Recently I made a purchase which I consider to be rather stimulating. I have heard so much about real vanilla beans, but couldn’t find them anywhere. I finally decided to make an online purchase and I am so happy that I did.  For quite some time, I desperately wanted to experience the taste of real vanilla and today I most definitely did and I incorporated it into my all time favorite banana fritters!

Today I just wanted that little girl Denise to come out and play…sort of like reinvent herself. Do you ever get the feeling of being a child again? Well, I went into Denise mode (that’s my nickname, the name that only close relatives and people you grew up with knows about). Denise was in the mood for some of those banana fritters that she has been making since she was 10 years old. Yes I have been making these goodies since I was a child….and now I’m ….hmmm….let’s see…2012 minus 1971…….uhmm…2 minus 1=1…..okay…Now I’m 41 years old …LOL and still LOVES me some banana fritters.  I used my vanilla beans instead of the imitation vanilla….

Now I know most people tend to throw out their bananas because they are speckled. STOP IT NOW!  DON’T DO IT ANYMORE! Bananas are more beneficial to your health when they are in their speckled/freckled state. It blends out easily into smoothies and all you need is a fork to mash it when making your banana fritters. You do not need any high tech gadgets for this one. I also used organic, extra virgin coconut oil which is a healthier choice of oil which is great for frying.

Can you imagine the aromas in the kitchen? Coconut oil and vanilla….amazing!!!!

I sliced my vanilla bean and scooted out the caviar, which is the flavorful, wholesome goodness inside the vanilla bean. Oh soooo aromatic!

I have placed the used beans in my sugar canister. Now I’ll have vanilla sugar!  Awesome isn’t it! I’m so excited!

Anyhow I added the caviar to the banana fritter batter and had no other choice but to  to stand there and admire those little specks of vanilla, all throughout the batter.

Now here is the recipe for these awesome Vanilla Bean Banana Fritters:

Ingredients:
3 overripe bananas
1 cup brown sugar, coconut sugar or date sugar
1 1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
The caviar of 2 vanilla beans (you can add more if you like) OR a tspn of pure vanilla
Unrefined Virgin coconut Oil to fry
A pinch of himalayan pink salt to taste

Directions:
Using a fork, mash bananas in a bowl
Add sugar and whisk into banana puree
Add nutmeg, salt and vanilla bean caviar
Add flour (1 cup first)
Fold into batter then add additional 1/2 cup flour
Batter should look like this. Can you see the specks of vanilla and the little pieces of bananas?

Frying:
In heated cast iron skillet, add coconut oil.
Using a ladle or large spoon, add batter to oil in batches

Fry on each side for about 3 minutes

Transfer to a plate and enjoy!

How do you make your banana fritters?