lemon tree which once had a couple of lemons (since then has gone on strike). The lemons were the most exquisite I’ve ever smelt/tasted.

[Bruce]

@AnnieS

I’ll bet they taste much better than the ones we buy in UK supermarkets. I have a lemon tree which once had a couple of lemons (since then has gone on strike). The lemons were the most exquisite I’ve ever smelt/tasted.

There’s an expression here, “If you have to buy lemons, you’ve got no friends”. In the season my senior’s club has people trying to give away bags of mangos, persimons, lemons, oranges, mandarins etc from their trees. The jam/marmalade makers used to take kilos of kumquots from my tree.

When I bought this place over 40 years ago it had a fig tree and half a dozen lemon trees unfortunately the former had to go to make way for my workshop and most of the latter got wasp gaul (I think it was). I had an orange and a mandarin tree but moved them because of an extension, they seemed to object and their fruit suddenly became sour to the point I chopped them down.

Apart from the kumquot and lemons my only harvest now is nasturtiums which self seed like a weed and very hot chillies which didn’t survive this cold winter.

[AnnieS]

@Bruce

Apart from the kumquot and lemons my only harvest now is nasturtiums which self seed like a weed and very hot chillies which didn’t survive this cold w

I love nasturniums & wish they self seeded - I nurture them to thrive. I know that some like to eat them but I just like to look at their vibrant blooms. But I’d be happy with just lemons. They are such a staple ingredient in so many dishes. Plus you have all the vit C you will ever need.

[Bruce]

@AnnieS

I love nasturniums & wish they self seeded - I nurture them to thrive. I know that some like to eat them but I just like to look at their vibrant blooms.

They are my salad staple I love the peppery taste and the flowers make the salad look inviting even though I am not a great salad maker. The leaves add a lot to the taste of a cheese sandwich.

[Muddy]

@Bathsheba

I was aware bananas shouldn’t be with other fruit, but I had no idea about all the others! I read somewhere that the ethylene in bananas is emitted from the stalk, so if you wrap the stalks in clingfilm it will keep the gas contained and slow down the ripening process. I did this for some time, and it definitely appeared to work. I must have got fed up with doing it though, cos I’ve only just remembered about it now

We just eat them straight away .
If they get overripe I freeze them for banana bread .

[Bruce]

@Chilliboot

These three are somewhat beyond hanging and gibbeting, banana bread here we come

When I was a kid my old man always put a couple of bananas away to let them go black before he would eat them, (they are just producing sugar) personally I don’t even like them when they start to get tiny brown spots.

I still like a banana sandwich (I am of an age when I still remember bananas as an exotic fruit that suddenly appeared after the war) however I once offered my kids a banana sandwich they just laughed and looked at me as if I was mad and said “No” in unison.

[SilverTabby]

@Bruce

They are my salad staple I love the peppery taste and the flowers make the salad look inviting even though I am not a great salad maker. The leaves add a lot to the taste of a cheese sandwich.

And - you canharvest the fresh spicey seeds to use like capers - similar taste for half the cost

[Chilliboot]

Ha…I really had totally forgotten about banana sandwiches. I’m going to offer one to my son and check out the expression on his face.

[PixieKnuckles]

@AnnieS

I have a lemon tree which once had a couple of lemons (since then has gone on strike).

I used to have a lemon tree (small one in a pot). It didn’t produce anything, and then died…such a shame.

@Bruce

I had an orange and a mandarin tree but moved them because of an extension, they seemed to object and their fruit suddenly became sour to the point I chopped them down.

Not had much luck with trees, Bruce, have you?

@AnnieS

They are such a staple ingredient in so many dishes. Plus you have all the vit C you will ever need.

Personally I can’t abide the taste, but they are really good for cleaning the house!

@Chilliboot

Ha…I really had totally forgotten about banana sandwiches.

Whats the big deal about banana sandwiches? I love them and have one several times a week…or toast and banana, thats nice too

[Bathsheba]

Ooh I love banana sandwiches! And they have to be on white bread, preferably with butter, none of this ‘spread’ rubbish.

I’m pretty sure neither of my kids would laugh or even raise an eyebrow at them, because they often had them when they were younger and living at home. My daughter loves banana sandwiches with honey.

[Bruce]

@Bathsheba

I’m pretty sure neither of my kids would laugh or even raise an eyebrow at them,

You have to remember they just another fruit here, in fact the most common fruit, they would no more think of putting a banana in a sandwich than they would using a peach or a nectarine.

[Chilliboot]

I’m sure there’s a big deal about them, it’s just something that I haven’t eaten for many years for some reason. I like the taste of bananas it’s just the slimy texture that I find a bit off putting.
The toasted banana sandwiches sound good though. I’ll give that a go

[SilverTabby]

@Chilliboot

The toasted banana sandwiches

With just a drizzle of Maple Syrup!!

Can we stop it now … I am drooling.