Mum knows best

I often have a few very sad looking bananas on my kitchen work top. I think it's because N and I both prefer them when they have literally just turned from green to yellow, so by the time we are getting to the end of our bunch they just don't look very appealing. So we both avoid the last few until one of us, usually me, gets so fed up we go out and buy some more. And then once the new bananas have arrived the old one just don't get a look in. The question is what to do with these poor bananas which now have so many spots on them that there is very little yellow left to see. I hate waste but sadly due to lack of time sometimes this is the only option. I make myself feel slightly better from the knowledge that they go in the food waste recycling rather than the bin but even still if I can make something out of them I will. My fail safe is my tried and tested banana cake recipe but now, thanks to my mum, I finally have another even quicker option. She suggested making some banana and oat flapjacks that are not only super speedy but also don't even require the oven, they can be cooked in the microwave. The other advantage with making your own flapjacks, or oat bars as I prefer to call them, is that you can greatly reduce the amount of sugar you put in or even avoid it all together. So old bananas rejoice you finally have a fate better than my recycling bin! 

Banana and Oat Bars

(Total prep and cooking 20 mins)

Ingredients

- 2 very ripe bananas - well mashed

- 200g porridge oats

- 100g butter

- 50g brown sugar (optional)

- 2 tablespoons honey

- sultanas, chopped nuts and dried fruit as required

Method

- melt the butter and sugar in the microwave

- stir in the honey and any chopped nuts or dried fruit

- with a wooden spoon stir in the oats and banana

- mix well

- transfer to a well greased microwave-safe dish and level the top with a spoon

- cook in the microwave on high power for approximately 8 minutes until the centre bubbles

- cut into squares and allow to cool