Grandma Hazel’s Easy-As-Pie Banana Bread

November 6, 2007 | Filed Under Baking, Banana Bread, Bread, Cookies, Donation, Drop in & Decorate | 24 Comments

Yes. I’m still baking breads and still having fun.

Here’s another recipe I liked in Ruth’s cookbook Every Kitchen Tells Its Stories. This banana bread recipe is from her Grandmother. She’s right it’s so easy to make. The ingredients were readily available and it didn’t take long to put them together and bake. Within a short time, I had a tasty banana bread set on the stove top, waiting to cool. It didn’t last long — perhaps a day and a half. Then it was all gone.

Paz

Grandma Hazel’s Easy-As-Pie Banana Bread

Every Kitchen Tells its Stories

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas (Joanna uses 4)

2 tbsp soft butter

1 cup sugar

1½ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup chocolate chips and /or coarsely chopped nuts – pecans or walnuts work well (optional

1. Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C.

2. Mash bananas in a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir until blended. It seems as if there is not enough liquid but don’t be fooled. The very ripe bananas add all the moisture needed. Mix the ingredients together with a fork for 2-3 minutes. That’s all you need to create the batter.

3. Pour into greased 9”x5” loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry (unless of course you hit a chocolate chip).

4. Cool for 10 minutes on a cake rack before removing from pan.

5. To bake muffins, prepare the batter as above and bake for 20-25 minutes at 400°F/200°C, in center of the oven.

For more info, go here.

New York Monday #95: Red Dot

November 5, 2007 | Filed Under Cookies, Donation, Drop in & Decorate, New York Monday | 10 Comments

Due to the unseasonably warm weather in New York City, it’s taking a while for the leaves to change color. The majority of the leaves are still green. However, in some places, you’ll see touches of yellow and red — reminders that the fall season is here.

Have a great week everyone.

Paz

Go here for more information.

Drop in & Decorate: Cookies for Donation

November 4, 2007 | Filed Under Announcements, Baking, Cookies, Donation, Drop in & Decorate | 15 Comments

Lydia of The Perfect Pantry has started a wonderful holiday event. It’s called Drop In & Decorate: Cookies for Donation. It’s an easy and fun event. All you do is bake some cookies, invite friends or family (or co-workers or neighbors) to drop by and help decorate. Then donate your cookies to a local food pantry, emergency shelter, senior center, lunch program, or other group serving people in difficult circumstances during the holiday season.

Isn’t that a wonderful idea? I think so. In Lydia’s words, "It’s a wonderful way to give back, to spend time with friends and family without spending gobs of money on gifts, to give the gift of your time and creativity to brighten someone else’s holiday."

Another cool thing about this party is that King Arthur Flour is joining in on the fun and will sell Drop In & Decorate baking kits from now till November 15. If you buy the kit within that time, they will offer a free dough scraper with each order. Add the kit to your shopping cart. On the payment page, enter Promotion Code "Dropin" to the Promotion field and click the Update button. The page will refresh and the dough scraper will be added to your order. Offer valid through November 15 only (but the kit is on sale until December 26, and would make a great holiday gift).

You can read more about Lydia’s event and how to host your own cookie decorating party here at ninecooks.com.

Way to go, Lydia! Way to go!