Heat the oven to 110°C (225°F) Gas 1/4 .

In a bowl, beat together the ham, eggs and breadcrumbs.

Put the milk in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Stir the milk into the ham mixture. Season to taste with pepper and mix everything together thoroughly.

Melt 15 g (1/2 oz) butter in a large

frying-pan over moderate heat. When the butter is hot and foaming, spoon tablespoonsfuls of half the mixture into the pan. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes until well browned, then turn them over using a fish slice and cook for a further 1 - 2 minutes. Drain on absorbent paper and keep warm in the oven while you prepare the next batch.

Melt another 15 g (1/2 oz) butter and cook the other half of the mixture in the same way. Drain on absorbent paper and keep warm.

Lower the heat and melt the remaining butter in the same pan. Peel the bananas and cut each in half lengthways. Fry gently in the butter for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan so that the butter coats all the bananas thoroughly.

Arrange the fritters on a warmed serving dish and put the bananas around them. Garnish with sprigs of parsley.