Wheat banana bread with Streusel-Nut Topping

Okay, so last week you may remember that I posted a banana bread recipe, and I mentioned that next time I wanted to try it with a crunch topping? Weirdly enough a few days later I was looking through my BHG magazine and there was a recipe for banana bread with a streusel topping...it was a must try....and it was a definately yummy recipe. I have been wanting to try banana bread with wheat flour and it turned out really good with this recipe, enjoy!!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1 cup all purpose and 1 cup whole wheat)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1-1/2 cups mashed banana (4-5 medium)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine (I used 1/4 a cup of butter which is a 1/2 cube butter and 1/4 cup applesauce instead)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts ( I ommited the walnuts in the bread and left it for the topping)
1 recipe Streusel-Nut Topping

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 7-1/2x3-1/2x2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired, sprinkle Streusel Topping over batter.

3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7-1/2x3-1/2x2-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

4. Makes 1 loaf

5. Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.

Chicken Tacos

Forget going out to a a fancy Mexican resteraunt, these are killer and really easy. If you are intimidated to make Mexican food, don't be, this is a great one to try! Funny little story to go along with this recipe. Every time Chris's aunt comes to town, she begs Chris's mom to make these, and because she only gets a chance to eat these when she comes to town, she consumes like 12 of these babies, they are that good!!

1 garlic clove

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. oil, vegetable or canola

3 1/2-4 cups shredded chicken (I just boil 4 chicken breasts, and then run them through my food processor, so easy!(

12-15 corn tortillas (I just buy a big bag of corn tortillas-I will tell you what to do with them below)

Pinch of pepper

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 onion, chopped

2 (10 oz.) cans Rotel tomatoes (I drain one of the cans, and not the other)

grated cheese

shredded lettuce

Sour Cream

If you want, homemade guacamole, click here for recipe.

Mash garlic with salt to make a paste. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and garlic paste. Cook unitl onion is tender. Add tomatoes, pepper and cumin. Stir in chicken. Cook uncovered, sitrring occasionally until liquid is obsorbed into meat. Taste and add more salt and cumin if needed.

For corn shells, get a skillet (or I use fajita skillet), and place a corn tortilla on it, cook 20 seconds on each side...this will make the corn shells sorft. Once cooked place in between 2 paper towels to keep warm and soft. Enjoy!!!

Cinnamon Banana Bread

I apologize if you want something besides bread recipes, but I have been on a bread kick lately. I don't know if it's because Fall is quickly approaching, and the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg cooking in my kitchen gets me real giddy for the fall. I don't know, either way, here's another recipe for ya!

By the way, this recipe called for 2 cubes of butter, yes, 2 cubes. But, I couldn't bring myself to cook with that much fat. So I used 1 cube of butter and 1/2 a cup of applesauce, and this cake was soooo moist! You are going to love it!

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup of butter (1 cube)

1/2 cup of applesauce (next time I am going to by the cinnamon applesauce to give it even more spice.)

2 ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I didn't add this, but it would be yum!)

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup flour (next time I am going to try half of it using whole wheat flour)

2 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Cream sugars and butter. Add bananas and egg, mix well. Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake 350 for 30-35 minutes, or when toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. Cool in pan.

PS-when I dumped my batter into the pans, it looked like it wasn't going to be enough batter, don't worry, it bakes fine, it's not a HUGE fluffy bread, but it will rise a little.

EXTRA options:

-Next time I bake this, I am going to try combining some cinnamon, sugar and br. sugar and lightly sprinkling it on top of the bread, and then baking it, to kind of give it a coffee cake crunch

OR

frosting the bread with a cream cheese drizze.......either sounds like heaven

ENJOY!!

Zuchinni Chocolate Chip Bread

I LOVE trying new bread recipes. My neighbors brought me some huge Zuchinni's from their garden the other night, and the only thing I like to do with Zuchinni is make bread!! I grate it up and freeze them in ziplock's and then I can get quite a few batches of bread throughout the year. This recipe is so yummy because it has orange zest in it, and gives it an awesome flavor!!


Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon orange zest


Directions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease (2) 9 by 5-inch loaf pans.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended. Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, pecans, chocolate chips, and orange zest. Stir in sifted ingredients. Pour into prepared loaf pans.

Note: I didn't mix the pecans in with the bread, I did a nutless loaf for my kids and then I just sprinkled some pecans on top of the adult loaf.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove loaves from pans and cool.

Recipe taken from Food Network-Paula Deen

CranApple Crunch Muffins

I made these for breakfast this morning, and the kids loved them. I served it with Cran-Raspberry Juice, and it's a perfect combination.




CranApple Crunch Muffins

Ingredients
Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

TOPPING
2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons Martha White® All-Purpose Flour
3 tablespoons old fashioned or quick-cooking oats

MUFFINS
1 (7 oz.) package Martha White® Whole Grain Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup milk

Preparation Directions
1. HEAT oven to 425°F. Lightly spray 6 medium muffin cups with no-stick cooking spray or line with paper baking cups. Combine topping ingredients in small bowl until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
2. COMBINE muffin mix, cranberries and walnuts in medium bowl. Add milk; stir just until moistened. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan; cool slightly. Serve warm or cool.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Serving size: 6 muffins

Recipe taken from Martha White muffin mix

Roast with Creamy Ranch Gravy and New Potatoes

I made this for dinner last night, and I Loved how different this recipe is. The cream cheese and ranch make the potoes and gravy soooo yummy! Enjoy!


1 2-1/2- to 3-pound boneless pork shoulder roast
Nonstick cooking spray
1 pound new red-skinned potatoes, halved
1 10 3/4-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup (I used 98% fat free)
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, cubed and softened (I used a lighter cream cheese)
1 0.4-ounce envelope ranch dry salad dressing mix
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Directions
1. Trim fat from meat. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray; heat skillet over medium heat. In hot skillet brown roast on all sides. Remove from heat.

2. Place potatoes in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Place meat over potatoes. In a medium bowl whisk together soup, cream cheese, and salad dressing mix. Spoon over meat and potatoes in cooker.

3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4-1/2 to 5 hours. Serve with freshly ground black pepper, if desired. Makes 6 servings.


Alternative Recipe:
Creamy Ranch Potatoes: Prepare as above, except omit pork roast, use 2-1/2 pounds potatoes, and substitute one 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream for cream cheese. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Stir before serving. Makes about 6 (1 cup) servings

Recipe taken from Better Homes and Garden Cookbook