Banana Cake - Healthier version

 

I recently was given this recipe and I can't stop making it. Delicious,easy and a healthier version because it avoids saturated fats. I tweaked it a little bit and now you can make it on repeat too!

 

Banana Cake

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup mashed bananas (2 large) I don't really measure

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour (or sub 1/2 cup whole wheat 3/4 cup gluten free, or all gluten free) any combo works great

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp milk

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (I just throw in a handful and put a few on top- you don't need much)

 

Combine wet ingredients.

Mix together dry ingredients. 

Add wet to dry. 

 

How's that for detailed instructions? lol 

Bake at 350Fin a greased, floured 8 inch square or round. 30 to 40 min 

Christmas Pudding Sauce

 One of my fondest memories from childhood is stirring the pudding sauce in the double boiler on Christmas day. Grandma used to bring the pudding and steam it in a pudding steamer that I still had. Most of us just ate a spoonful of pudding so we could pile on this delicious sauce. My recipe (in my Mom's handwriting that I still use is starting to get a bit faded so I thought I would put it on the blog. I always forget to take a photo at Christmas dinner so I only have a couple of preparation photos....

Christmas Pudding Sauce

 3 egg yolks

1 cup fruit sugar (very fine) 

1/2 cup butter (melted) 

Beat eggs until thick, gradually add sugar. Add

melted butter slowly and heat in a double boiler over warm water.

Stirring continuously for about 10 minutes.

Cool. Add a pinch of salt and 1 cup of whipping cream (before whipping).

Fold into butter mixture and chill. 

 

 

Cowboy Caviar

 

Another great recipe from my friend Liz!  

Who knew canned lentils were palatable?

 

Cowboy Caviar

1 can lentils, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 14 ounce can of corn, drained and rinsed (I used Herles corn that I had recently frozen)

1 cups each of chopped green onion, red and green pepper, celery

 

Dressing

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup sugar or less

s and p to taste

Combine, heat up and while warm add to the beans. 

Let the mixture cool and add the rest of the ingredients.

Makes a big batch. Serve with a larger or scooped nacho. 

Oma's Yellow Cake

 

It's been awhile since I posted anything but I wanted to have a record of this cake that is part of my Heritage. Oma always made this cake for special occasions. It reflects the person that she was plain but sturdy. A person of amazing strength and perseverance through hardships. I love this cake with some berries and whipped cream but its great just on its own and gets better by the day. Even better, it is made with ingredients that you likely always have on hand.

 Oma's Yellow Cake

Mix together:

3 cups all purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

2 cups white sugar

1 cup butter (melted)

Then add:

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

some salt (1 tsp?)

 

Put in a fully greased Bundt pan and bake at 350F for around 50-55 min. 

NOTE: I prefer mine slightly under baked and it is a little moister. 

February Swap card

 We are going strong, just like a New Year's resolution.

 

Keri used the cutest stamp and die set from Concord and 9th called Cup of Cheer. 

She always does such a good job with the interior of the card and even the envelope.

 

 

I used my favorite new Die set from Spellbinders called Bold Blooms. Even though, I have several flower die sets, this one is so delicate and detailed. I love it. 

 Simple yet versatile. Stay tuned for March.

Fried Rice

 I kind of wing this recipe depending on what I have on hand. Last time I made it, this was roughly the recipe that I followed.

Fried Rice

6 cups of cooked rice, day old

3 large eggs, whisked

3/4 cup frozen mixed vegetables, cooked

1/4 to 1/2 cup diced onion, also chopped carrot can be added

1 tsp garlic (I didn't have fresh so I used the jar, you can do this to taste)

salt and pepper

3 strips of bacon

4-5 Tbsp of soy sauce, low salt

Butter (1-3 Tbsp)

Green onion to garnish

 

Cut into small pieces and fry the bacon. Add onion/carrot and cook until tender. 

Push to the side and add scramble the eggs. Remove

Add more butter as needed. Increase heat to med-high, add rice and soy sauce. 

Cook about 5 minutes, rice can be slightly browned. 

Then add back the cooked onions/bacon/egg and frozen veggies cooked.

Stir it all up and enjoy!

 

 

Air Fryer Chicken

 I make this recipe all the time and I'm constantly looking it up. So it's time to put it on the blog for easy reference. I typically use bone in, skin on chicken thighs but you could make this with boneless, skinless and it would be good also. The air fryer crisps it up nicely and the fat drips off making it a healthier option. Oh and it's fast too!

Air Fryer chicken

 

Squeeze lemon juice over thighs. Sprinkle with spices and rub them in. 

Air fry the chicken thighs at 400F for 24 minutes flipping them over half way.

My air fryer holds 4-5 comfortably. If you want to do more, double the recipe and cook

in batches.

 

5 chicken thighs, bone in, skin on

1/2 lemon (can omit)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dried herbs, I used oregano

 

See instructions above.