Make a Double Batch of the Dry Ingredients, then save half for the NEXT time you make Banana Bread #SaveTime : > #BananaBread

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Make a Double Batch of the Dry Ingredients, then save half for the NEXT time you make Banana Bread - Saves Time : )

Everyone loves Banana Bread, but sometimes, you'll be walking by your bananas, and you KNOW they're waiting for you to magically turn them into Banana Bread, but it seems like such a hassle to go and figure out everything you need to make the Banana Bread, you know?  

So here's what me did, today - I thought, really, this is silly, why not make a double batch - in that, I made the first part of the Dry Ingredients, twice - the first time, I just put in the Base Ingredients for Banana Bread - 1 1/2 Cups of flour, 1 Cup of Sugar, 1 tsp. Salt, 1 tsp. Baking Soda, 3 Tbsp. Cinnamon.  

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So that's pretty easy, right?  It's easy, once you've got all your ingredients out of the fridge (that's where I store my sugar and flour...)... anyway, so you just mix that first quick 'batch' together, pour it into a Large Ziploc Baggie, pop that in the fridge for the NEXT time you want to make some Banana Bread : )  Great idea, right?  Now you won't have to feel like it's soo much work to make you Banana Bread the next time around...and it would make a nice little Home Made Gift, too - maybe in a nice jar, instead of the Ziploc Bag?? hahahaha!  You know that would make me laugh, to give that as a gift - here you go, Happy Birthday!  Here's a bag of ingredients! hahahaah!  Noo, me would fancy it up, for sures! lol!

Okay, now go ahead and make another batch - it'll be super-fast, since you just made the first batch, and were already surprised at how fast that was to make, too - lol!

So here's what all I usually put in my Banana Bread, but it's all extra stuff - no need, if you want to have your Banana Bread, straight-up, so-to-speak! 

I add in whatever Chocolate Chips I have around... I usually have a couple of bags of some kind of chocolate chips... yum!  We love the chocolate chips in the Banana Bread - and then I chop some Walnuts and pour in some raisins... yum!  Well, now I can hardly wait for the Banana Bread to come out the oven - lol!

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Easy, right? lol! And now you're ready for the next time you have some bananas waiting for you to turn them into some delicious Banana Bread - lol!

Yum!  Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch Chips, Raisins, and Chopped Walnuts : )

Today I tried another little something - it's good to play around in the kitchen, try new-to-you things... so I put Parchment Paper in the 9" X 13" pan... just seemed like a good idea to try... what if the Parchment Paper makes the Banana Bread just fall right out of the pan, when it's cooled down?  That would be so great, and make clean up even easier : )  

Plus, I use Parchment Paper all the time when I'm baking Shortbread, or any other cookies, or cooking any frozen things, like Jalapeno Poppers, those Green Beans like the ones at TGI Fridays...you know those Green Beans, and they're like some sort of fried Green Beans - anyway, delicious, so I like to bake those... and then dip them in Ranch Dressing... anyway, if you aren't using Parchment Paper, yet, try it out, you'll love it!  I just pick it up at the Dollar Store - it's great for little things like that : ) 

Ooh, here's the Banana Bread - yum!  Me yuvs it soo much!!

Perfect Banana Bread every time! Yum!!

Banana Bread is such a nice treat to have around the house, and it's healthy, too :)  And, you'll never waste your bananas, again!  Yahoo!

This Banana Bread recipe is super-easy, and absolutely no-fail ...clearly, I love that 'no-fail' aspect to a recipe... so much better if you know fer sures a recipe will work out, right?

