Ways to use those overripe bananas

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So you bought a lot of great food at the grocery store. In your feeding frenzy of eating a little of each new edible item at once, you managed to completely forget about the bananas on the counter for an entire week. They’ve gone from tinted green and not-quite-ready to overripe and spotty. Don’t throw them out! Try these ways to use them:

Make your own “ice cream”
When you notice your bananas have passed the point of no return (when you will no longer eat them as they are), take them out of the peel and cut them into one-inch chunks. Toss the pieces into a Tupperware and store it in the freezer. The next time you want a frozen treat, pop a few banana chunks into a food processor. Blend the bananas with some milk until the mix is the creamy texture of ice cream. Scoop it into a bowl and add your favorite toppings (chocolate sauce, sprinkles, nuts) and you’ve got a healthier, home-made alternative to ice cream.

Bake ’em!
Use a butter knife to gently cut a lengthwise slit through one part of the banana peel, making sure not to slice all the way through. Slightly open the banana and push in chocolate chips, some peanut butter and possibly Nutella or your preferred nut variety. Wrap the whole thing in tin foil and place it on a baking sheet. Place it in the oven at  400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes. Once the banana skin is black, you know it’s time to take it out and enjoy. For a super sweet treat eat the banana with ice cream and cookies. Talk about a doozie of a dessert!

Toss them in a smoothie
​Gather together your favorite fruits, milk and ice. Throw them all in the blender with your peeled overripe banana and enjoy the quick, easy and totally healthy drink you’ve created. This is great for breakfast, snacks, late-night eats while studying for cooking classes online and every opportunity in between.

Make banana bread desserts
Use your mother’s recipe, or one you found on the Internet, to create a tasty banana bread with the overripe fruit. When the bread is still warm, slice it into 1/4 inch thick pieces. Use the pieces like graham crackers and add a chocolate bar and marshmallow. Microwave for thirty seconds and enjoy this s​’mores alternative. Pro tip: add a little swipe of peanut butter to the bread before adding the mallow and chocolate for an even more awesome revamped classic.