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.

Fried Banana Wontons with Black & White Drizzle

I saw this in the Sept. 2010 issue of the Rachel Ray Magazine and I knew I had to try it! It didn't let me down! I was easy and delicious. We ate it for breaky with eggs but it will be a great dessert too. I'm probably making it next week for our small group. This recipe makes 12 wontons, but you can easily double the recipe for a bigger crowd...Yes, I know it's been along time since my last blog but... what can I say, I'm here now so that counts for something right! :)

Fried Banana Wontons with Black and White Drizzle

• 1/2 C choc chips
• 1/4 C heavy cream 
• 24 wonton wrappers
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1 egg white, 1 tsp of water beaten
• 6 TB butter
• 1/2 cream frache or a bottle of "tshhht" aka Whip Cream (that's the sound my kids would make when they were little to tell me they wanted a squirt in the mouth of it, yes we do that...)

Melt the choc chips and heavy cream in the microwave in a small bowl, stirring often. 2 rounds at 40 sec each did it for us. Be careful not to burn it.  Lay out the wonton papers. Now here is a fork in the road... you can either fold them (make triangles), making 24 or top 12 with the wontons ontop like a sandwich. This is a personal decision. I did it the sandwich way but I might try it the triangle way next time. Top the wontons with banana slices and seal them with the egg mixture (respective glue), push it snug to seal the top and bottom. Add some butter at medium heat and add your first batch of wontons. Cook on each side for 2 minutes. Remove when golden brown. Wipe pan and repeat.  Pile onto plates and top with chocolate sauce and cream! Delish!