Best Banana Bread recipe

This bread is from my friend Kristi, who in my opinion makes the best banana bread. I crave it all the time, and luckily she brings me some from time to time!!! I make it all the time but we eat it too fast to get a good pictures. But I had to post it and sharte the love becuase it is soooooo good and moist!!! (picture to be coming soon!)


Banana Bread
1 c. sugar
1/4 c butter, softened
3 mashed, ripened bananas
1/4 c milk
1/4 c sour cream
2 large egg whites
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Cooking spray
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar, butter until fluffy. Add milk, sour cream, egg whites and beat well. Stir in bananas. Combine dry ingredients and add slowly to banana mixture until combined. Pour into bread pans coated with cooking spray and bake for about 45-50 minutes, unless it is a large loaf pan then bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Be careful not to over cook or it will dry out. I usually cover mine loosely with foil for the last 20 minutes of baking time to make sure the top doesn't get to brown and dry. The ultimate comfort food!

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

Oh my gosh this bread is good! I love banana bread, I love coconut, and I love lime...The combination is TO DIE FOR! I almost ate the whole loaf myself! This is my all time favorite banana brea now. Nothing else compares!

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

adapted from Our Best Bites

2 c. flour

3/4 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 c. sugar

1/4 c butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c mashed ripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

1/4 c sour cream or plain yogurt

3 T apple juice

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 c. shredded coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wisk flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Add eggs and beat to combine. Add banana, sour cream, apple juice, and vanilla. Beat until just blended. Add flour mixture and beat at a low speed until just combined. Stir in 1/2 c. coconut. Pour batter into 9x5 loaf pan that has been greased and floured. Sprinkle an additional 2 T shredded coconut over the top of the loaf. Bake for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. ( I cover mine loosely with aluminum foil about 40 minutes into the baking time so the top doesn't get too brown or hardened. When done remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack for about 10 minutes.

For the glaze:

wisk 1/2 c. powdered sugar with 1 1/2 T. fresh lime juice. Drizzle over the top, wipe the drool from your face and DIG IN!!!!This makes my mouth water everytime that i am thinking about it!!!

French Bread

This is a very easy and delish french bread recipe that I found on Jen's "Yummy Fun" blog.

7 C flour

3 C water

1 Tlb sugar

2 tsp coarse salt

1 Tlb + 1 tsp yeast

1-2 Tlb cornmeal

GLAZE

1 egg white

1 Tlb water

Mix 4 Cups flour, sugar, (very warm) water and yeast in mixer and let knead for 3-4 minutes. Add salt and remaining flour gradually and let knead for 6-8 minutes. Once kneading is complete, roll out on floured counter space and divide in 1/2 or 1/3's (depending if you want 3 loaves or 2). Roll out into a 8x10 rectangle and roll up lengthwise, jelly roll style. Pinch seams together to seal. Grease cookie sheets and sprinkle cornmeal on sheet. Place loaf on sheet and set aside in warm place to rise (should double) approx 20 minutes. Whisk egg whites and water together, brush over dough loaves. With sharp knife make four shallow slashes across the top of dough loaf. You can also do this before rising if you don't trust yourself with knives and worry about slashing too deep.. you do not want to deflate your loaf. Bake 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool on wire racks.

Jamies "almost' Lasagna and Yummy Garlic Bread

My friend Jamie introduced me to these 2 wonderful recipes....I love easy italian meals that I can whip up fast! The kids love it! I also love, love, love, love, garlic bread and this recipe is a fun twist! Enjoy!

Almost Lasagna

8 oz. barilla mostacccioli noodles
Cook in salted water according to directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.

1tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. pepper
1 bottle of your favorite spaghetti sauce

Cook hamburger with listed seasonings. Drain grease and then add spaghetti sauce. Cook until it starts to boil and take off heat.

1 C. cottage cheese
1 C. sour cream
1 C. grated cheddar cheese

Mix together and add to noodles.

Layer in 9 x 13 starting with meat. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese on top. Bake covered 350 for 30 minutes.

