••••TROPICAL DELIGHT DESSERT NACHOS••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Best Tropical Delight Dessert Nachos Recipe

CookingLab 2014 Week 1 Grand Prize Winner Jannine from Malden, MA. 

Where Did The Recipe Idea Come From?

I wanted to find an unusual way to incorporate all of the mystery ingredients. I also enjoy trying to create recipes that turn ordinary items upside down. I love nachos and I love fruit salad so I thought, why not try and combine the two into sweet dessert nachos, instead of savory ones. 

What’s Your Family’s Favourite Way To Eat Bananas?

My homemade banana bread is the way we consume the most Chiquita Bananas. We snack on fresh bananas, but I enjoy baking so much. 

I Love Bananas Because… They are delicious, versatile and so good fo

Prep Time:15 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes

Cook Time: 

Servings:10

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 1   whole  Chiquita® banana, peeled and diced 
• 2   Tbsp.  brown sugar
• 1/4   tsp.  ground cinnamon
• 6    (8-inch) flour tortillas
• 2   Tbsp.  melted butter
• 1 1/2   cup  diced seedless watermelon

• 2    kiwi fruits, peeled and diced
• 2   Tbsp.  fresh lemon juice
• 2   Tbsp.  chopped fresh mint, plus additional for garnish
• 1/4   cup  lemon flavored yogurt
• 2   Tbsp.  shredded coconut

Instructions for best Tropical Delight Dessert Nachos Recipe

Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and the cinnamon; mix well. Brush one side of each tortilla with the melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Cut each tortilla into eight equal wedges. 

Place tortillas, sugar side up in a single layer on prepared baking sheets, taking care not to overlap. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Chips will continue to crisp as they cool. 

In a medium bowl, combine the watermelon, Chiquita banana, kiwi, lemon juice and chopped mint. Toss to combine. 

Arrange the cooled tortilla chips on a serving platter. Using a slotted spoon to drain the juice from the fruit; scatter fruit salsa over the tortilla chips. 

Place the lemon yogurt into a ziptop bag and make a small snip at one of the corners. Squeeze the lemon yogurt over the tortilla chips in a random drizzle. Sprinkle with the shredded coconut and garnish with fresh mint. Serve immediately and enjoy!

••••EASY WATERMELON FRUIT PIZZA••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Easy Watermelon Fruit Pizza Recipe

Here’s a cool, refreshing and healthy summer treat that the whole family will love! 

Prep Time:10
Total Time:10

Cook Time: 

Servings:16

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 2    1-inch-thick round watermelon slices (8- to 9–inch diameter) 
• 1    Chiquita® banana, sliced
• 1/4   cup  blueberries
• 2   Tbsp.  honey

• 2   Tbsp.  lime juice 
• 1   tsp.  finely grated lime zest
• 2   Tbsp.  thinly sliced fresh mint 

Instructions for easy Watermelon Fruit Pizza Recipe

Garnish watermelon rounds evenly with banana and blueberries; cut into 8 wedges. Whisk together honey, lime juice and zest. Drizzle over watermelon. Garnish with mint.

••••KEY LIME SHRIMP SALAD WITH GRILLED BANANAS••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Best Key Lime Shrimp Salad With Grilled Bananas Recipe

You'll think you've taken a vacation when you serve this tropical salad with key lime-marinated grilled shrimp with grilled bananas and pineapple!

Prep Time:10 minutes
Total Time:25 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings:4

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 1    head Butter lettuce (or FreshExpress® Sweet Tender Greens™ salad mix)
• 1/4   cup  Extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4   cup  Key lime juice
• 1    clove Garlic, minced
• 1    Green onion, minced
• 1/4   tsp.  Seasoned salt

• 1   pinch  Allspice
• 20    large Shrimp, cleaned and butterflied (with shells and tails)
• 1   Tbsp.  Honey
• 4   whole  Chiquita Bananas, unpeeled, sliced in half lengthwise
• 1    fresh Chiquita Pineapple, top and bottom cut off, cored and quartered lengthwise
• 1/4   cup  toasted Coconut or chopped Macadamia nuts, optional

Instructions for best Key Lime Shrimp Salad with Grilled Bananas Recipe

Divide lettuce on individual dinner-size plates; set aside. In a jar with a tight fitting lid combine the oil, key lime juice, garlic, green onion and seasoned salt and allspice. Pour about half of this dressing/marinade into a medium size bowl. Add shrimp and stir to coat. Add honey to the remaining dressing/marinade in the jar; shake well. Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Baste the cut sides of the pineapple with the marinade and place a cut side of the pineapple quarters on hot pan. Grill 2 minutes per cut side, then place alongside edge of lettuce on plates. Baste the banana halves with the dressing/marinade and place cut side down on hot grill pan. Cook about 2 minutes or until brown grill marks appear. Add grilled bananas to the plates. Place marinated shrimp on the same hot grill pan; discard the marinade in the shrimp bowl. Cook for 2 minutes per side then add to the salads. Drizzle remaining key lime-honey dressing/marinade (from jar) over salad and top with toasted coconut or chopped Macadamia nuts, if desired. Serve immediately. 

