Here’s an easy recipe and a way to use up those extra bananas which perhaps you might have purchased. This “lite dessert” quickly disappears at our house. It is a low-fat dessert — virtually fat-free (although it is not calorie or sugar-free). While sorting through a stack of vintage homemakers magazines, I ran across the recipe for “Banana Pudding Supreme” which actually isn’t a pudding at all but instead uses melted marshmallows. Hum. I haven’t cooked with marshmallows in many years. The recipe is simple and calls for layering melted marshmallows/whip cream along with crushed graham crackers and bananas. Other than melting the marshmallows on the stove, this dessert is an activity which kids can help make.

Too Many Bananas

We have a habit of overestimating how many bananas we can eat when grocery shopping. The bananas sit on our kitchen counter to ripen; then suddenly overnight they seem spoil and are too ripe to use. Bananas are such a healthy fruit — especially supplying potassium and fiber and also Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and antioxidants — I hate to waste them. So I have found several ways to use the extra bananas such as breakfast “milkshakes”, fruit salads, banana bread and muffins. Here’s another recipe to add to my “banana recipes” file.

Kids Can Cook

I was intrigued by the vintage recipe as I haven’t cooked with marshmallows in years. I thought it would be fun to give the dessert a try. And other than melting the marshmallows on the stove — no cooking is involved. Kids might enjoy crushing the graham crackers –actually I pounded them with a rolling pin — and layering the ingredients into a casserole dish. Then let the dessert chill — no baking is involved.

Making the Recipe

Here’s what I did. First melt a bag of miniature marshmallows in some milk over low heat (save a few out for decoration). Marshmallows can burn, so if you have a double broiler to melt the marshmallows, then use it. Otherwise, use a heavy pan, low heat and stir alot. Then let the mixture cool to room temperature on the kitchen counter. Fold in 2 cups of non-dairy whip topping. If all the whipped topping doesn’t mix in; don’t worry.

Crush the graham crackers (I pounded them with a rolling pin) and layer 1 cup into a 9″ x 9″ casserole dish. Spoon on dollops of the marshmallow/non-dairy whip topping mixture — use about half of this mixture. Layer on all the slices of very ripe bananas (save a few slices for decoration). Follow that with the rest of the melted marshmallows mixture, then the rest of the graham crackers. Decorate with a few miniature marshmallows and ripe banana slices. Chill. This is a very easy dessert to make.

Fat and Calories

This recipe should make about 12 small servings. You don’t need a very large serving of this dessert. This dessert is almost fat-free since I used non-dairy whipped topping rather than whipped cream and skim milk. Marshmallows don’t contain fat and graham crackers have minimal fat. However, there are calories/sugar in the marshmallows, bananas and graham crackers and the calories can add up if you eat too much of this dessert. It’s best not to over do a good thing. I like to try new recipes; and we all need to keep eating lots of fruits and vegetables. I’ll enjoy this dessert on an occasional basis. It is delicious.