Nana's Banana Bread

My friend from high school Kathy was looking for a Banana Bread Recipe and although she wanted one with only a few ingredients, I had to share this. It is the BEST recipe for Banana Bread.

Nana's Banana Bread

5 T. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar (I use light brown sugar)
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. mashed, very ripe bananas (I use 3 medium sized)
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 c. heavy cream (I use 1/2 and 1/2 if I don't have the cream)
1/3 c. chopped walnuts (optional, I don't use them).

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of a 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer set on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar and brown sugar; beat well. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla extract; beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed 30 seconds.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts (if using them) to batter; mix well.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
5. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter or jam.

Chicken Soup with Gnocchi

I was having lunch with my Mom at Olive Garden the other afternoon. One of my all time favorite lunches is "Soup, Salad and Breadsticks" at O.G. My Mom and I went through the soup bite by delicious bite trying to come up with the ingredients. I think we came up with a pretty good recipe here. I am going to use my mortar and pestel to grind down the herbs. Gnocchi (for those who don't already know) is a delicious little Italian Potato Dumpling. I have a pretty good recipe (from my friend Patty B.) but I have to admit that tonight I am using (gasp!); frozen Gnocchi. My apologizes to all my Italian American friends. Enjoy.










Chicken Soup with Gnocchi



1 chicken cut up (cooked and meat shredded or chopped)

1/2 c. butter

3/4 c. celery (chopped fine)

3/4 c. onion (chopped fine)

1/2 c. carrots (grated or chopped fine)

1 1/2 t. garlic (minced)

1/3 c. flour

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

4 c. chicken broth

3/4 c. fresh spinach (julienne chopped)

16 oz. Gnocchi

1/2 t. dried rosemary

1/4 t. black pepper

1/4 t. white pepper

1/4 t. tarragon



1. Melt butter in a stock pot.

2. Add onions, celery, carrots and garlic; saute until soft.

3. Add flour; mix well. Cook 3-4 minutes; stirring frequently.

4. Add cream and chicken broth; mix well. Cook until thick and boiling.

5. Reduce heat, add chicken, spinach, gnocchi and remaining herbs and seasonings.

6. Cover; cook on low 8 - 10 minutes until gnocchi are tender.

Breakfast Casserole

I was craving this casserole this morning, but didn't two of the ingredients (sausage and cheddar cheese). I made blueberry pancakes instead, but I am going to make this casserole this week sometime, place 1/2 into 8 x 8 pan and 1/2 into another 8x8 pan into the freezer. Everyone at our house loves this casserole.

Breakfast Casserole

8 eggs; beaten

1 # pork sausage

6 slices bread, cubed

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 t. dry mustard

1 t. salt

2 c. milk

1. Cook sausage; drain well.

2. Into a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Mix; making sure all the sausage and bread is being covered by the egg/milk mixture.

3. Pour into a 9 x 13" baking dish that has been sprayed with a non-stick baking spray.

4. Place into a 350 degree preheated oven; bake for 1 hour.