By Amy Story

On the Go Banana Chips

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe but firm bananas

1 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted

1 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Pinch of nutmeg

PREPARATION

> Peel bananas, slice thinly (about 1/8 inch thick) into rounds.

> In small bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

> Toss slices gently in melted coconut oil to coat.

> Sprinkle cinnamon mixture evenly over banana slices, toss lightly to distribute coating.

> Preheat air fryer to 300°F (150°C).

> Arrange banana slices in single layer inside air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap.

> Air fry for 15-18 mins., flipping slices halfway through, until golden and crispy.

> Remove and let cool completely on a wire rack to crisp up further before serving.

Note: What seems like another lifetime ago, this recipe writer was training for a marathon. A group of us met at Julia Davis Park in Boise on Saturdays to see how far down the Greenbelt we could get. Shelley was the perfect running partner: she quoted lines from a play she was taking part in, and, quite short-windedly, we’d chat about life as we ran past the Warm Springs Golf Course, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival grounds, and beyond. Starting off was shaky, but we knew within twenty minutes we’d find our stride, endorphins would kick in, and it would be a beautiful morning to run by the river. I was new to running back then, and I noticed that bananas were the snack of choice, with peanut butter. This snack would’ve been ideal for those days. Too bad I found the recipe a couple of decades late.

Ham and Cheese Crunchies

INGREDIENTS

1 tube crescent dough sheet
(or crescent rolls, seams sealed)

8 slices deli ham

8 cheddar cheese sticks

¼ cup butter, melted

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ Tbsp. Dijon mustard

½ Tbsp. dried minced onion
(or onion powder)

½ Tbsp. poppy seeds

PREPARATION

> Set oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

> Roll out crescent dough on sheet. If using perforated dough, pinch seams to seal.

> Cut into 8 rectangles and place a slice of ham and a cheese stick on each rectangle.

> Roll each one tightly and place seam-side down on the baking sheet.

Butter Mixture Preparation

> Mix melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and minced onion together in a small bowl.

> Brush sticks generously with butter mixture. Sprinkle poppy seeds over the tops.

> Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.

> Let sit for 5 minutes before serving warm.

Note: This is another recipe I found twenty years too late. Where were these babies when we had scads of soccer practices, field trips, and football games to attend? Oh well, better late than never. I think these will become a go-to for sure.