Serving Suggestion: Place a pretty empty bowl in the center of the table for diners to place shrimp shells and fruit peels into as they enjoy their meal.

Beverage Pairings: Try with a fruity beer or a frosty mojito.

••••CHIQUITA BANANA BREAD••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Best Chiquita Banana Bread Recipe

It’s the Number One, world-famous Chiquita Banana Bread Recipe. 

With just a few ingredients, you can make the most delicious banana bread recipe that is sure to please any eater. Make this time-tested and easy banana bread recipe today with Chiquita bananas.

Prep Time:15 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Servings:8

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 4   whole  Chiquita Bananas
• 1   cup  All-purpose flour
• 1   cup  Unprocessed wheat bran
• 1 1/2   tsp.  Baking soda
• 1/2   cup  Sugar
• 1/2   cup  Brown sugar

• 1   cup  Unsalted butter, soft
• 2   whole  Eggs
• 1   tsp.  Vanilla extract
• 1/2   cup  Walnuts
• 1   Tbsp.  Honey

Instructions for best Chiquita Banana Bread Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large 9x5 inch loaf pan. Whip 2 Chiquita Bananas and sugars until mix is creamy (about 3 minutes). Add butter, eggs and vanilla and whip until smooth. Mix in all dry ingredients until blended then add walnuts and blend for additional minute. Slice two Chiquita Banana and toss with honey until Chiquita Bananas are well coated. Pour mix in loaf pan and place honey coated bananas on top. Bake in oven for 60 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then place plate on top of pan and flip pan upside down so loaf falls onto plate. Slice and garnish the loaf with your choice of fresh fruit, powder sugar, yogurt etc.

••••QUICK CAFE BANANA MANNA••••

(Source: ChiquitaBanana.com & photos also)

Quick Café Banana Manna Recipe

Left over espresso? Bananas in the freezer? Here’s an easy, delicious, and nutritious way to start your breakfast or enjoy a healthy snack.

Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes

Cook Time: 

Servings:1

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 1    Chiquita Banana (frozen, or a fresh ripe banana with one crushed ice cube)
• 1   cup  1% Milk 

• 1   oz.  Espresso, cooled
• 2   tsp.  Sugar 

Instructions for quick Café Banana Manna Recipe

Place banana, milk, espresso, and sugar (and crushed ice, if using a fresh banana) into a blender. Blend on high setting for 1 minute.  — Recipe idea and photo courtesy of Lori Lazar for the Ultimate Chiquita Banana Recipe Contest.

••••CHIQUITA COPABANANA SMOOTHIE••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Quick Chiquita CopaBanana Smoothie Recipe

Enjoy a taste of the tropics with this banana and tropical fruit combo.

Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes

Cook Time: 

Servings:2

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 2   whole  Chiquita Bananas, frozen*, peeled and chopped
• 1    very ripe Mango, peeled and seeded

• 1   cup  chilled Pineapple juice
• 1/2   tsp.  Rum extract, optional

Instructions for quick Chiquita CopaBanana Smoothie Recipe

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Serve immediately.

Variations: For a delicious, frosty cocktail substitute 2-oz. rum for the rum extract.

*Note: this shake may also be made using Chiquita bananas that are not frozen. The result will not be quite as thick or cold, but equally as delicious!

••••BANANA SMOOTHIE INSTRUCTIONS••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & iconfinder.com photo)

How to Make a Perfect Banana Smoothie

Here's a short course in the proper banana smoothie technique.

• Start with the perfect banana.  For the most intense banana flavor, we recommend a Chiquita at room temperature that is yellow or yellow with brown spots.
• Peel and cut into bite-size chunks for quick blending and consistent texture. This is a smoothie, not a chunky.
• Use fresh ice. If your tap water tastes yucky, make your ice with filtered or bottled water. As soon as the cubes freeze, store them in air-tight plastic bags so they don't take on any unsavory freezer flavors. 
• Wash, pat dry and cut up any other fruit ingredients before you add them to the blender.
• Don't overfill the blender unless you enjoy cleaning smoothie recipe off your walls.
• Blend until smooth. Pour and enjoy immediately. 

Smoothie Trivia

Smoothies are blended beverages that are often mixed with fresh fruit, crushed or shaved ice, frozen fruit, or other fruit juices. Smoothies usually do not contain ice cream (that’s what milk shakes are for). Smoothies date back to the 1960s when they were offered as healthy alternatives to milk shakes but it wasn't until the 1990s that they began to really catch on. Stephen Kuhnau, founder of Smoothie King, the second largest smoothie franchise in the US, claims to have coined the term “smoothie” in the late 1960s though a company named Waring made a blender in the 1940s that had an accompanying booklet publishing recipes for “smoothees”.