I often make my Banana Bread in a 9" X 13" pan, and sometimes in an 8" X 8" pan, but you can easily use loaf pans... I am particularly fond of those tiny little loaf pans... perfect if you are giving these loaves as gifts :)




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See how lovely the crust is? That's from the sugar sprinkled on it before you pop it in the oven - makes the banana bread even more delicious! lol! I added chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, as well as the usual chopped walnuts - yum!! Crazy delicious, and, of course, I slather it with butter, too - sooo tasty! And healthy, too (maybe except for the butter, but I looove it, so whatever... happiness in eating, first! lol! : )

Also, because this is such a versatile base recipe for 'fruit breads', you can easily substitute Cranberries (you know when you might have cranberries left over from Christmas?  This is a great way to use them... just throw in whatever extra cranberries you have, or if the cranberries are on sale, grab some cans of cranberries, and use the whole can with this recipe (instead of the bananas! lol!).  I usually add in chopped walnuts or pecans... whatever you have around the house, and chocolate chips are fun to add, if you feel like a chocolatey treat!

Everything you need for delicious Banana Bread :)

Easy and Delicious Banana Bread


Stir together in a large bowl:
1 1/2 cups of Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 to 3 tbsp. Cinnamon


3 Bananas, or however many you have sitting around... if your bananas have gotten a little black, not to worry, that's just sugar... they're fine to use in your Banana Bread :)





Mash the bananas, then add in: 


                                                                                       1 Egg
                                                                                       1 tsp. Vanilla
                                                                                       1/3 cup melted margarine (melt 30     seconds in                   the microwave)(OR, you can use 1/3 cup oil)

So quick and easy to make, and fun to share!

Gently stir the banana mixture into the larger bowl with the flour and all the other dry ingredients... will be really easy, and will only take a few minutes.  


Chop some nuts, or chop up some Trail Mix (I like the Trail Mix with cranberries, raisins, cashews, almonds and chocolate chips... I finely chop the Trail mix and either stir it in, or sprinkle it on top, but with regular walnuts or chocolate chips (or both!), just go ahead and stir them into the batter...

Banana Bread ready for the oven : )

Pour into well-greased pan. Sometimes I line the pan with Parchment Paper, but that's optional... makes it super-easy to take the Banana Bread out the pan...


And now for the Big Trick that makes this (and every kind of Fruit Bread), really, really delicious...


Sprinkle the entire top of the Banana Bread Mixture, once it's in the pan, with a lot of sugar.  This part is key, since the sugar will create a really nice topping, and will give the Banana Bread a really nice texture.


Bake at 350 Degrees for about 45 - 60 minutes, if you are using a 9" X 13" pan or loaf pans, but keep an eye out on it after 15 minutes... you just want to check the banana bread with a toothpick or a knife to see if it comes out clean... stick it in the middle, since that's the last bit to cook through. If you're not quite sure, leave it in the oven a few more minutes... you can always cover it with tin foil if you're worried it might burn, but you should be fine...


If you happen to be using a toaster oven, and an 8" X 8" pan, it will take only about 15 - 20 minutes... the same thing, though, just keep a wee eye on it, make sure it's okay :)


The last time I made Banana Nut Bread, I totally forgot to add the chopped nuts and fruit (the finely chopped Trail Mix), so I just sprinkled it on the top, then sprinkled the sugar on top of that, and it was really pretty and delicious... never worry when you're baking... just go with the flow, you'll be fine!  


You can pre-make the base for this Fruit Bread, if you want to maybe give it as a gift, or save it for the next time you make it, just mix the dry ingredients together and pop into a large baggie, label and put in the fridge, but it's so easy, you'll soon be able to make it in your sleep! lol! Play around with it, add different kinds of fruits and/or nuts... I've heard that pineapple can be added... haven't tried that, yet, but I think it would be more like a carrot cake, but then, you could just switch the bananas for shredded carrots, add the nuts, pineapple and raisins, and whammo, you'd have Carrot Cake! lol!  So you can see it's a very versatile recipe, and easily doubled, too, if you find you have a lot of bananas on your hands! 

Yum!  I just cut the Banana Bread into squares and serve :  )

Yum!! I made a double batch of Banana Bread, today - sooo delicious!

