Delicious Banana Bread

This is the best banana bread I have ever made. It came out so moist! It comes from my hubby's aunt. I don't have any pictures to share because my toddler was sick the day I made this. I had him on my hip and I was teaching my preschooler how to properly measure flour. Not enough hands for a camera that day! But trust me, it's so good.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour, plus extra to dust pan
1 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 very ripe bananas, mashed well with a fork
1/4 cup plain yogurt ( I used fat free)
2 large eggs, beaten
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted & cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and adjust oven rack to lower middle position. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x5 pan and dust with flour. Tap out excess flour.

Toast the chopped walnuts on a baking sheet 5-10 minutes. Let cool.

Whisk together in a large bowl with the flour, sugar, baking soda, and walnuts.

In a medium bowl, mix together with a wooden spoon the bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter and vanilla. Lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined and the batter looks thick and chunky. (I have learned that over-stirring during this step can lead to dry bread.)

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

Cool in the pan for about 55 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Yum, yum, yum! :)

Stuffed Pepper Soup

This recipe is a favorite around here. My husband loves this soup. It's hearty and very easy to make.

Start with one box of Rice-a Roni Long Grain andWild Rice. Cook according to directions put aside. ( In this picture, I forgot to include the green peppers. You will need 4-5, chopped but I will get to that in a minute.)

Brown 1 pound ground turkey in a large pot with 1 tsp onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Once meat is brown add: 4 cups chicken broth
                                       8 oz can tomato sauce
                                       14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
Let this simmer for about 25 minutes.

Add the cooked rice, 4-5 green peppers cut into chunks , 3 tablespoons vinegar and 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Let this simmer for about 25 minutes or until the green peppers are soft.

Simple and so good. Great soup for fall or winter. Best when sitting in front of the TV watching football.   

Spicy Jalepeno Corn Bread

This recipe is from Cooking Light. It's the first corn bread I ever made and it's so good!

Ingedients:

Cooking Spray

1 1/4 cups stone-ground cornmeal

1 cup fresh corn kernels (I use frozen corn, cooked)

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup nonfat buttermilk
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2 tbs minced pickled jalapeno peppers
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Place a 9 inch cast-iron skillet coated with cooking spray in oven for 5 minutes or until heated.

3. Combine cornmeal, corn, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl, stirring a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk, cheese, jalapenos, butter, honey, oil and eggs in a small bowl; add to cornmeal mixture. Stir just until combined. Spoon mixture into preheated pan. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Cut into 12 wedges.