Peanut Butter Banana Bread

**Craving some more sweets? Check out this link where you can find TONS of delicious new treats to satisfy any dessert craving you may have!**

I think I might have found my new favorite banana bread recipe and this one comes from Cooking Light so it’s a healthier version than others out there. I like the uniqueness of the ingredients, but at the same time, they’re easy enough to either substitute, or just ones that you have in your pantry. I omitted the peanuts when I made this, but I’ll try them the next time I make this. (Don’t let the long list of ingredients scare you – not hard, I promise!!!)

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4)

1/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt (I used plain nonfat Greek yogurt)

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 large eggs

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup ground flaxseed (I substituted 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil)

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp allspice (I used a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves)

2 tablespoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts

Cooking spray

GLAZE

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon low fat milk

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. To prepare bread, combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed. Add granulated and brown sugars; beat until blended. (I then added the oil and beat that in).

3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through allspice) in a small bowl. Add flour to banana mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into a 9x5 loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean (my oven cooks faster so I start checking about 15 mins. before recipe’s cook time).

4. Remove from oven; cool 10 mins in pan on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan; cool.

5. To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar, milk, and 1 tablespoon pb in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over bread (I used a knife and spread on like icing).

Mediterranean Pizza

I got this great “recipe” from Fitness magazine. This has become my favorite lunch to eat this week. The only prep is the cutting up of your “toppings!”

Medi Pizza

1 Pita, whole wheat (I couldn’t find the ww so I just used white)

chopped up: cucumbers, avocado, grape tomatoes

Feta Cheese

Hummus (I like the garlic flavored)

1. Cut pita in half. (1 whole “loaf” is a serving size).

2. Spread your hummus on each half.

3. Top with your veggies and cheese!

This is a hard “pizza” to eat with your hands, so I have to use a fork! Enjoy this oh-so-healthy meal!!

(When I ate this for dinner I added a side of quinoa and black beans to make it heartier)…look at all that food! You can eat a lot for fewer calories than a regular cheese pizza!

Hello Down Home Goodness

I love cream style corn. I love cornbread. Mix together, get my FAVORITE corn/cornbread casserole. Thank you Paula Deen! I love to make this when I make chili. Oh.The.Goodness.

Corn Casserole

1 (15 1/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 (14 3/4 oz) can cream-style corn

1 8oz. pkg. corn muffiin mix (JIFFY!!!)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded Chedder

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a large bowl stir together 2 cans corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake for 45 mins. or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with cheese. Return to oven for 5-10 more minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 mins and serve warm.

**I’ve also mixed my cheese in with the other ingredients and just baked for about an hour (I like mine to be more “done” so it’s not quite so mushy, so I bake this for longer than what is in the recipe)

YUMMMMMM!!!!!

Yes. This type of dish DOES exist!

This dish has it all. Are you ready for a recipe that will change your life?!?!

EXTREMELY Healthy. Easy. Delicious. (Generally) kid friendly **. Can be a side dish or a main meal.

**Unless your child is named Reid who has an aversion to a mix of foods touching.

Are you sold? Here it is: Quinoa with black beans and salsa. I found it here. Read all about quinoa here. So this recipe is great as a side dish, and it makes a lot so I have leftovers and will make it a lunch (or even dinner) for the next day or few days (depending on if I halve the recipe or not….and, really I’m the only one in my family who eats this because my husband has the same aversion to foods that Reid does. Genetic?!?!)

Quinoa with Black Beans and Salsa (I sometimes halve this)

2 T Olive oil

1 c dry quinoa (the only place that I haven’t found quinoa is Target. I like the Bob Red Mill’s Organic Whole Grain Quinoa – it’s a little expensive (I think $10) but it lasts for several makings of this dish)

1 c salsa (I always use Pace Picante Chunky)

2 c water

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1. Heat the oil and brown the quinoa (just make sure and watch because it seems like nothing’s happening and then all of a sudden the quinoa starts to brown and then it moves fast)

2. Mix in salsa and water and bring to a boil. Add beans, cover and simmer for about 20 mins. or until quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

It’s now ready to eat! I’ll just eat it like this if it’s a side dish, but if I make it a meal, I add it to Spinach salad and add whatever I have and like – cucumbers, avocado, chick peas, anything! I don’t add any dressing, but I’m sure you could (the quinoa acts as a dressing). When I eat this meal, I feel so good about myself that I ate so healthy!!!! I think that deserves a cookie afterwards, right?? ;)

Lots O' Meals!

