There's more to a banana than just eating it!

I love bananas but sometimes they get ripe faster than I can eat and I'm always left wondering what I could do.

Here's some simple quick planning tips to do with bananas other than eating it. :)

1. Smoothie Base: When making smoothies, have you ever added crushed ice to the blender only to end up with a watery, diluted smoothie? That’s because the ice melts during blending process. For a creamy, non-diluted smoothie, use slices of frozen, overripe banana instead of ice. Cut your  peeled banana into bite-sized slices. Lay out the slices on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze them for 40 minutes. When the slices are frozen, place them in a freezer bag for storage. This method prevents the slices from sticking and also allows for single portions.
2. Baked Goods: Overripe bananas taste as good as ever in baked goods. Mash the peeled bananas with a fork and transfer to freezer bags. Label with the number of mushed bananas. To use, defrost and use as you would regular banana.

On top of that, if you're about being green, you can use the banana peels and extend the life of a banana.

1. Shoe Polish: If your dress shoes are looking a little scuffed,  buff them using a banana peal. Banana peels contain oil and potassium—two of the main ingredients in shoe polish. But unlike store-bought shoe polish, a banana peal is cheap, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Place your palm against the peel and rub it all over the exterior of a leather shoe. Use a clean, soft cloth to remove any excess oil, banana pieces, and those stringy things (FYI: in case you’re ever a contestant on Jeopardy, the technical name for the stringy things inside bananas is phloem bundles.)
2. House Plant Fertilizer: Put a banana peel in 12 ounces of water to make “banana juice.” Add one part “banana juice” and five parts water to your watering can. Use this solution to water your houseplants as normal. The banana-fortified solution contains phosphorous and other beneficial compounds.
3. Rosebush Fertilizer: Add banana peels to the soil around a rosebush soil as non-toxic fertilizer. The peels, just like store-bought garden fertilizer, contain potash and phosphorous to nourish your delicate flowers. To make fertilizer, finely chop the peels and then spread the pieces around the base of the rosebush. Sprinkle some dirt on top to promote decomposition. Water.