Banana Bread

What do you know...more overripe bananas...hmmm, banana bread time. I made this yesterday and when I got back from picking up my husband at the airport it was gone!! I didn't even get a try. Fortunately I did get a couple of the banana oatmeal chocolate chip muffins this week!!


Banana Bread


1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Combine butter and sugar in mixing bowl.


Cream together.

Add first egg and beat until smooth.

Add second egg and beat until smooth.


Add mashed bananas and blend in.


In second bowl, stir in flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Add dry mixture to liquid mixtures.


Stir just to combine.

Transfer batter to greased loaf pan.

Bake at 300 degrees for one hour. Insert toothpick comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the finished product - and like I said when I got home last night there were only crumbs!!

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have tried several recipes...banana, banana chocolate chip and banana oatmeal...this time I decided to combine two of them and came up with this recipe!! I love banana and oatmeal together and the chocolate chips are just perfection!!

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 eggs

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup milk

1 cup mashed bananas

In large bowl measure in flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt & chocolate chips.

Mix well and make a well in the center.

In small bowl mash bananas. I do this with a fork - it seems to separate the banana better than a spoon.

In small bowl combine eggs, oil, milk and bananas.

Mix well.




Pour liquids into the well in the dry ingredients.



Stir just to moisten. The batter will be a little lumpy. Fill greased muffin cups.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. This makes 12 full muffins. I prefer them a little larger.
Here is the muffins all warm and toasty brown. By far the best recipe I have tried.

Turkey Stroganoff, Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower, Salad & Pillsbury Breadsticks

Tonight we had 11 for supper. Our oldest son was in a band and we had the band with their new members for supper and hang out time. It was nice to reconnect with these young adults again. Along with them our family and a friend of my daughters. One of the band members is sort of vegetarian - but she eats turkey/chicken. I did turkey version of Beef Stroganoff. It was a low calorie version that turned out very nice.

Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles
(This recipe serves 2 people. Because I was feeding more I multiplied the recipe by 6)

1 1/2 cups egg noodle
1 slice whole-wheat bread torn
2 tbsp skim milk
8 oz. ground turkey
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup grated onion
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp canola oil
2 tsp butter
1 tbsp flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/3 cup skim milk

Prepare noodles according to package directions.

Take bread and cut into small pieces

Soak bread in milk.

Combine turkey, egg, onion, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Stir in soaked bread. Form mixture into 8 meatballs [obviously I made many more :0)]

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides, 5 minutes; remove meatballs and set aside.

Melt butter in the skillet and stir in flour; cook 1 minute.

Whisk in broth; reduce heat to medium.

Whisk in milk.

Mix together brown sugar and thyme.

Add sugar/thyme mixture into cream sauce.

Return meatballs to sauce; simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Serve over meatballs.


Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

(I have made this recipe several times, but I think this is the first I have shared it. The flavors in this side dish are amazing - sweet, rich, yummy)

8 cups (about 1 large head) cut into florets

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp dried marjoram

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Put cauliflower in baking pan.

Toss cauliflower with oil, marjoram, salt and pepper. Roast for 15 - 20 minutes. Toss with vinegar and Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven and roast until the cheese is melted and any moisture has evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes more.

Salad

I take romaine hearts and slice them in about 1/2 inch slices. Pull the slices apart and mix together in a large bowl. To serve I put an assortment of dressings, croutons, bacon bits and cheese on the table for a serve yourself salad. Any salad less is stored in a Ziploc bag. I have found it lasts longer by not mixing it with other ingredients and dressing. It also means the lettuce is ready for a quick lunch salad for me without much work.

Pillsbury Bread Sticks

2 packages of Pillsbury Bread Sticks

olive oil

Parmesan cheese

Italian seasoning

I take them apart and twist each one onto the baking pan. I sprinkle them with olive oil, Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bake according to directions. They are a dressed up version -easy to do.