Cheesy bread

french bread loaf sliced in half
1/2 C. mayo
4 TBSP. butter, softened
dash of garlic salt
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 C. grated cheddar cheese

Combine and spread over bread. Bake at 400 until bubbly and crispy.

Chocolate Banana Bread

Chocolate Swirled Banana Bread
from Our best bites:
2 c. flour
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
¼ c. butter, softened
1 ½ c. mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 medium bananas)\
2 eggs
1/3 c. plain lowfat yogurt or sour cream
½ c. chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cups and level. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Cream sugar and butter. Add bananas, eggs, and yogurt, beating until just blended. Add flour mixture. Beat on low until just moistened. Microwave chocolate chips in a medium bowl for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Add 1 c. batter to chocolate, stirring until well-combined. Spoon chocolate batter alternately with plain batter (so you have stripes of plain and chocolate batter) in an 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pan coated with cooking spray, and swirl batters with a knife Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes (give or take a little; I'd probably set your timer for 1 hour and 10 minutes to be safe) or until a knife comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan and then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
*Note: I just poured the banana batter and then the chocolate batter into the pan, i was lazy and i didn't alternate or swirl....Next time I will alternate and swirl because the chocolate batter burned a little on top and I didn't get that "neat" swirl pattern....The taste is out of this world though!!

Refrigerator Rolls

1 T. yeast

1 T. sugar

2 T. water

3 eggs

1/2 c. sugar

3/4 t. salt

1 c. scalded milk, slightly cooled

1/2 c. butter, softened

3 1/2-4 c. sifted flour




Dissolve yeast, sugar, and water; let stand. Beat eggs, sugar, and salt. Slowly pour in warm milk; mix well. Add butter and let melt in warm milk. When butter is dissolved, add to yeast and beat in flour. Dough should be soft and sticky. Store in fridge overnight. Cut in half the following day. Roll out like a pie crust. Brush lightly with butter. Cut with biscuit cutter, or other small round cutter and fold circles in half. Place on cookie sheet and let rise 4-6 hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Beer Bread

1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
3 cups self-rising flour (Make your own self rising flour by adding 1 t. baking powder and 1/2 t. salt to each cup of flour).
1/3 c. white sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and flour. Add beer and continue to mix, first using a wooden spoon, then your hands. Batter will be sticky. Pour into a 9 x 5 inch greased loaf pan. Let sit for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour. Brush with melted butter.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees ) for 50 for 60 minutes. The top will be crunchy, and the insides will be soft. Serve topped with butter or cheese spread.
*if you want to be CRAZY you could add some jalepeno's and grated cheese to the batter before you cook it.... LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE....

Honey Wheat Bread

As I have said before... I HEART any kind of homemade breads or rolls! This one is definitely a keeper (and healthy too!) My kids loved it fresh out of the oven!!!

1 package rapid rise yeast
1 t. white sugar
1/2 c. warm water

Mix and set aside.

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. melted shortening
1/4 c. honey
2 t. salt
2 c. whole wheat flour
3 c. bread flour
2 T. butter

Combine milk, 1/4 c. water, shortening, honey, salt and wheat flour in food processor or bowl. Mix in yeast mixture, and let rest 15 minutes. Add white flour, and process until dough forms a ball. Knead dough 80 seconds more in mixer or 10 minutes by hand. Place dough in bettered bowl, and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 45 minutes, or until almost doubled.
Punch down, and divide dough in half. Roll out each half, and pound out the bubbles. Form into loaves, and place in buttered 9x5 inch bread pans. Butter the tops of the dough, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise is a warm place until doubled; about 30 minutes.
Place a small pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375*. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until tops are dark, golden brown. Butter crusts while warm. Slice when cool and enjoy!!

***I doubled the honey and used melted butter instead of the shortening!!! ****

***I have also made it where I substituted applesauce instead of the butter (which is probably my favorite way....

Bread recipe for those who can't make bread

If I can do this, so can you!