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My favorite books to start with, with Louise Hay - You Can Heal Your Life - brilliant, and it really WILL change your life... and Meditations for Daily Living - think that's the right title  - is so lovely, you'll love it - all very heartwarming, very clarifying... and Louise Hay has a tiny little book, I Can Do It - looove it, you'll love it, too... I love all of Louise's books... so lovely and life-changing : ) https://buildyourownhousebodylife.blogspot.com/2014/11/louisehay-you-can-heal-your-life.html

Wait, Don't Throw Out Those Leftover Cranberries or Leftover Turkey... or Pineapple! #Leftovers

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What to Do With Your Leftover Cranberries - or Pineapple! 

Hahaha!  Nooo, don't throw out your leftover cranberries or pineapple, just yet... you can make a lovely Cranberry Bread, or my new favorite, Cranberry Pineapple Pie.... dang, I don't have pictures of the Pineapple Pie, on account o' I was gonna make it, yesterday, but I accidentally bought FIVE pies... ugh, what was I thinking???  They looked sooooo good in the store! lol!  Now they're all in the fridge... I baked the blueberry pie and the apple pie, (the secret to making a store-bought fruit pie more 'home-made' is to liberally sprinkle the top with sugar before you pop it in the oven...), and had one piece, last night, only because there it was, all uneaten, 'n all, and I had already baked them, so felt obligated to at least have one piece.... and then, this morning, I had one piece of the lemon pie... well, most of it... I think I would like it better frozen... when there's room in the freezer, I'll pop it in there, will be more like an ice cream dessert, and then I won't feel any pressure to eat it... it's funny, everything appeals to us in the store, then by the time we get home, the appeal is gone (odd, I've had some marriages like that, too! hahahahahahaha!  Okay, some dates, too.... hahaha!  Otay, you got me, those jokes are just for me, and, yes, I am laughing pretty hard, sitting here at the computer!! hahahaha! Happier to be Single on the Holiday of Stress, than with a crazy screamer or nutjob... no matter how good their hair is! hahaha! Oh, man... so silly!

Soooo, if you don't want to waste your leftover cranberries (or whole cans of cranberries... or if you see them on a great Boxing Day or After-Christmas Sale, and canny resist stocking up..), and you're not all pie-d out, like me, you can easily make a lovely pie with your cranberries and pineapple...

Cranberry Pineapple Pear Pie... the pears are optional, but pretty! lol!

Use the Easy Schmeasy Pie Crust... low in fat and very good for a low cholesterol diet, or anyone who wants a healthier version of a pie that tastes deeelicious!)Yes, this is the beginning of your Super-Easy Pie Crust! Look ma, no Lard! 

Easy Schmeasy Pie Crust:  This is the easiest pie crust, ever -- make it right in the pie plate, no rolling, just mix and press with your fingers.... and it's excellent for a low cholesterol diet... very low in fat and sugar, so great for diabetics, too... I love it because it's fast and easy (much like myself! An old joke, but a good one! lol!), delicious, and no lard -- ick!! The trick is to mix the milk with the oil -- I just shake it in a jar, or put the milk and oil in a glass, cover with plastic wrap, shake shake shake!  Fun to make with the kids, too!http://buildyourownhousebodylife.blogspot.com/2010/10/easy-schmeasy-pie-crust.html

1 can cranberries, or whatever you have left of your cranberries
1 can crushed pineapple, slightly drained (okay to leave some liquid)
1or 2 tsp of Vanilla (really, I always put in extra Vanilla -- I loove it! lol!)
1 cup sugar

(Oh, if you don't have pineapple, try using a cup of raisins... will taste like Cherry Pie... no kidding! Cranberries + Raisins = Cherry!  Little trick of nature, right there! lol!)

Put in a large microwave bowl, and microwave for about 5 minutes... just to heat it up, melt the sugar, you know...

