Banana Bread

Did you know that today is National Banana Bread Day? Weird, I know. I think every day of the year is designated as some sort of national food day. Who sits around and thinks of those? Whoever it is...I want THEIR job! Anyway...in honor of National Banana Bread Day, I'm posting the banana bread recipe I have used for years. I got it from an old friend many, many years ago and I've been using it all this time....which is at least 35 years. It never fails to make the most moist, scrumptious and delicious banana bread. You can make it plain or add all kinds of fun stuff to it. The last time I made it I added chocolate chips...because really...who doesn't love banana and chocolate? But nuts are good...dried cranberries are tasty....a little coconut...anything that makes your heart go pitter-pat. And it freezes beautifully. It makes cute little mini loaves, too. So...go celebrate by making some banana bread for your loved ones! Now, I'm off to make cinnamon rolls!!

Banana Bread



1/3 cup shortening
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 cup add-ins:
Chopped nuts
Cranberries
Coconut
Chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Sift together dry ingredients and add to shortening mixture alternately with mashed banana, blending well after each addition. Stir in add-ins, if using. Pour into well greased loaf pan and bake for 45 – 50 minutes at 350 degrees until done. Let cool on wire rack for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely.

Our ingredients.....

Cream the shortening and sugar 

together until fluffy.

Add the eggs....

Mash up the bananas. I just do 

it by hand with my potato masher.

Add the bananas....

alternately with the dry ingredients.

Spray your loaf pan with cooking spray. 

I even like to put some parchment paper 

down to ensure that the loaf comes our clean. 

Parchment paper is GOOD!

Here's the batter....

I added chocolate chips to mine.

Bake it up, let it cool....

..then slice and eat!

Tasty Apple Fritters

One of IT Guy's most favorite thing is apple dessert. Anything apple. If we're out to eat and decide to share a dessert, he almost will always go for anything apple. Me? I go for the chocolate. So I decided to make him some fritters. He was happy. Also... #1 son is a happy camper, too because he takes after his dad in the apple department.

Tasty Apple Fritters



2 cups vegetable oil 
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cups apples ~ peeled, cored and chopped


Heat the 2 cups of oil in a large sauce pan to medium-high heat.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

Pour in the milk, vanilla, egg and oil and stir until well blended.

Mix in apples.

Drop heaping spoonfuls of the  batter into the hot oil and fry until golden on both sides, about 5 minutes.

Don't overcrowd the pan.

Using a slotted spoon, remove from the hot oil and drain on paper towels.

Dunk fritters in vanilla glaze. (Recipe follows)

Set aside to allow glaze to harden.

Makes about a dozen fritters.


Vanilla Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup whole milk
1 teaspoons vanilla
Dash of salt

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk until smooth.

 

Here's the line up. Oops. Forgot the vanilla.

 

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.

 

Add the wet ingredients.

 

Stir in the apples.

 

Heat the oil to medium/medium-high 

and drop some batter by large spoonfuls. 

I cooked three at a time.

 

Drain on paper towels.

 

Here's the stuff for the vanilla glaze.

 

Mix it together in a bowl.

 

Then dunk them and use a slotted 

spoon to remove and drain the glaze.

 

Allow the glaze to harden.

 

Then eat them!!! So yummy!