Baked Caramel Banapple

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday! For those of you who didn’t win my ebook giveaway for Charlene Carr’s “Skinny Me,” and wanted something new to read, she is generously offering a 50% off discount for my readers! :] Here’s the link! <3

While we’re on the subject of discounts, if you didn’t win my Venice Kitchen Silicone Baking Cups giveaway but would like to purchase a set, they are currently 25% off with the code VKTHANKS, so head on over to Amazon (affiliate link)! :D

I’ve unfortunately been struck down by the plague. (I jest. I think it’s just a cold.) I can’t say it’s been fun trying to stop sneezes, breathe through my mouth, and appear altogether non-contagious while traipsing my way through my Cardiology rotation. My mind feels like a piece of fog, and I’m a sniffly disgusting mess. (Beautiful picture I’m painting, I’m sure.)

It was bad enough that when my friend called me on Tuesday night to see if I was going to TKD/BJJ, he thought I’d perhaps been crying when I told him that I wasn’t feeling well. He’s never heard/seen me cry before, so he must have thought some serious business went down.

M: Did someone do something to you?! >:[!!! (I’ll take care of em’ for you!)
F: What? No, seriously, I’m not feeling well because I have a cold. I didn’t want to infect everyone since we get so up close and personal in BJJ, haha.
M: Okay, just checking.
F: Thank you though! :]

It was rather sweet of him. :o

Since I’m terrible with the transitions, I’m just gonna squeak on ahead! This recipe was for a contest by Chiquita Cooking Lab! The three secret ingredients for the last week of the contest were:

• Chiquita bananas
• Walnuts
• Caramel

I went with ingredients I mostly already had at home (aside from the caramels. Since I was in the mood for a sort of simple baked fruit recipe, I decided to combine apples with bananas to make a sort of caramelized dessert. :] I should’ve used a red apple–it would’ve looked more festive (but I didn’t have any on hand). :/

Baked Caramel Banapple

Ingredients:
-1 banana, sliced
-1-2 caramel candies
-1 golden delicious apple
-1/8 cup walnuts, chopped
-1 tsp cookie butter or ice cream (optional)

Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 350.
2) Slice the top 1/4 off of the apple and scoop out the core. Use a knife to make circular cuts around the apple.
3) Turn the apple over and make narrow cuts all the way around. Put 1-2 caramels in the center of the apple.
4) Bake for ~5-10 minutes, or until caramel melts.
5) Top with sliced bananas and chopped walnuts.
6) For extra decadence, top with cookie butter or ice cream!