The Monkey, A Toddler Story; Recipe: Boardwalk Bananas

from our family blog, July 9, 2011

Linkletter and Cosby had it right, kids say the darndest things.  Baking Toddler has been in speech therapy for almost a year and has improved greatly; and for that I am very grateful and pleased with all the work we have done.  Grateful yes, but today however was a different story.

As I was rifling through honeydew at our local grocery store, Baking Toddler became VERY excited and started to yell, "A MONKEY, A MONKEY!!!!"  I responded, "Really, where do you see a monkey?"  Following his tiny excited index finger, I turn around looking for a banner, sign, stuffed animal, picture on a shirt, and finally my eyes fell upon an older woman not more than 4'5" tall.  Her facial structure resembled that of a Neanderthal and she had wild, black, long hair.

A little tickled and a bit embarrassed, I strolled him a few feet over and quietly told him that his "monkey" was actually a lady.  He just sat there and looked at me for a minute, processing what I had said.  I pulled around the corner and the little old lady happened to be standing 15 yards from us.  Baking Toddler turned to her and chirped, "OOH OOH AHH AHH!"

Oh the things little ones will say, especially when they are just breaking out of their shell to talk.  This just so happened to occur a few days after Baking Toddler had a meltdown at school because his chocolate fell off of his frozen banana.  Therefore, this post is for my silly, sweet, happy boy who just so happens to love chocolate covered bananas and uhhhh....monkeys....

Boardwalk Bananas

makes 18 to 24 banana pops
adapted from Chocolate Holidays, Alice Medrich

6 to 8 firm ripe bananas
3/4 stick butter
10 oz. semisweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
1 cup chopped nuts, jimmies, sprinkles for toppings

2 dozen disposable wooden dowels (used for caramel apples) or Popsicle sticks
Tall Skinny Glass or container (I used a 6oz. pilzner)

1. To prepare the bananas, cut the ends off of the bananas and into thirds, leaving the peel intact.  Push Popsicle sticks 1 inch or more into the flesh of the banana.  Peel the bananas and place in the freezer.  If not dipping right away, transfer them to an airtight container or Ziploc bag and return to the freezer.
2. Clarify the butter.  Cut butter into small pieces and put it in a 1 cup glass measure or a small glass jar.  Set the glass in a pan of simmering water and heat without stirring, until the butter is melted and hot and has separated into three layers:  foamy milk solids on top, golden butter oil in the center, and a watery substance on the bottom.  Skim and discard white foam, spoon out the golden oil (clarified butter) and discard the rest.  ***Alternatively you can ditch the glass container and heat the butter straight in a pan until it separates; skim the foam off, save the clarified butter and discard the rest.  If you have never clarified butter however, watch it closely because your butter can burn easily this way.
3. In the top of a double boiler, combine the chocolate and 4 tablespoons of clarified butter.  Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture into the glass.  Line a shallow pan with wax or parchment paper.  Have the toppings ready.  Remove the bananas from the freezer.  Holding the stick, dip the banana quickly and completely in and out of the chocolate.  Hold it over the lined pan and sprinkle all sides with nuts or sprinkles before the chocolate sets, which will begin to harden immediately.  Set banana on the lined the pan.  Repeat with the remaining bananas.  Transfer the bananas to the freezer to harden completely, then to an airtight container or freezer bag.  Keep frozen until ready to serve.

Leftover coating may be frozen and used again.