OMG that sounds like an awful combination!!  What on earth can you do with tomato paste and banana?  Good question.  If you have a recipe that uses them together, please be sure to forward it to me.  But since this is Friday, and Friday is our day for This and That – the topic is:  What do you do with over-ripe bananas and open cans of tomato paste beside discard them?  The answer to both is:  freeze them.

Freeze the tomato paste in 1 tablespoon portions and then you have them on hand for any recipe that calls for less than the full can.   You can toss them into soup or sauce that needs a little flavor or color boost or any recipe that calls for tomato paste.

Place a large piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface.  Measure the tomato paste in a tablespoon and place the contents of the tablespoon onto the plastic wrap.  Do the same with 2 more tablespoonsful.  Fold the wrap over the tomato paste and place one tablespoon of tomato paste in the gaps between the three you have folded in the plastic wrap.  Continue until you have used all of your leftover tomato paste.

 

 

Frozen Banana Coins are like nature’s ice cream.  Whenever you’re feeling a yen for something sweet just pop one in your mouth.  They’re also great for smoothies.

Prepare them the same way as the tomato paste.

Here’s a recipe for a breakfast smoothie using frozen banana coins

Breakfast Smoothie

This is a really filling, healthy breakfast.  You can vary the flavor by using any fruits you like.

1/2 cup milk substitute

1/3 cup silken tofu

1/4 cup frozen banana slices

1/2 cup strawberries (fresh, not frozen)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sweetener to taste

Place all the ingredients into a blender container

Process until smooth

Pour into glass.

Makes: 1 serving (1 1/4 cups)