April is National Pecan Month! It doesn't matter how you pronounce it, pecans are actually certified as heart healthy according to the American Heart Association's Heart-Check program. Just a handful of pecans a day will provide over 19 vitamins and minerals and help lower cholesterol. In North Carolina, pecans are grown mostly in the southeastern part of the state. During a good crop year, it can produce 5 to 6 millon pounds of pecans! That's a whole lot of pecan pies! Instead of pies tho, check out this Baked Bananas with Pecans recipe. Enjoy!
Baked Bananas with PecansIngredients
6 bananas,sliced lengthwise
6 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
4 Tablespoons margarineorbutter
½ cup raisins or other dried chopped fruit
⅓ cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Rinse or scrub fresh fruits under running water before preparing.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 9x13-inch pan.
- Arrange the split bananas in the pan.
- Top evenly with brown sugar, small pieces of margarine, raisins and pecans.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes
- Try adding ½ teaspoon (or more) cinnamon or a dash of cayenne to the other toppings.
- When bananas are peeled or cut, the flesh starts to brown. Browned bananas might not look attractive but they are safe to eat. Reduce browning by peeling or cutting just before using.
