Today is National Banana Split Day, and everyone knows a good banana split needs a good Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce. Following is a great recipe for an easy Dark Chocolate Sauce.
The Birth of the Banana Split like so many food creations does not have a clear invention history. Latrobe, PA claims that the banana split was invented by Dr. David
Strickler, who in 1904 was a 23 year-old working at Tassell Pharmacy. This sundae originally cost 10 cents, twice the cost of other sundaes. Dave Strickler became a pharmacist and optician, and
purchased the pharmacy which was renamed "Stricklers." His banana splits were a big hit with the students from nearby Saint
Vincent College and the word spread. According to his daughter, her
dad "was always the great experimenter" and he even originated
the first banana split dish: "There were no dishes for such a concoction,
so he drew up his own" and a company in nearby Grapeville produced
it.
The banana split was also showcased at the Boston convention of the
National Association of Retail Druggists in 1905. Stinson Thomas, chief
dispenser at Butler's Department Store in Boston promoted the banana
split there. According to an article about the convention in The Soda Fountain
magazine, "among all the beverages dispensed here, none was
more novel with the ladies than the banana split." The magazine
also quotes Mr. Thomas: "My trade here is always looking for something
new and so, one day it occurred to me that I might prepare a popular
fountain beverage with a banana. I sent my boy out to buy half a dozen
bananas, and when he returned I cut off the ends of a banana, split
it open, put a portion of ice cream on top and a spoonful of crushed
strawberries. It certainly looked swell and I believed that the public
would like it." As with most new creations though, there was some
trial and error. "At first we left the peel on the banana in the
plate, but some time ago we began removing it altogether. We found that
the ladies preferred to have the peel removed."
Banana Split
"Split" Bananas (with peel on) lengthwise. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on the cut sides of bananas. Let sit for several minutes. Grill bananas cut side down on direct heat for 2 minutes. Turn (with tongs) and cook 5 more minutes. Remove skins. Put bananas in bowl. Add vanilla ice cream. Pour Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce over. Sprinkle with nuts and add whipped cream--with a cherry on top?
Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sweet butter at room temperature
8 ounces Dark chocolate -65-75% cacao, chopped
2 Tbsp superfine sugar
1/8 cup Kahlua
1/2 tsp Madagascar vanilla
Directions
Heat cream in small saucepan until almost boiling.
Add butter and sugar. Stir to combine.
Remove from heat and pour over chocolate.
Whisk until melted and combined.
Add Kahlua and vanilla. Stir until cool to touch.
Cover with plastic wrap and set aside or refrigerate.
Illustration: Triple Banana Split Boy, written by my friend Lucha Corpi. Illustrated by Lisa Fields. (Arte Publico Press)
Happy Banana Split Day, Janet! The Hot Dark Chocolate Sauce is sure to be the "icing on the cake!"
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...
I can't even remember the last time I had a banana split. It sounds tempting now...
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