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Spotted UK

Local News Reports

‘After school’ treat people remember from their Liverpool childhood

BySpotted UK

Jan 23, 2024

An unusual treat loved by people across the city is still remembered from their childhood today.

Decades ago, many households and families got creative to make food go a long way. New food combinations would be trial and error, with parents using what was already in the kitchen.

And while today there is so much more choice when it comes to buying treats – looking back, there are some lost brands, flavours, combinations and more which were popular amongst older generations. They may seem wholly unusual or an acquired taste for children of today, but they were a staple part of growing up in years gone by, the ECHO previously reported.

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Liverpudlians will remember enjoying everything from jam spread between plain biscuits to butties with sugar, dripping and condensed milk. But another favourite was also the banana sandwich, which was the fruit chopped finely or mashed on two rounds of bread.

Still considered a classic, we've decided to revisit some memories from ECHO readers. On our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group, Billy Fitzgerald previously sparked conversation after posting a photo of banana slices on buttered bread with the caption "memories anyone?"

A banana sandwich

Tony Davey said: "My older brother would come home from playing out in the early 70s and make five banana butties out of one banana." Elaine Greenall said: "One of my favourites."

Christine Hasler posted: "Love banana butties." Tom Chambers commented: "I remember those days!"

What snack or treat reminds you of childhood on Merseyside? Let us know in the comments section below.

Elaine Dyson posted: "Loved them." Barbara Daine commented: "Not had a banana buttie for years!"

Mary Davies said: "Loved them, had them at dinner time when we came home from school just after 12." Celia Bickerton wrote: "My mum could make one banana into a stack of sandwiches! Each slice was wafer thin, barely flavoured the bread! It was only as an adult I realised one person could have a whole banana to themselves!"

Carol Norris wrote: "I love a banana butty." And John Jones posted: "Haven’t had one for years, but use to love them."

Over the years, many Liverpudlians have enjoyed different variations of the sandwich, adding other toppings like sugar, sauces and peanut butter. It may seem a bit out there to some, but it's not too dissimilar to toppings you'd have on a crepe or a pancake.

The peanut butter and banana sandwich has also been referred to as a favourite of Elvis Presley's. Nicknamed the Elvis Sandwich or simply The Elvis, a peanut butter and banana sandwich – or a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich – is cooked on a pan or griddle and numerous recipes can be found in cookbooks and online, including one from Nigella.

Gill More said: "Love them! On toast with honey too." Barbara Lloyd Myers said: "Love them but mash the banana and add a sprinkle of sugar."

Susanne Milroy commented: "With peanut butter on toast, yum!" Jo BP commented: "We used to have banana and dairylea butties. Delicious!"

Pat Millward posted: "Still have this….also on toast with a little jam xx" And Janet Morton wrote: "Have one quite often with a bit of salt."

And the chapter hasn't completely closed on this treat, as many still enjoy it today. Chris Haughton posted: "Still making them."

Patti Jones said: "I had them on toast yesterday lovely x" Julie Mealey wrote: "Love this. Still make them x"

William Swift said: "Still have them at 74 before a six mile walk." Joan Whitworth commented: "Just had one for lunch…..with honey and sultanas..delicious."

Merseyside is a place packed with fascinating history, people and stories – and you can keep up to date with it all through our dedicated WhatsApp community. If you'd like to join, click here.

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We also have a Liverpool Memories and History Facebook group. The group is for people to share their memories and photos of Liverpool through the years. Visit the Facebook group here.

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You can also follow our nostalgia reporter Jess Molyneux on Twitter here and her NostalJess videos on Tiktok here.

Linda Ann Upton posted: "Bananas on toast… have it for my lunch in work. And Bernardine Mitchell said: "A bit of bramble jelly on mine. Great! Still have one now."

But despite so many fond memories and love for the snack, others were not fans. Lyn Harper said: "No never liked it."

Marie Micallef commented: "Who eats fruit on bread." And Kenneth Calland said: "No couldn’t eat ‘‘em but liked bananas straight out the skin you to get big strings of bananas from the cast iron shore. There was heaps of us carrying them back to Upper Parly and Kingsley Red Liverpool 8, those were the days."

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