Stir together:
1 or 2 tbsp Cinnamon (because cinnamon is very good for you... moderates your blood sugar 'n whatnot :)
Dash of Salt
3 tbsp of flour (or corn starch)

Stir the dry ingredients into the cranberry/pineapple mixture, then pour into the pie shell.

If you happen to have pears, (pear halves, but but if you have pear slices, just arrange them neatly in a circle, unless you prefer a more relaxed look! lol!), arrange them in a circle... looks pretty :)

I like a Crumb Topping for pies, partly because it's waaay easier, but also because it's considerably less pie crust, so a healthier pie... the other day, when I was making shortbread, it occurred to me to reserve some of the shortbread dough (I wrap it in 'shortbread logs' in plastic wrap, leave in the fridge for whenever I might have a shortbread shortage! hahaha!  Like I would ever have a shortbread shortage! hahaha! Seems like I make it every other day, these days!) Anyway... take a little of the shortbread dough and add more icing sugar/flour to make it lightly crumbly, then sprinkle that on the pie.  You can do just an inch around the edge, then a section in the middle, or roll out the shortbread dough and cut shapes to place on top of the pie... or you can use my regular Crumb Topping... will have to get the link for you... it's the topping I put on the Peach Pie, which is craaazy delicious...

You technically don't need any pie crust for this pie, since it looks really pretty with the pears arranged around the top, so it's just a matter of personal choice...

Bake at 350 for aboout 45 minutes... the usual.  Let cool... enjoy!




Yum!!  This Cranberry Pineapple Walnut (okay, and chocolate! lol!) Bread was delicious -- I say 'was', because it goes really quickly, is soo yummy!  And healthy, too! 

OR, you could put the leftover cranberries in Cranberry Bread... just like the Banana Bread, only you use Cranberries, instead.  I generally use the whole can of Cranberries, especially if I've found them on sale, somewhere... this is really lovely bread, and you can make it like a coffee cake in a square 8" X 8" pan, or in a 9" X 13" pan (will take very little time to cook in a larger pan), or you can make it in a loaf pan...

Go ahead and throw in the pineapple, if you have it, and some nuts, if you like them.... chocolate chips are great, too, since chocolate cranberry is a great combo, right? (Also, Cranberry/Vodka! lol!)

I'll get the link and put it up for you... :)

Banana Bread Made Easy :) 

http://buildyourownhousebodylife.blogspot.com/2011/12/perfect-banana-bread-every-time-banana.html

Everything you need for delicious Fruit Bread :)

Easy and Delicious Banana Bread
(adapted for Cranberry Bread : )
Stir together in a large bowl:
1 1/2 cups of Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tbsp. Cinnamon
1 can Cranberries
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla                                                                                 
1/3 cup melted margarine (melt 30 seconds in the microwave)  
If you have some nuts, raisins, and/or chocolate, toss them in, too... will be delicious! : )

Oh, don't forget to Sprinkle the Cranberry Bread with LOTS of sugar (well, not a craaazy amount of sugar, but a good liberal sprinkling will give any Fruit Bread a nice crispy crust... you'll love it!), to give it a really nice finish.. will be waaay more delicious, and if you are going for more of a 'Coffee Cake', add the Crumb Topping, and that will be absolutely lovely, too : )

Bake at 350 Degrees F. for 15 - 45 minutes, depending on pan size you use (remember to grease the pan, and/or use parchment paper so it won't burn or stick to the pan... : ) 

Creamy Delicious Peach Pie  (the Crumb Topping is on this Peach Pie...!)








Leftover Turkey: Oh, and just in case you still have some turkey in your fridge, have you had it with a yummy Campbell's Mushroom Soup 'Gravy' (just heat up the soup plus a wee bit of milk!), delicious with potatoes (also left over?? lol!), rice or pasta - yummy, one way or another!

And then there's always my favourite, favourite toasted turkey sandwiches! Add in any leftover Stuffing - yum! Simple and delicious!  lol!

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