The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-16
Banana Variations
ny JANE EDDINGTON.

The banana has been described as a
heaven fruit with no defects"
This would provoke a comparison with
mamma. but In hot countries II Is truly 10
some OF the dark forest folk. in that they
subsst entirely upon II. Every year,
as commercial facilities increase. n
larger part of tho world depends upon
the banana for rcsrcshmcnt and nutri-
, mcnt. The visitor to the soda counter
gets more nutrlment from banana
split than from any Of tho other dishes
or drinks served there. save those OF
eggs only. Tho egg drinks represent
tile most quickly disposed OF and con
densed nutrimcnt that IS perhaps
known
1t is pleasant TO think that the ba
mana crop iH one OF the most abundant
of the earth. humboldt long ago ar
tirncd that the productiveness OF the
banana az compared with wheat was rs
1873 10 J. and as against potatoes rs ~
TO l. II IL natural To compare II with
these two things because OF its atarchy
or carbohydrates content The wheat ls
tho cereal which, next TO rice yields
the largest amount or this food OF man.
the potato Is the vegetable which Is
the heaviest In starch, ana the banana
Is the fruit most packed with this form
OF nutriment.
The banana IL only ono OF many
tropical plants literally packed with
starch Rice IS thus Iich and. like tho
banana, is the main reliance of various
tropical races--in fact hordes OF troni
cal peoples. It Is in tile senl-,ropicaI
and tropical regions that the sugar
cane grows, and the maize IL native OF
that region, although harder varieties
hiVe been acciimated where the
weather III temperate. The sage and
coc"anut palms. the cnssavu sweet no
'ato. vans. nrrowroot-all these foods
which are the most heavily weighted
with starch--arc tropical. Is this no,
natures hint 10 us that the starchy
or sugary things called carbohydra,os
are the things 10 eat when tho tom
peraturc is high?
with our disposition TO save our.
selves labor, the package OF starchv
SUN wrapped up In its envelope On
satciy away from dust and germ we
turn almost too readily 10 this food
~ Is almost too concentrated, though
II IL So safe. II IL so safe hcca,'.o
the main troubles which come from ca,.
ING fruit In hot weather undoubtedly
are due not TO the fruit Itself ~ /,
Is sound. but to the dirt and uorrs
present on Its surface
There arc great number OF ways
Of extending or thinning our banana
nutrimcnt. Those who have pushed
the fruit so greatly I'm a commercial
way have seen 10 that, although
great number OF the recipes which they
have@cattered about in their advert!s-
Ing Campaigns are but slight varia-
tons of plain banana obtained mainly
By decorating IT with crystallxed
fruits. nuts, etc.
As salad material the banana might
with plain French dressing. although
IL Is more used with mayonnaisc \
common salad with this latter dressing
is made by splitting the banana length
Wise. laying the pieces cut side down
,or their whole length sprinklng tho
adding the mayonnaise
Banana Salad With French DRESSING
Take off the skin and cut the In
nanas In slices, dropping Thorn on ,
foundation of lettuce leaf 80 that thev
zap over one another and form ring
around u, the plate. II small salad
Is made, one ring VIII be enough onti
only little space should be left In.
sue IL for decorative additions If !,
second ring Is added inside the hrst
let the slices slant the other wsv
rms may be variously decorated bc-
iore the dressing is added. On "A hot
night chopped mint leaves or the uttle
tips OF tho branch of mint are hn,h
pretty and refreshing addition. IS
something red is desired "a few cher
ries or bits Of tomato-only a lIttlo
or THIS latter-are both pretty ana
good Mayonnaise can be used. but tho
French dressing is acceptable. and
lemon Instead of vinegar may he usch
but most people Will prefer the latter
banana Custard for Three-Boil ono
cuptul OF milk, and sweeten with two
tablespoonfuls of sugar. Pour this nm
one well-beaten egg. and put back To
COOK until 1t thickens. but do. not boil
stirring all the time. Mash two In
nanas. sieve them. and then stir them
into the custard. which has been
havored with half a teaspoonful Of
vanilla. Put Into serving CUPS. chill
and serve when ice-cold half cnn'
iui or cream, whipped, may be stirred
IN win the banana. or serve on ton or
the cups with Il cherry decoration
Two eggs Instead of one may be uscd
put one. even without the cream viii
make custard of tho consistency ~
bavaroise. and some what resemh,,nn
II. Crushing the banana brinps ont
fruity flavor. which seems mnoh
stronger OF odor than that the banan
usually has This custard somcti,na
is called banana fool.