Melt-Banana is an easy to prepare and fun snack the whole family can enjoy. It’s more commonly known as fried plantains, but whatever: here goes.

First, slice ¼"-thick slices from a ripe plantain at an angle. Next, fill a frying pan ¼"-deep with cooking oil. Vegetable oil is preferred; however, depending on your budget and/or dietary needs, olive oil may be substituted.

The plantains should be fried in the pan for a few minutes, until the plantain "meat" seems well-cooked.

The next step is the oft-forgotten and arguably most important: The cooked plantains should be removed from the frying pan and placed on either a paper towel or on a plate. Smoosh the plantains with a smooshing device, more commonly referred to as a spoon.

Return the smooshed plantains to the frying pan, and fry until the plantains are slightly crispy. Remove from the frying pan and garnish with any of the following: brown sugar, salt, guacamole, or salsa. Try experimenting with your favorite garnishments. While most would refer to the completed dish as fried plantains, I’d encourage the use of Melt-Banana — this slight alteration coincides with the musical group’s altered tour arrangements. Then, simply serve and enjoy.

Not since Ozzfest ’98 have I been so compelled to see Maynard dance half naked on stage. TOOL’s tour — with Melt-Banana opening on several dates — coincides eerily with the re-formed Rage Against the Machine and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Melt-Banana’s altered tour in support of their new album Bambi’s Dilemma and also partially in support of TOOL:

05.18.07 - West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour 05.19.07 - Pomona, CA - Glass House 05.20.07 - San Diego, CA - Casbah 05.22.07 - Mesa, AZ - Hollywood Alley # 05.23.07 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad # 05.24.07 - Oklahoma City, OK - Conservatory # 05.25.07 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves # 05.26.07 - Austin, TX - Emo’s # 05.27.07 - Houston, TX - Numbers # 05.29.07 - Tampa, FL - USF Sundome * 05.30.07 - Tallahassee, FL - Beta Bar 05.31.07 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena * 06.01.07 - Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center * 06.02.07 - Jacksonville, FL - Veteren’s Memorial Colesium * 06.03.07 - Gainsville, FL - Common Grounds 06.04.07 - Duluth, GA - Gwinnette Center * 06.05.07 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center * 06.06.07 - Carboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle 06.07.07 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Colesium * 06.08.07 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena * 06.09.07 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk, Hotel * 06.10.07 - New York City, NY - Knitting Factory 06.11.07 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs 06.12.07 - Washington, DC - Black Cat 06.13.07 - Winston-Salem, NC - Lawrence Joel Veteren’s Colesium * 06.14.07 - Columbus, OH - Little Brother’s 06.15.07 - Covington, KY - Madd Hatter Club 06.16.07 - Cape Girardeau, MO - Show Me Center * 06.17.07 - Evansville, IN - Robert’s Stadium * 06.20.07 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center Arena * 06.21.07 - Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub 06.22.07 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Arena * 06.23.07 - Fort Wayne, IN - Memorial Colesium * 06.24.07 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry 06.26.07 - Iowa City, IA - Picador 06.27.07 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck 06.28.07 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground 06.29.07 - Denver, CO - Bluebird 06.30.07 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge 07.01.07 - Bozeman, MO - Zebra Cocktail Lounge 07.03.07 - Seattle, WA - Neumos 07.04.07 - Portland, OR - Dante’s 07.06.07 - San Francisco, CA - Independent

* TOOL
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