Thursday, April 7, 2011

Dulce's Banana Nut Bread

Dulce's Banana Nut Bread
I have searched for the best banana nut bread because I always have a couple "cheetah" bananas, as we call them in my house. I have sampled some decent ones but this one is still my favorite. It also calls for whole wheat flour so that's a plus. That is also why it looks a bit dark on the top.  Dulce was our resident lunch time supervisor and PTA president when I started teaching 9 years ago. It got me hooked and it hasn't let me down!


Ingredients

  • 1/2 c butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 c white sugar
  • 3 large bananas, mashed
  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 c all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 c chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp finely grated orange
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • optional: cinnamon sugar for dusting the top

Directions

  • Heat oven to 350
  • Cream butter, eggs, sugars, and bananas. Mix in remaining ingredients.
  • Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 5 loaf pan or 2 mini pans. 
  • Bake for 50-60 mins or 30-40 for 2 minis. 
Eat with whipped cream, cream cheese, or butter warm from the oven!


    Super Easy Roast Beef Sandwich

    Super Easy Roast Beef Sandwich
    This was one of those recipes that developed on the aisles of the grocery store. It's a cross between a pregnancy craving and being dead tired from work... so you know it'll be both easy and good!


    Ingredients
    1 large ciabatta loaf
    1 package or 10oz of roast beef
    1 package or 8 slices of sliced swiss cheese
    3/4 cup sliced pepperoncinis
    2 large onions, sliced into rings a cut once
    2 handfuls of baby spinach
    Dijon mustard (optional)
    butter and garlic powder to spread on the bread
    EVOO and 1 TB soy sauce
    Directions
    Turn broiler on low to heat. Sautee onions in EVOO. Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook until soft and tender.  

    Slice ciabatta loaf long ways and spread butter and sprinkle garlic powder.  Broil until lightly golden.  Lay out the whole package of roast beef on loaf.  Lightly dab Dijon mustard on the meat and add spinach. Add onion and pepperoncinis, top with swiss cheese.

    Broil as far away from the flame as possible until cheese is bubbly and bread is even more toasty. Slice and eat open faced. Serves 4-6.