Yum! Banana Bread

Here is my favorite thing to make!  I love that the preparation time is long enough to enjoy, but not annoying or complicated, busy enough yet mindless too.  Perfect baking combination!  Plus, the final product is SO good it’s gone in literally three or four days… maybe five if you’re slow.  Plus, it works for any meal… breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack!

Banana Bread
5 T butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 t. whites
1 t. vanilla
1 ½ cup mashed bananas
1 ¾ cup flour
1 t. soda
½ t. salt
¼ t. baking powder
½ cup heavy cream (some recipes don’t include this…but I like to think it adds that something extra that makes this recipe extra good.  Though this is usually the only ingredient that needs to be planned)

NOTE: These are REALLY good with white chocolate and many people like them with chocolate too.  Estimate how much you want in there.

1.    Preheat oven to 350.  Spray the bottom of the loaf pans (2 reg. or 4 small).
2.    Beat butter in a large bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add sugar and brown sugar.  Beat well.  Add egg, egg whites, and vanilla.  Beat until well blended.  Add mashed bananas.  Beat on high 30 sec.
3.    Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder.  Add this flour mixture to butter mixture alternately w/cream.  End with flour mixture.
4.    Pour the batter evenly into the loaf pan.  Bake until brown, toothpick inserted in center will come out clean.  Baking times: Larger Loaf pan—1 hour 15 minutes.  Smaller Loaf pan—45 minutes.  (I don’t know if I buy these times… each oven is different and I usually find it needs more time).
5.    Cool on wire rack in pan.  Remove from pan after 10 minutes.  Cool completely on wire rack.  (Nah, go ahead and eat some after the first 10 minutes… YUM!)

The Elvis Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

 As I looked for new recipes, I thought, why not try the King’s favorites? It turns out, Elvis Presley’s favorite food was actually the peanut butter and banana sandwich, also known as “The King” during the Great Depression. Who knew? Of course, I’ve made this sandwich before, but here’s the King’s recipe:

 

 Recipe

2 tbsp. peanut butter (preferably smooth)
2 slices sandwich bread
1 small ripe banana, mashed with a fork (about 1/4 cup)
2 tbsp. butter

1. Spread peanut butter evenly on 1 slice of bread, then spread mashed banana on other slice, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edge. Close sandwich, gently pressing bread slices together.

2. Heat butter in an 8- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then fry sandwich, turning over once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes total.

3. Eat immediately with a knife and fork

After eating “The King,” I realized that Elvis has good taste. You should try some of his other favorites.

 

Works Cited

Brenda Arlene Butler. Are You Hungry Tonight? Elvis’ Favorite Recipes. New York: Bluewood, 1992.

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Here is an easy recipe for cinnamon rolls… yum. I recently made them for my Bible study group. It only has 6 ingredients and one of them is store-bought crescent rolls.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:
1 – 8 ounce tube crescent rolls
1/4 cup butter, melted, divided
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

 
PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Open crescent rolls can. Pinch seams together to make large rectangle. Brush 1/2 of melted butter over dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll tightly from long end of rectangle. With serrated knife, cut into 8 rolls. Place in prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tops are lightly browned. Stir together remaining butter, powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk to make icing. Spoon icing over rolls just out of oven. Serve cinnamon rolls warm.

I highly recommend these rolls if you are serving a large group. They’re easy to make and unbelievably yummy!