Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

It seems like there are always two or three bananas that just can't manage to get themselves eaten before they look like this:


and when these beauties appear in our kitchen, Mr. DoM's first instinct is to chuck 'em. My first instinct is to make Banana Bread. I was actually waiting for this last batch of bananas to go "bad" because I had a Peanut Butter Banana Bread recipe to test.



One of my son's friends insists that she does not like peanut butter. I just don't understand that. I think everybody needs a little peanut butter in their life, and this Banana Bread recipe has just enough. (Although, I bet if you want it even more peanut-buttery you could up the dose to 5 Tablespoons.)














Peanut Butter Banana Bread


1/3 cup butter
4 Tablespoons smooth peanut butter
3 large or 4 small ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare one loaf pan by buttering or use cooking spray.

Place butter and peanut butter into one bowl and use microwave to melt. Using a large mixing bowl and spoon, combine peanut butter mixture and mashed bananas. Add both sugars, beaten egg and vanilla, stir to incorporate all ingredients. Then add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir just enough to combine, but do not over mix the batter.

Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour then test with toothpick. Loaf is done with toothpick comes out clean. (My loaf took 1 hour, 5 min). Cool, remove from pan, slice and enjoy!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Menu Week 93

Monday - Hawaiian Beef Teriyaki skewers, grilled carrots, green salad
Tuesday - Cilantro Lime Chicken Wraps (recipe coming this week - I promise!)
Wednesday - Super Mac (a DoM Jr Favorite)
Thursday - Bacon Wrapped Hamburgers, Disappearing Salad
Friday - eat out
Saturday - Grilled Pesto Salmon & veggies
Sunday - BBQ Club Sandwiches & green salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette



This week's treat: Fresh Strawberry Sorbet

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Food for the Fourth

Need some new ideas for your Independence Day get-together? Try some of these: (click on the photo to view the recipe)



Grillables






Refreshing Salads




Kid Friendly Desserts


Johnson Baked Beans

Do you have your 4th of July festivities planned yet? Are you looking for the perfect side dish to go with your BBQ feast? I have one for you. This one is a classic in my family - Johnson Baked Beans. I love them hot from the oven for dinner, or cold with lunch the next day (if there are any left!) The recipe is also flexible. Don't have butter beans? Add another can of kidney beans or a small can of pork & beans, or a can of navy beans or....well - you get the idea.




click here for printable version of recipe


Johnson Baked Beans


1/2 lb bacon, cooked & diced
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (15 oz) can Butter Beans
1 (15 oz) can Kidney Beans
1 large can Pork & Beans
1/4 c. ketchup
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard

Cook bacon (I prefer the oven). Let it cool, then crumble into small to medium sized pieces.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Add onions and saute with beef until softened. Add all ingredients to a large dutch oven (or other baking dish is fine). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Menu Week 92

Busy, busy, busy. What a crazy couple of weeks! I'm hoping now that our schedule is not so full, that I'll be able to do more cooking. Our weather is supposed to be beautiful this week, so bring on the grill!


Monday
- Spaghetti & Meatballs and Rustic Pan Bread
Tuesday - Hawaiian Beef Teriyaki, grilled pineapple & rice
Wednesday - Paninis of some kind...maybe with chicken and Pesto?
Thursday - Spanish Spice Rubbed Chicken, fruit salad
Friday - eat out
Saturday - Happy 4th of July! Bring on the BBQ
Sunday - BBQ Chicken Pizza


This week's treat: Fireworks cupcakes for Saturday




Need more menu ideas? Check out Menu Plan Monday

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I Need Your Help

Would you mind taking a quick poll for me please?

I'm trying to get an idea of how people decide what to make for dinner each night. Do you use any type of menu? Weekly? Monthly? Other? Or are you a weekend chef only?

If you just have a minute, please take the poll. If you have more time, I'd love it if you'd leave me a quick comment and tell me how - and if- you meal plan and why it works for you.

Thank You!


Monday, June 8, 2009

Chickpea Salad

I love summer salads, and this one does not disappoint. We've eaten it two ways; As a salad (exactly following the recipe) and also as a pita filling, by mixing it with lettuce and grilled chicken. Both were great.

The original recipe is from one of my favorite Food Network Chefs, Guy Fieri. I used not quite all of the same ingredients, and changed the amounts of everything. My version is below




Click here for printable version of recipe


Chickpea Salad

serves 4


1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 of a jalapeno, minced (remove seeds and ribs for less spicy)
1/4 cup minced red onion
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup canned chickpeas - drain and reserve 1 Tbsp of liquid
1/2 cup (mounded) cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 Tablespoons minced fresh mint
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

butter lettuce, romaine or other lettuce, chopped


In a medium sized bowl, combine garlic, jalapeno, red onion, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add chickpeas and 1 Tbsp liquid, cherry tomatoes, mint and cilantro. Taste again and add any additional salt and pepper if needed.

You can either toss this mixture with the lettuce now, or serve them separately. I prefer to add the lettuce to my plate and then spoon the chickpea salad over the top. The benefit to doing it this way, is if you have leftovers they will keep longer. If the two are mixed, the vinaigrette can make the greens soggy over time.