YUM! I'm excited about our meals this week - trying out some new ones that I got from a good friend's blog. So, no pictures of the food, but I'll link to the recipes where there are pictures!

Burritos with Spanish Rice (I like the Old El Paso box rice) and a green salad with lots of veggies (I'll make this at the beginning of the week and we can eat it all week)

Chicken Parmesan served with spaghetti noodles and salad

Tamale Pie with homemade pinto beans and salad

If I just go crazy, I may even make this homemade pound cake with homemade whipped cream (per the reviews on this webpage, I'll use a metal bowl and make sure it and the whisk or beater are chilled, and double the powdered sugar - not sure if I'll whisk by hand or beat), and strawberries.

Can't wait to try everything!!!

A Little Slice of Summer Heaven

I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it is one that as soon as I have an excuse to make it, I'm jumping right on it. However, I can totally vouch for it for a couple reasons. One, I got it from a lady in our neighborhood who has the BEST recipes. Two, it contains ice-cream sandwiches, fudge sauce, caramel sauce and cool whip. Done deal right there. What's not to love about that combo??? Let me know if you try this and what you think!!!

Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert

You need to work fast so the ice cream doesn't melt. Have all the ingredients ready to assemble. It helps if you have someone help you unwrap all the sandwiches (this might be a good exercise for my 3 year old???). This is a great dessert to make with kids.

24 ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped

1/2 jar fudge sauce

1/2 jar caramel sauce

1 pkg toffee bits

1 large tub cool whip, thawed

4 heath bars or Skorr bars, roughly chopped for the top of the dessert

Place 12 sandwiches in a 9x13 pan. You may have to get creative to make them fit. Then pour 1/4 the jar of fudge on top of the sandwiches. Add 1/4 the jar of caramel, then 1/2 the bag of toffee bits, then spread 1/2 cool whip. Repeat layers. Then chop the Skorr or Heath bars and add them on top. Cover and place in freezer overnight.

TIPS: When you add the second layer of ice cream sandwiches you will have to apply a little pressure to make it fit the pan.

If you slightly microwave the fudge and caramel it is easier to pour.

You can make this 2 days before your party.

Are you drooling yet??????

Buttermilk Baked Chicken

If you're looking for a delicious, easy, super yummy want-to-bathe-in-the-sauce meal, this is a great recipe. I modified this Southern Living recipe to make ours. It calls for buttermilk, which I don't have on hand, and of course couldn't buy just a cup of it, but I found an extremely decandent chocolate chip bundt cake that uses buttermilk, so bingo! Perfect excuse to make a special occasion dessert and use some more buttermilk. (I'll be posting that dessert recipe later!) Anyway, I served this chicken with rice because I like to spoon the sauce on my rice too, but mashed potatoes would certainly be tasty with it too!

Buttermilk Baked Chicken

1/4 cup butter

4 chicken breasts (it calls for bone-in, but I used boneless)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk, divided

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 can cream of mushroom soup

sliced baby portobello mushrooms (I used about half of a mushroom package but would have used the whole thing if I weren't the only one eating mushrooms)

fresh, chopped thyme (I used dry thyme seasoning)

seasoning for chicken (salt, pepper, Tony Sacheres)

1. Preheat oven to 425. Melt butter in the oven in a lightly greased 13x9 dish. (about 3 minutes)

2. Meanwhile, dip chicken in 1/2 cup buttermilk, sprinkle with seasonings, and dredge in flour.

3. Remove dish from oven and add mushrooms and thyme. Arrange chicken (breast sides down - I guess if you're doing the bone-in - for boneless, I don't think it matters) in baking dish.

4. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes. Turn chicken and bake for 10 minutes.

5. Stir together soup and remaining 1 cup buttermilk. Pour over chicken and bake for 10 more minutes - put some foil lightly on top to prevent the chicken from browning too much.

6. Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Whisk soup mixture in baking dish until blended. Drizzle over chicken, or if you have certain family members who are not as into sauces as you are, leave in the dish so that you can spoon your own sauce onto your meat.

Yum!!!