Banana Bread

This is my favorite banana bread recipe.  I like to make it a little bit healthier, so I substitute whole wheat flour for the all purpose flour, egg whites instead of eggs, and leave the chocolate chips out.  Today was an exception with the chocolate chips....what can I say, the kids run the show.  The picture below is the whole wheat version.  You can do half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flour if you want, get crazy!

2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed banana (5 medium)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar (I use brown)
1/2 melted butter

Optional:  1/4 cup of chopped walnuts and/or 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Grease your loaf pan.

Combine flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Make a well in centre of flour mixture and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine eggs, vanilla, bananas, sugar, and butter.  Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture.  Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).  Fold in nuts and/or chocolate chips.  Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centre comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Help Hints:

If you can, freeze your bananas and then thaw.  You get much better taste this way.  It is also a great way to use over ripe bananas, stick them in your freezer until you have 5.  They also thaw quickly at room temperature.

If you find your bread is browning quicker then it is cooking, cover loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Donovan and Simone Pic's

Donovan at Lacrosse.

Simone at Skating.

Mommy and Monsie.

Donovan now lives on the drive way with his hockey net.

Monsie getting ready for a birthday party.

Simone at soccer....love this pic.

Donovan, for the first time, having to entertain himself while his sister plays a sport.

The kids when they handed over their money to KidSport.

Gymnastics.

Tostadas Salsa Verde and kids meals using tortillas

At our house we have very different eaters.  When Ivan and I have Tostadas Salsa Verde (Ivan's favorite dinner), Simone has a cheese quesadillas, and Donovan has a Peanut Butter, Honey, and Banana Roll up.  Good times.

Tostadas Salsa Verde

4 flour tortillas (6 inch)
3/4 cup shredded Jack cheese
2 1/2 cups shredded poached chicken
1 cup jared green salsa
1/4 chopped cilantro plus more for serving
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 cup shredded ice burg lettuce
3 plum tomatoes
1/4 cup sour cream

Pre heat the oven to 400.  Arrange the tortillas on a rimmed baking sheet.  Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the tortillas and bake until golden brown, 8 - 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl toss together the chicken, salsa, cilantro, and cumin.  Spoon the mixture evenly over the tortillas: bake until heated through, about 8 minutes.

Top with the lettuce, tomato, and sour cream.  Sprinkle with the remaining cilantro.

Great Idea:
Using the same recipe, cut out smaller circles from the tortilla with a cookie cutter.....you have a great appetizer!

Useful Tip:
I love cilantro, but it has to be fresh.  One of the ways I keep it that way is to put it in glass with a very small amount of water and keep it in the fridge.

Kid's Cheese Quesadillas

2 tortillas
1/2 cup favorite cheese

Lay one tortilla on a cookie sheet, sprinkle the cheese on, and place the other tortilla on top.  Bake in a 400 oven for about 8 minutes.

Kid's Peanut Butter, Honey, and Banana Wrap Up

1 tortilla
Peanut Butter
Honey
1 Banana

Spread peanut butter on the tortilla.  Drizzle with honey.  Place the banana at one end of the tortilla and roll.  Yummy goodness.

*Tostadas Salsa Verde from Everyday Food

"Inn From The Cold" needs your help!

As you know, I am a coordinator for HipKids.  I got an email from the director saying that they had a meeting with "Inn From the Cold" today and they are in urgent need of the following:

• Diapers Sizes - 1,2,4,5,6
• Training Diapers
• Formula
• Diaper Cream
• Baby Wipes

If you would like to help, you can drop off any goods at the address below or to me.

Thank you!
Tania

Inn from the Cold
#106, 110 - 11th Ave SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0X5
P: (403)263-8384 C:(403)390-1597 F:(403)263-9067
https://remote.innfromthecold.org/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx
https://remote.innfromthecold.org/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx
www.twitter.com/innfromthecold

3 Separate Blogs - What do you think?

Hello Everyone,

I am wanting your opinion.  Do you think I should keep the blog the way it is? Or, separate into three different blogs - Charity Info, Recipes, and Family?

Cheers,
Tania

Things coming up.....

As most of you know the kids have started into their spring sports.  Donovan is in spring hockey, lacrosse, and gymnastics.  Simone is in soccer, skating, and gymnastics.  I will be posting pictures and updates on that soon.

I also wanted to let you know that Donovan and Simone will be handing over the money they raised for KidSport ($60 total) on Tuesday.  They will be having their pictures taken and a little blurp written on them.  I will forward that along as well.  Thank you so much to everyone who supported them.  They feel so good about what they did and I can't wait for them to see how it will all come full circle on Tuesday and where the money will go!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

I wanted to give you a heads up on a charity project that I will be launching soon called "Project Ameni T's".  HipKids will be done this month and they we won't have anything until the Nash Family and Friends 4th Annual Food Drive in December so I am antsy to get the ball rolling on a new project.  I have been brewing this one up for a while and can wait to give you all the details in June!  As a hint, I need you to start saving up any hotel amenities you may have or can get your hands on (shampoos, lotions, conditioner, ECT).

Also, I would love to hear back from you as to what you would like to see my post more of or less of.  There is a pole question at the bottom or message me!!

You my friends and family ROCK!  Updates soon!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies with Reese's Pieces....my favorite cookie (for now)!

This is my new favorite cookie!  So rich and crunchy. 
I made these on Saturday, as I am still trying to fill up my freezer and replenish our snack supply.  YUMMY!

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup Reese's Pieces* (you can use 1 cup of peanuts or chocolate chips too!)

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on med to high speed about 30 seconds or until combined.  Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.  Beat until combined, scraping the side of the bowl occasionally.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.  beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in any remaining flour.  Stir in rolled oats and candy pieces.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 about 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.  Transfer to wire rack and let cool....if you can!

Helpful Hint:
When putting my cookie dough on my cookie sheet I use a medium scoop from Pampered Chef.  This way I get even cookies and clean fingers! 

*Better Homes & Gardens