Banana Bread!

This morning was a "Banana Bread kinda morning"!  I had a couple of over ripe naners staring at me so decided to make my fave recipe.  This bread is made with whole wheat flour but is so light, not dense at all.  I don't dig nuts in my bread, so I sprinkle some rolled oats on top for some crunchiness instead, but if you're feeling nutty feel free to throw a 1/2 cup or so into the batter and sprinkle some on top!



Dry Ingredients

1 2/3 cup of whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

2 large over ripe bananans, smashed up
1/3 cup milk (I use 1%)
1 egg
1/4 cup Smart Balance, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients until blended.  In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients until well blended.  Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well.  Pour into greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle the top with rolled oats.  Bake for 1 hour. 

That's it!  So easy, yet so yummy!  The middle is light and moist, while the outside has just the right amount of crunch.  I like to spread a little Smart Balance on mine while it's still warm :)  Enjoy!

We Be Jammin'

Today was jam making day in the Fern - blueberry to be specific!  This will be the 3rd year we've been making jam.  When I first started, I had no clue how to begin.  During my web search I came across the Pick Your Own website and followed their step-by-step illustrated instructions.  The result?  Perfect jam every time!  If you want all the details, go to their site, but  I'll provide an overview so you can see how easy it is to do!

What you need:  jars, lids, rings, a large canner pot (I just use my largest stockpot), funnel, jar tongs, lid magnet,  pectin, sugar, lemon juice, and around 9 or 10 cups of fruit. 

The first thing to do is sanitize your jars and lids.  You can run them through the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle or you can wash, then boil for 10 minutes.  You need to keep them hot while you are prepping your jam so the jars won't break.  I boiled mine and filled up the sink with very hot water and let them soak until I was ready to fill.

Next you need to wash and sort your berries.  I just put mine in a colander, wash thoroughly, and discard any stems, leaves, or squishy ones.

Next, add berries to a large pot and mash 'em up!  This is your chance to work out any frustrations from the day and give your arms a work out!  Make sure you don't leave any whole berries.  As you do this, the smell will captivate you....it's ahhhhmazing!!!

Next, you will add the pectin/sugar mixture and the lemon juice.  Then the remaining sugar, bring to a boil, and do a gel test to see if it sets up like you want it to.  If not, just add a little more pectin and bring to a boil.   Here's my little helper sneaking a taste while I'm doing the gel test!  Don't even ask why she has long sleeve Christmas pjs on.  It's only 100 degrees outside, she's making me sweat looking at her! 

Now the fun part - filling the jars with all the blueberry goodness!  By the way, you should have your large stockpot full of boiling water so you can drop your filled jars in.  Using your funnel, fill each jar, put a lid and ring on, then drop into the boiling water.  I usually let mine boil for 10 minutes.  After they are finished, remove each with the jar tongs and set out  to cool.

Then you wait for that beautiful popping sound!  That means the jars are sealed!  Let them cool overnight and your beautiful homemade jam is ready to store or give.  I love keeping jam on hand for gifts.  Everyone loves to get a gift made with love and what says love better than a big spoonful of sweet fruity jam made with your very on hands???!!!  I hope this inspires you to get in the kitchen and pump up the jam!

Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Those who know me, know I love spicy foods!  If you aren't a spice lover then you can always omit the jalapeno and it will still be fabulous :)  This was inspired by your traditional cucumber and red onion salad but with a twist.  You will need:

1 Tbsp. rice wine or white balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. Sesame oil
2 tsp. Soy sauce
3 small kirby cucumbers, sliced and seeds taken out
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced thin with seeds and veins taken out
1/4 cup of thinly sliced red onion
2-3 cloves crushed garlic
salt/pepper to taste

In a small dish combine vinegar, oil, soy sauce and crushed garlic.  Mix well.  Next, add the sliced cucumbers (I like to cut my slices in half, so they look like half moons), sliced jalapenos, and sliced red onions.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper.  Toss so all the ingredients are coated in the sauce.  Let chill for 1 to 2 hours.  This is great as a side dish or added to a steak salad!  Enjoy!

Kitchen Katastrophes

I love to cook, however I'm not a patient cook, therefore every once in a while I have some problems in the kitchen.  Yesterday, I decided to make a mixed berry crostada with the fresh blackberries and blueberries we had...yum!  I thought I had plenty of butter, so I start mixing up the ingredients...flour in, sugar in, salt in, butter in - oops, I only had 1 stick of butter left!  At this point I should have loaded up the kids and made a trip to the store, but I wanted a berry crostada NOW (notice the impatience here?).  So, I substituted Smart Balance spread.  Note to self:  NEXT TIME GO TO THE STORE! 

After 5 minutes in the oven, I see the beginnings of an oven disaster...melted butter is all over the baking sheet, about to roll right off into my clean oven.  My mind is working overtime....I can't waste my beautiful fresh berries and all of those ingredients!  So, I dump everything in a baking dish and hope the final product is somewhat like a cobbler.  Surprise, surprise!  40 minutes later I take it out of the oven, it looks like cobbler, it smells like cobbler, and IT TASTES LIKE COBBLER!  Disaster averted, ingredients saved, momma's fat and happy! 

Let me know I'm not alone with Kitchen Mishaps!  Have you made a mess in the kitchen?  Did you save it or have to scrap it?

"Homemade" Salsa to die for!

Tonight is taco night and I am about to mix up a batch of my favorite salsa courtesy of my hero, The Pioneer Woman!  This salsa is sooooo good and super easy.  Everyone will be asking you for the recipe.  Go here to see step-by-step how Ree makes it or follow these instructions. This makes a Large batch!  I mix mine in my blender since I don't have a food processor big enough.  It keeps very well in the fridge for about 2 weeks, however it's never around our house that long!  Enjoy :)

P.S.  if you do visit the PW site, she is giving away 3 $350 Target gift cards, so make sure you register to win!

You'll need:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you'd like---I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.
Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour.