Banana Bread

We had a box of bananas at the hotel go bad...(really they were disgusting) so I decided to take them home and make banana bread out of them. When I actually took them out of the box and discovered how truly nasty ewwy gooey they were I wasn't sure they would even be good for bread, they were literally falling out of the peel but my mom assured me that they would make really good bread, so I did.

I found 2 recipes for banana bread and decided to try them both! The first recipe was simple and it does taste good but the 2nd recipe had ingredients that just made it sound like it should just taste better! My mom said she liked the simple one best and my dad liked the 2nd one and well I just prefer zucchini bread over banana : )  But because the 2nd one suits my fancy that's the one I'm going to share! (If you want the simple one let me know.)

Spicy Banana Nut Bread

1/2 C Margarine
1C. firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1tsp. vanilla
1 1/4C. all-purpose flour
3/4C. whole wheat flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1 1/4 C. mashed bananas
2 Tbsp. milk
1/4 C. chopped nuts

Place margarine and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Add egg and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy. Blend flours and remaining dry ingredients; then add alternately with bananas and milk. Spoon into a greased 9x5x2 3/4-in. loaf pan. Sprinkle top with nuts, pressing lightly into batter. Bake at 350 for 55-60 min. (unless you are using glass pans, which in my experience means less time, keep an eye on them) Cool, then remove from pan. If allowed to age, flavors blend. Makes 1 loaf!

And 12 loaves later....yum!

Little fun story!

So I am not good at math and I had to times each recipe by 4! Well I was having trouble figuring out what 1/3 x 4 was so I called my brother Tyler (he's the mathematical one) and asked him if it was 3/4s and he said, "yeah that's right." Ok thanks. Hang up. Then I put the 1/3 measuring cup in the 3/4 cup and think, "there is no way that 4 of those would fit in one of these, I'm just going to have to do it the long way." Then Tyler calls back and I answer... "That's not right is it?" "No its not, its 1 1/3." "I didn't think it was right, ok thanks bye."

Different But Oh SOOO Good!

I highly recommend this! It is SO good! We used garlic bread but other than that, followed the recipe. Here.

Time to cook!

  With summer pretty much gone, school started and friends gone I seem to have a lot more free time. Which I like to use to do activities or in this case make goodies I find on pinterest! 

  

  If you know me well you know I don't "cook" often but I like to bake! Well...I saw a few things (on pinterest) that I wanted to try and although I later realized I never actually cooked anything, just mixed ingredients together, Hey, I made "real food!" 

I baked a few things as well...:)

We all know I love granola bars! ahintofhoney.blogspot.com

The 2nd thing I made was,"Grape Salad." In my mind sour cream and cream cheese should never be mixed together but despite the nasty ingredients  I thought this salad was super delish! I admit, I made my mom taste it first.

4 pounds seedless grapes

1 (8oz) Pkg of cream cheese

1 (8oz) container of sour cream

1/2 C. white sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

4 oz chopped pecans

2 Tbsp brown sugar

Wash and dry grapes. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Add grapes and mix. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans mix again and refrigerate.

"Zucchini Bread" is next! Got this recipe from my mom. 

This is the pretty "plain" loaf.

 These 2 are the good ugly loaves with chocolate chips and nuts. The first loaf completely fell apart when I tired to get it out of the pan. It is pictured in the bag... (Note to self: Wait till bread cools COMPLETELY)

Lastly we have my favorite!"Quick Chicken Salad." I  have actually had this before and it is SO good! We love it!

2(12.5) cans of chicken

3/4 C. Mayo

1C. red grapes halved

1 green onion (I used like 5)

1 stalk celery (nah!)

1/2 C. diced apple

Salt and pepper to taste

Pecans and Cashews

In bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, grapes, green onion, celery, apple and S&P. Mix. Serve on rolls, bread or croissants, sprinkle with cashews or pecans. Can be served on lettuce.  We used pita bread, SO YUM!