Banana Bread

I am always buying bananas. I also forget that I have them so they usually end up getting too ripe, and I will just throw them out. I do have a perfect use for those bananas with the unsightly brown spots all over them. Make banana bread! I made some a few weeks ago, and my daughter couldn't stop eating it. That's a good sign. I love this bread. It's perfect for breakfast. Or lunch, or an afternoon snack...I could go on and on. You get the idea.

Banana Bread

1 1/4 c sugar
1/4 c butter - softened
3 egg whites
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas)
1 small container fat free vanilla yogurt
2 3/4 c flour
1 1/4 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c chopped nuts - optional

Cream together the sugar and butter. Stir in the egg whites until blended. Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients until just moistened. Don't over stir. Pour into two greased 8 inch loaf pans. bake for 50-60 minutes at 350.

Some Alfredo Love...

This has got to be one of my all time favorite meals. I love Alfredo sauce. I could just eat it with a spoon right from the saucepan. Or I could be more civilized and pour some into a bowl and dip garlic bread into it. I may or may not have done this a time or two. My husband might be just as guilty of it as I am. It's a great midnight snack! Who could resist something that has both butter and cheese in it?

Alfredo Sauce

8 oz. package cream cheese

3/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 c milk

1/2 c butter

pepper - to taste

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until you have a smooth sauce. Serve over any type of pasta you like. I usually toss some chicken and spinach into my bowl. It's that easy!

Mmmmmm... molasses cookies!

Yes...it's been quite some time since I've been to the land of blogging. That doesn't mean I haven't been cooking, though. I have just been too busy to sit down and think of something witty to say and then type it all out. I did manage to make it through Thanksgiving without burning or under cooking anything! I also made my first turkey. I am not a fan of turkey, but after this one, I can't wait to make one for Christmas. I've been baking a lot of cookies lately. The kids are quite happy about that. They tend to prefer the cookie dough to the cookies. One of my all time favorites is molasses cookies. I don't know why I only make them this time of year, but it might also be a good thing that I only make them around the holidays. Whenever I make this recipe, I usually double it. These also freeze well!

Molasses Cookies

3/4 c shortening

1 c sugar

1/4 c Molasses

1 egg

2 c flour

2 t baking soda

1/2 t ground cloves

1/2 t ground ginger

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

Melt shortening in a saucepan, then set aside to cool. Mix sugar, molasses, egg, and shortening together. Sift together flour, baking soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Add this to the sugar and molasses mixture. Mix well. Chill for an hour. Roll into 1 inch balls, then roll in granulated sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375.