The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-16

quette building, Chicago, to whom all IN
All rights reserved by Banning Co., Chi
eago.
THE BANANA, FRUIT OF THE WISE
MAN
witness, thou best banana. thou the pride
poets imagined in the golden age.
Quick let me strip thee Of thy tufty coat,
with Jove''
The Latin name of the banana IS musa
sapientum, which signifies tof the wise
men" Theophrastus makes a statement
concerning the fruit which served as a
Most authorities are agreed that the
banana is nutritious food having less
is commonly found in fresh fruits " hen
ripe it contains much sugar. It has been
cultivated in India and China from remote
known there, where in many localities it
people It is considered the poor mans
ideal food for when baked meat may be
their food value in the minds OF all who
disapprove Of a meat diet as Wen as
object in econOmizing in the household
expenses. They also give variety and
The laboring men Of India who subsist
chiefly on the baked plantains are said to
be remarkably strong and vigorous
A NATURAL FOOD.
Many of our valuable wild fruits per
example, the strawberry and orange, have
through process of grating or forced
seedlings, or cross : fertilization, 50
changed their natural composition as to
be valuable only for their flavor and not
for the purpose originally intended.
The banana, fig and date are true ex-
amples of natural unchanged fruits and
are the same simple wild fruits today as
food of those noted wise men of the east
ARE MORE SUITABLE FOR FOOD
WHEN COOKED.
Bananas should not be eaten raw unless
you know that they are fully rlpensed ana
to be eaten raw they have almost reached
quite dark. When the skin is simply yell
low it should not be used unless cooked
and never given to children in that con-
ditiou. as they cannot digest them.
Where the banana is grown. the natives
always cook them, as they consider them
son why so many of our soldiers serving
in Cuba and the Philippines are siclxened
these fruits in their raw state
Some consider that the fruit purchased
In our northern markets Is not wholesome
because it IS brought here in a gre@n state
and ripenEed artifciaily; There can be no
good objection as both the banana and
bread fruit are frequently gathered by the
natives before fully ripened and buried in
allowed to ripen in that way.
THE TRUE BANANA
There are many varieties of the plan
tain: the true banana is a small variety
of such delicate structure it viii rot bear
transportation, SO is never shipped to our
that is thought suitable to be eaten raw
by the natives. What we know as the
which they would not think of eating I'M
BANANA MEAL
One variety Of the unripened fruit con-
tains a large percentage Of starch. rms
then powdered into a meal or flour. 1t
has rather fragrant OdOr and pleasant
flavor and IS considered a valuable addi-
ton to the fnvalid's dietary, being em-
ployed by making into a porridge. with
soned and favored. This meal can be
pro9egrsd III II os1r ma PARIS
So many ways are given for serving the
banana as q dessert; but as yet very few
ing it as a substitute for. meat dishes.
Baked bananas make nice breakfast
dish and VIII be found a suitable and
agreeable substitute for meat, especially
during Lent
BAKED BANANAS NO. l.
This method is said to be the one en-
cut about a quarter of an inch from each
end, but do not peel them. Lay them on
a baking dish Without any other add
ton and bake Is minutes in hot oven.
When the bananas are done the skin
then turn them over and bake i've min
utes on the other side 50 they viii be
hot on same dish on which they are
baked; first eat the juice and then the
BAKED BANANAS NO 2.
Another method is to remove strip of
bananas in a shallow pan. having exposed
side up. Nix two tabie ssi Of sugar
of melted buster ana two fabiespoonfuis
of lemon juice: haste the bananas with |
this and bake Is or 20 minutes in a hot |
oven until soft. Heat the remainder of |
the dressing and pour over the bananas |
and serve very hot.
BANANA TOAST
Bake the bananas: then press through |
a coIander or vegetable presA season with !
little salt, butter sugar and lemon juice. |
slices of zWieback IN hot cream, !
cover each slice with a spoonful OF the /
banana pulp and serve very hot Serve I
for breakfast dish without meat
BANANA CROQUETTES
Select very small, very ripe bananas:
peel and cut of each end making the ba- |
mana look ike a small cylinder Dip in |
beaten egg and fine bread crumbs. or if /
for dessert, rnacaroons grated. and fry in I
III