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SUMMARY: In Minas Tirith, Frodo encounters bananas for the first time.
DISCLAIMER: The Professor’s wonderful characters don’t belong to me, I just get to think about them day and night.
NOTES: This teensy ficlet was originally written and posted in 2005. Thank you, [livejournal.com profile] dreamflower02, for encouraging me to post it for this challenge.




STUBBORN AS CAN BE (movie verse)


“I refuse,” Frodo declared.

Aragorn hid a smile and sat on the bed. Even after everything he’d been through in Mordor, Frodo’s spirit blazed as strong as ever. Perhaps even stronger. He and Sam had been tempered by fire, thirst, hunger, pain, weariness, and near death, and Frodo was still too weak to get out of bed unassisted. But weak in body only.

“Frodo,” Aragorn explained to his stubborn patient, “I know this fruit is strange in appearance, but it is the best thing for you right now. Your stomach is still recovering from lack of food, and we must ease you back to more solid fare. Besides...” He grinned. “Peeling them is good therapy for your hand.”

“Aragorn,” Frodo said unhappily, “maybe I should explain. We have a rhyme in the Shire about these... bananas. Pulled from the tree, stringy as can be...” He sighed. “There’s a lot more, all pretty grim. Apparently, the poet was quite ill after eating one of these.”

“I see,” Aragorn said thoughtfully. “I suspect your poet ate one before its ripening.” He slowly peeled the banana, and Frodo’s eyes widened at the smooth, golden fruit within, and the delicate aroma. “See? And only one string.” Aragorn pulled away the offending thread. “I promise this will not make you ill, Frodo. They’re delicious.” He broke off a bit of the top and popped it into his mouth.

“All right,” Frodo agreed tentatively, reaching for the fruit. “Maybe just a bit.” He took a small bite and chewed thoughtfully, finally smiling.

“Good,” Aragorn said, getting to his feet.

“What can you make with these?” Frodo asked suddenly, taking a larger bite. “Most fruits can be made into jams, and---”

“I will consult with the cooks,” Aragorn said solemnly. “I have heard of puddings, custards, even delicious breads made from bananas. Will you taste them if they are brought to you?”

“I’ll try to endure it,” Frodo said, his mouth full. He looked around. “Did you only bring one?”

** END **

__________________________

BANANA BREAD

Makes one loaf

½ cup butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Cream the butter well and slowly add the sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well between each addition. Stir in the mashed bananas.

2. Put the flour, baking soda, and salt into a sifter and sift about one-third of the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Stir in about one-third of the creamed mixture and repeat twice more. After the final addition, sprinkle in the nuts and stir well to blend.

3. Grease a loaf pan. Scrape the batter into the pan and place in the oven for about 1 hour or until the loaf is puffed and nicely browned. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Cool completely before slicing.
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