2 T. yeast
1 T. sugar
1/2 c. hot tap water
Mix together and set aside.

In mixing bowl mix all together:
7 c. flour
5 c. warm h2o
2 T. salt
2/3 c. cooking oil
2/3 c. honey (pour in oil first and then honey and it won't stick to the measuring cup!)

Then add 1 more cup flour. Mix. Add yeast mixture.
Add approx. 4 more cups flour and mix until desired consistency. Knead for 10 minutes. (i just let my kitchen aid do all the work for me!) Grease 2 large bread pans. and let dough rise in pans for about 35 munutes. preheat oven to 350 degrees. bake for 35 minutes. brush with melted butter if desired.
So good right out of the oven with butter!!!! yum yum!!

Cottage Cheese Crescent Rolls

I love to make rolls and bread and this was a fun, easy twist!

Combine in food processor or by hand, mixing just until dough forms soft ball that holds itself together: 1 c. butter, chilled (you could probably use less, they were good when I made them, but too greasy) 2 c. flour 1 c. cottage cheese (regular or lowfat) Shape into balls approximately 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Cover and chill well.Roll dough balls into one big ball and roll out as for pie crust on lightly floured surface (9-10” diameter). Cut into wedges of preferred size. Shape into crescents (roll, beginning at widest end.) Place on ungreased or parchment-lined shallow-rimmed pan, point down.Bake 12-15 minutes in pre-heated 375˚ oven until golden brown.NOTE: This is a very soft, tender dough. May be frozen before or after shaping. makes 1-2 dozen, depending on size.

Rosemary Bread

This is almost exactly like the bread at Macaroni Grill. Serve warm with olive oil and balsalmic vinegar!!! yummy!

1 T. dry yeast
1 T. sugar
1 c. warm water
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. salt
1 1/2- 2 T. fresh chopped rosemary
1 T. olive oil
nonstick spray
2 T. butter

place yeast, sugar, and water in kitchen aid mixer. Let stand for 5 minutes or until it starts to bubble up. Mix in 2 1/2 c. flour and salt. Add rosemary and mix . Add 1 T oil and mix. Knead by hand for 10 minutes or in kitchen aid for a few minutes and then by hand for 1 minute, until dough is smooth and elastic. Spray bowl with cooking spray and let dough sit for an hour or until double in size. Punch down and divide in half. Let sit 5 minutes. Shape into small round loaves and place on a cookie sheet. Melt butter and brush over loaves. Let rise again for 45 minutes. lightly sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn oven up to 425 degrees for 4-5 minutes. (watch so it doesn't get too brown). Best served warm.

Flat French Bread

This is a delicious, fun way to make bread. Kind of like a square breadstick! (or you could make triangles, etc...HAVE FUN WITH IT!)

(adapted from Laura)

2 c. warm water
2 rounded T. sugar
1 pkg yeast ( or 1 T.)
4 c. flour
2 t. salt
1/4 c. butter melted
sesame seeds
garlic salt

parmesan cheese

Mix water, yeast, and sugar, let work. Add salt and flour to mixture. Beat well with a wooden spoon. Leave in bowl and let rise until double in size. Grease jelly roll pan well. Grease hands well and spread dough into pan. Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with sesame seeds, garlic salt, and parm cheese generously. Bake at 400 degrees, for 20 minutes. If brown enough, reduce heat to 300 degress for another 10 minutes. Can be wrapped in foil and reheated - best if served hot!!!

Wonderful Breadsticks

1 T. yeast
2 T. sugar
1 1/2 c. warm h2o

Mix together and wait for bubbles.
Then add:

1 t. salt
3 1/2 c. flour

Mix for 5 minutes with electric mixer. Dough will be slightly sticky. Let rise for 45 min-1hr.

Roll into long rectangle. Cut breadstick size strip's with a pizza cutter, fold ends together and twist. Place 1/2 c. butter in jelly roll pan and put in 400 degree oven until melted (don't let it brown!). Add twists to pan. Brush the tops with melted butter, then sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and sesame seeds. Cook for 12 minutes in 400 degree oven. YUMMY!