Easy Banana Bread

Easy Banana Bread

Not sure why, but the thought of throwing away over-ripe bananas drives me nuts.  Instead, I’ll spend a few bucks to save four $0.35 bananas – not logical, but makes for a treat everyone enjoys.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup (1stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 over-ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Sift the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl – set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Add the eggs, beating well after each one, add the bananas and beat for 1 minute.
  4. Pour the banana / butter mixture into flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined – do not overmix.  Pour batter into a lightly grease 9×5 inch loaf pan and sprinkle walnuts over the top (if using walnuts).
  5. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out with just a few moist crumbs.  Remove the banana bread from the oven and let  cool in pan for 15 minutes, then unmold and cool completely on a wire rack.

Notes: I like chunks of banana in my banana bread so I typically squeeze and knead the bananas while they’re still in the peel.  By the time I’m done with this fun task, all I need to do is remove the peels and add the ‘mashed’ bananas to the batter.

Slow Cooker Overnight Oatmeal

Oatmeal Serving

Oatmeal Serving

Oatmeal on a cold morning is a personal favorite.  I’ve seen a ton of recipes for Crockpot oatmeal and finally decided to try it.  I’ve tried my own version and it’s worked well on the first try!  The steel-cut oats give the oatmeal fabulous texture and the old-fashioned oats provide the creaminess that’s perfectly soothing on a cold morning.  Make in the evening and wake up to a perfect breakfast.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Oatmeal Cooking

    Oatmeal Cooking

    Find a ovenproof bowl that will fit inside your Crockpot with some space around it.  Fill the Crockpot with water to half full.  Place the empty bowl in the Crockpot.

  2. Blend the water, oats and salt in the bowl.
  3. Turn the Crockpot on low and cook for 8 hours.
  4. Serve with maple syrup, raisins and cream if desired.

Makes 4 servings.

Notes: Yes, the oatmeal can be made by incorporating dried fruit like dates, apricot and cranberries in the cooking process, but the above is the purist’s version.

Soft Boiled Egg

They say a banana is the world’s most perfect food, but a soft-boiled egg with the right seasoning and a dollop of mayo might just be ‘it’ for me.

Perfect Egg

Perfect Egg

Directions:

  1. Place room-temperature egg in a small saucepan. Cover with cold water so there’s about 1-inch of water above the egg.
  2. Put saucepan over high heat.  Allow to come to a boil, then immediately remove from heat.  Allow eggs to stand in hot water for 5 minutes.
  3. Drain hot water and place the egg on an egg cup or small saucer.
  4. Cut a small ‘cap’ off the top of the egg, exposing some of the soft yolk.
  5. Season with sea salt, cracked pepper and a small dollop of mayonnaise.
Breakfast Portobello Mushrooms with Shiitakes

Breakfast Portobello Mushrooms with Shiitakes

portoeggA simple yet delicious way to start your day. Perfect for entertaining.

Ingredients:

  • 4 medium to large fresh portabello caps
  • 3 Tbs. olive oil
  • 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced
  • 1/2 small onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup fried, crumbled bacon
  • salt
  • 4 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Place the portobello caps, gill side up, in a large baking dish and bake 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat oil in a large sauté pan over high heat.  Add shiitakes, onion, and corn; sauté until mushrooms are limp and corn is tender, 3-4 minutes.  Add pine nuts and bacon and stir well.  Season to taste.  Be sure to season well, making it a little salty.

Remove mushrooms from oven and evenly divide shiitake mixture among the four caps, smoothing surface.  Make sure caps lay as flat as possible.  Crack an egg on top of each mushroom.  Return dish to oven and bake until eggs are done to your liking.

4 Servings.