Starbucks Banana Bread

We are hosting a convention here in town in a couple of weeks, more on that another day, and we will be having an open house for guest.  I needed to get some baked goods made and in the freezer while I still have some free time.  I had some bananas that needed to be used so off to Pinterest I go to find a new recipe.  This is a recipe for Starbucks banana bread.  I will be honest I have not tried the Starbucks version but the recipe sounded good so I had to try it.  The bread looks pretty with the pecans on top.

You can make this bread in a large loaf too but I like to make breads in mini loaves.

 This recipe has both pecans and walnuts in it so if you are making this for a group setting make sure that you make it known that nuts are included.

 Start with 1 cup sugar

 1/2 cup oil

 1 egg.  Mix this well.

 Add 2 Tablespoons milk

 1 teaspoon vanilla

 2 teaspoon cinnamon.  I made mine a heaping 2 teaspoons.  I like cinnamon.

 1/4 teaspoon salt

 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.  Mix well.

 2 cups all purpose flour

 Now mash up about 3 or 4 bananas depending on the size of the bananas.  You need 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas.

 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.  Mix well.

 Spray the mini or regular loaf pans with Pam.  Fill them about 3/4 of the way full.

 Chop 1/3 cup pecans.

Sprinkle the pecans on top.  Place in a preheated 325 oven.  For the mini loaf pans I baked for about 40-45 minutes.  I started at 30 minutes and walked my way up.  Keep checking them.  If you make a big loaf bake for 60-8- minutes. 

Turn out and let cool completely.  Now I am going to freeze these so I want them to be totally cool.  Then I will wrap them well and place in a zip lock bag and place in the freezer.  Sorry I didn't cut them for you.  They smell good. 

Starbucks Banana Bread Recipe

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 Tablespoons milk

1 egg

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325.  Mini loaves bake 30-45 minutes, Regular size loaves 60-80 minutes. 

Parmesan Crusted Yellow Summer Squash

It's that time of year when the abundance of zucchini and yellow squash makes you wonder what do I do with it now. I saw this recipe and it looked easy and good.  It uses ingredients that I typically have in the pantry or fridge as this goes.  It turned out well.  Now it says yellow squash in the title but you can also use zucchini for most things you can use either vegetable, with the exception of zucchini bread I would think.

This is almost like squash fries.  All the cheesy goodness is really nice.

 Very easy recipe.

 Place some flour in a dish to dredge the pieces of squash in.  The amount of flour you need is based on the amount of squash you are cooking.

 Now the recipe calls for a splash of heavy cream or milk.  Now I looked everywhere for my splash measuring cup and could not find it.  I guess it doesn't really matter.

 Now a dollop of sour cream.  There again as much as you like.

 Add 2 eggs

 Whisk together well.

 Finely grate some Parmesan cheese.

 Cut the squash and zucchini like you would french fries.  This also allowed me to cut out some of the seeds.

 Dredge the piece through the flour

 It is all covered.

 Add to the egg mixture.

 Now roll in the cheese.

 Now line them up on a foil lined baking sheet.  This is the foil that is non stick.  If you don't have that spray the foil with Pam.  Place under the broiler for 7 minutes.

 After the 7 minutes take them out and turn them over.

 After they are all turned over place back under the broiler for another 7 minutes.

 After the second 7 minutes they are nice and golden brown and ready to eat.

Parmesan Crusted Yellow Summer Squash Recipe

2 medium yellow or zucchini squash
1/4 cup all purpose flour
a splash of heavy cream or milk
a dollop of sour cream
2 eggs
finely grated parmesan cheese

Bake under the broiler for 7 minutes, then turn and place back under the broiler for 7 more minutes.

Skillet Strawberry Crumble

This recipe landed in my inbox the other day from the Six Sister blog.  I don't know if you are familiar with this blog but you need to be.  I get lots of recipes from them.  This one spoke to me.  "You have strawberries in the fridge.  It's time to try this."  How can I turn down a talking recipe. So to the kitchen I go.

It's always a good day when you can make something in your cast iron skillet.

 This is a very easy recipe.

 You are going to mix and bake in your skillet.  Start with 1/2 cup sugar

 1 Tablespoon cornstarch.  This is going to be your thickener for your strawberries.

 2 Tablespoons lemon juice.

 Now about 3 cups chopped strawberries.  Place this on the stove and cook until the strawberries are soft and the liquid starts to become thick.

 While the strawberries are cooking mix the toping.  Start with 2 cup old fashioned oats.

 1 cup brown sugar.  Toss those together.

 Melt one stick of butter.

 Pour over the oats and toss together.

 The strawberries are done.

 Add the topping to the strawberries.  Now  the recipe did not tell what temperature to put the oven on.  So I went with the standard 350.  You are to bake for 10 minutes.  Well the topping didn't get as toasted or brown so I think maybe 400 would be a better temperature.  I am going to try that next time.

 I really wished we had some ice cream to go on top of this pie.  It smells really good.

And enjoy.  Now I think this recipe could be used with other fruits like maybe blackberries.  It is almost blackberry season.  I might have to try this.  Peaches would be good too.

Skillet Strawberry Crumble Recipe

3 cups chopped strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Crumble topping
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven 350-400 you can try one.  Bake for 10 minutes.

Oven Fried Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

I have been tasked this summer with cooking green beans in a way that a certain someone that doesn't like green beans will eat them.  Now this same person will eat brussels sprouts and cabbage and lots of other veggies that most people will not.  But he draws the line with green beans.  In talking with him he doesn't like them because they are usually mushy or soft.  So I had something to work with.  I like roasted green beans and they usually stay pretty firm.  So I thought this would be a good recipe to start with.

Who wouldn't like green beans with cheese on them right?

 Very easy. You probably already have what you need in the pantry.

 Start with one egg.

 Mix it well.

 Add 2 Tablespoons olive oil to the egg.

 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

 2 teaspoon garlic.  Mix this all together.

 Pour over cleans and trimmed green beans.

 Toss to coat.

 Make sure they are all coated well.

 Grate some parm cheese

 Toss the green beans in the cheese as well.

Spread out on a greased baking sheet.  Place in a preheated 425 oven.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.  To crisp them up turn on the broiler for a few minutes.

Now I'm sure you are wondering how he liked these beans.  He liked them.  He is changing his view of green beans. I have a couple other ways I want to try them as well.

Oven Fried Garlic Parmesan Green Bean Recipe

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoon garlic
1 egg beaten
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
12 oz fresh green beans
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425.  Bake 12-15 minutes.