"The Original Frozen Banana" from "Arrested Development"

          Chocolate covered bananas are something from my childhood and I was reminded of them while watching the recent season of "Arrested Development" on Netflix. B & I watched the heck out of that thing the weekend it came out but sadly the banana stand was gone except for an image in a mural in Pheonix. I still wanted to make this treat all the same and it's perfect for the summer weather!
          The easy-peasy version of chocolate covered bananas is simply frozen bananas on a stick dipped in melted chocolate chips, chopped nuts optional. In the show however, the frozen bananas are dipped in hot fudge (the banana stand menu says "fudge" & you can see the fudge in a slow cooker on the counter of the banana stand). Sooooo, the recipe below is for fudge dipped bananas!

Note: Directly below you'll find the official (from the show) banana stand menu. I chose to go for the "Original Frozen Banana" but you can definitely try any of the others! Link pictures in the comments if you do!

"Bluth's Original Frozen Banana" Banana Stand Menu The Original Frozen Banana: Frozen banana dipped in hot fudge & covered w/ nuts. The George Daddy: Frozen fudge dipped banana sandwiched between chocolate grahams. The G.O.B.: Frozen banana double dipped in fudge w/ double the nuts (on 2 sticks). The On the Go-Go Banana: Frozen banana in cup of sizzling hot fudge. The Giddy-Girly Banana: Frozen banana dipped in hot fudge & covered w/ pink heart candy. The Simple Simon: Single fudge dipped frozen banana. Double Dipped Frozen: Double fudge dipped frozen banana.

Bluth's "Original Frozen Banana"

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Ingredients:
1 Bunch of Bananas
Crushed Peanuts (salted or unsalted, your choice)
Fudge Sauce
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Can (12-13 oz.) Evaporated Milk
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla (optional)

Important Items:
Wooden Popsicle Sticks
Parchment Paper or Waxed Paper
If you have THESE paper hot dog trays, all the more authentic! But not necessary.

Directions:
1. Peel the bananas & cut each one into two pieces. Gripping a banana half in one hand to keep it from breaking, gently slide a wooden popsicle stick into the cut end. Do NOT slide it in so far that it breaks through the top! Continue with each half until all are sticked & then lay them on a parchment lined tray & put them in the freezer for at least 30 mins.
2. Melt the butter & chocolate chips in a pan over medium heat, stirring w/ a whisk. Add the evaporated milk & powdered sugar & bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Let boil for about 5 mins or so, whisking & letting it thicken & darken. Remove from heat & stir in the vanilla until completely combined. Let cool for a few minutes.
3. Lay your crushed peanuts on a plate for easy rolling & remove the tray of bananas from the freezer. Having a spoon handy to help with the coating, dip one banana at a time into the fudge. Let the excess chocolate fall back into the pot & give a few seconds for the fudge to cool a bit more on the banana. Lay the fudge banana on the plate of crushed nuts & gently roll it until fully coated. Press nuts on by hand as needed.
4. Return the covered bananas to the parchment lined tray & freeze again OR eat right away! (Do NOT leave the bananas out for long if you're not eating them because they will get soft & mushy & gross!) Extra fudge does not need to be refrigerated if you're going to eat it within a week or so, but it can be put it the freezer if you'll not touch it for longer. Simply put it in a plastic container.

* Head on over to Cinema & Spice for their banana bites & cornballs! *

* And check out this article on TVJunkie with tons of food & recipes from "Arrested Development"! *