Banana Nut Cookies

Usually my go to recipe when I have over ripe bananas has been banana nut bread, but I found this recipe for banana nut cookies and they will be my new go to recipe.  They taste like banana nut bread.  They get softer the longer they sit and you can freeze them.  I have a bag of them in my freezer right now.  It's nice having cookies in the freezer.  You can bake a couple when you want something sweet without having a whole recipe that you just "have" to eat. 

I know you can't smell them but it even smells like banana nut bread here. 

I bet you have everything you might need to make these cookies.

Melt one stick butter until it turns a little brown and smells nutty.  I have a hard time knowing how long is long.

Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Add the sugars to the melted butter.

Mix well and let cool for a few minutes.

Add to the bowl of a mixer.  Add 2 teaspoons vanilla

one egg

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup mashed ripe bananas about 2 large bananas.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour.  Mix well.

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts.  You can put pecans if you like.

Mix well.

It looks like banana nut bread.

Scoop out on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Place in a preheated 350 oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.  Do not over bake.

Then enjoy your cookies.

Banana Nut Cookie Recipe

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake 10-12 minutes.

Broccoli Pasta Salad

This is a different take on the broccoli salad that you are use to.  So if you want to try something different, but something that is very easy to make, give this recipe a try. It is also good the next day. 

It is a very pretty salad.

Very simple ingredients.

Start with 1 head of broccoli cut into very small pieces.  You will also want to cut away the hard stems.

Cook 4 cups bow tie pasta which is about 1/2 of a box.

Chop up about 7 sweet mini peppers in a variety of colors.

1/3 cup dried cranberries

Add the pasta to the veggies.

Now pour in about half a bottle of Kraft Three Cheese Ranch Dressing. After it has sat for a while in the fridge you will need to add some more because the pasta will soak it up.

The beauty of this recipe is you don't have to mix up the dressing you can pour it from the bottle.  I found this at Publix.

Add some salt

And pepper

Toss well to mix the dressing into the salad.  Cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Before serving add the slivered almonds.

Toss well.  It is now ready to eat.

Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe

About 7 sweet mini peppers in various colors
1 head chopped broccoli
1/3 cup dried cranberries
4 cups cooked bow tie pasta
3/4 cup to 1 cup Three Cheese Ranch Dressing
salt and pepper
Slivered almonds

Strawberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

When I found this recipe I was intrigued by the freeze dried strawberries.  So the next time I went to the store I found a bag of them and put them in the pantry.  I found them at Walmart in the produce section.  There's a small shelf with nuts and dried fruits.  I get why they used the freeze-dried strawberries because fresh ones add a lot of moisture to a dough. The flavor isn't as strong either as fresh strawberries.

Don't these look good?

Basic cookie dough recipe.

Start with 3/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

Mix well.

1 egg

Another egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt.  Mix well.

3 cups old fashioned oats. Mix well.

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup freeze dried strawberries.  I should have broken them up a little more.

This is what the package looked like.  I used the whole package in the recipe.

Forgot the picture of the dough scooped out.  To bake place in a preheated 350 oven.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.  I also froze some of the dough for later.

Strawberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned oats
3/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.