Favorite Quick Bread Recipes?

I love quick breads.
Breads you can whip up at any moment, bake for an hour, and ready to eat fresh out of the oven.
For me, I always seem to have too many bananas.. and as soon as they go brown no one wants to eat them. Luckily they're perfect for bread and taste great as a breakfast, mid-morning snack, or dessert with coffee.
I'm looking for more recipes to add to my collection. And not just banana breads. So feel free to share your favorites! I'll definitely give the most tempting ones a try. :)

Here's a recipe of mine I just whipped up.
It's an interesting mix of flavors, and quite tasty. And healthy, too!

Olive Oil & Chocolate Banana Bread

• 3 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  
• 3/4 cup of brown sugar
  
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tbs espresso powder
  
• 3 tbs cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups of extra-fine whole wheat flour.
• 1 cup dark chocolate chunks
  

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
With a wooden spoon, mix olive oil into the smashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sift the baking soda, salt, flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, espresso powder in a seperate bowl. Slowly add dry mixture to wet mixture and mix with a wooden spoon.
Fold in dark chocolate chunks. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from pan and let cool on a rack. Slice to serve. Enjoy with tea, hot coffee, or even a hot chocolate. :-9

Bacon & Bourbon Pecan Pie

1/2	Ingrediants: cup granulated sugar
1/2	bag of maple smoked bacon
1/4	cup brown sugar
1/2	cup brown sugar
3	tbsp butter
3	large eggs
1 1/2	cups pecan halves (one bag, usually)
1	tsp vanilla
2	tbsp bourbon
1- 9	inch pie shell

Directions Mince raw bacon into approx. 1/4 inch bits. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Take a medium sized skillet and heat to medium heat. Add bacon, stir and cook all the way through, but not crispy, approx. 3-5 minutes. Add pecan halves and cook on medium for an additional 3 minutes.

Drain excess bacon grease from pan, then add 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar.

Turn heat off and mix in brown sugar, until it’s dissolved and all of the bacon and pecans are coated. Take bacon, pecan and brown sugar mixture and pour into the bottom of the pie shell.

Set aside shell and pull out a mixing bowl. Add the 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and butter to the bowl.

Mix together until all is evenly combined. Then, add in the bourbon and stir until well creamed.

Crack and beat the three eggs, then add to the mixture.

Stir to combine everything, so it’s smooth and there are no sugar lumps. Then add the syrup and vanilla.

Mix all ingredients thoroughly until smooth.

Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil. This will keep the crust from burning and also clean of filling that may splatter.

Pour filling over the pecan, bacon and brown sugar.

Put it in the oven for 10 minutes at 375, then reduce to 350 and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until the pie is set (thick slightly gooey, and caramelized).

Take off foil 20 minutes after you reduce the pie to 350.

Let pie cool completely before serving. Enjoy!

Oaty Goodness

Delicious ways to jazz up boring oatmeal.


Hot Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal

I love oatmeal in the winter months, it's so warm and comforting. My favorite way to prepare hot oatmeal is very simple and delcious!


Ingrediants and preperation:

Your preference of oatmeal; whether it be quick oats or old fashioned. Prepare it as instructed on the container. Normally it has instructions for with milk or with water. I chose milk simply because it adds more nutritional value which is important for your first meal of the day!

Apple sauce: I'm very picky about apple sauce. Apples are naturally very sweet so adding additional sweeteners is really unnecessary. Avoid those that add corn syrup or sugar.. or if you can't find ones that have very little added. Or if you want, make your own apple sauce. :) Add 1/2 cup of apple sauce per serving of oatmeal.

Pinch of cinnamon. Or if you have a cinnamon-sugar shaker use that to taste.

1/8 cup of Walnuts or Pecans- toasted. (optional)

And there you have it- Hot Apple Cinnamon oatmeal. Mmm, my favorite! You can also add slices of apple, dried cranberries.. it all tastes good! And more nutritious than the stuff you find in little packets. :)




Cold Oatmeal With Fruit and Yogurt



I know it sounds a little strange but it tastes great! This is not your typical yogurt parfait with granola and fruit.
Ingredients and Preparation:

Prepare 1 cut of old-fashioned rolled oats as directed on container omitting 1/2 the water. Your oatmeal will be a bit on the al dente side but that's how you want it for this recipe. While oatmeal is setting prepare fruit.

Fruit:
1 apple, diced (add a little lemon juice to diced apples to prevent browning)
1 banana, diced
1/4 cup currants
small handful of blueberries

Nuts: (optional)
1/4 cup chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans

Stir in fruit and nuts into warm oatmeal.
Season with a pinch of cinnamon, and tbs of brown sugar (optional).
Stir.

Let oatmeal chill for 30 minutes in refrigerator.
After 30 minutes stir in 2/3 cup of fat-free vanilla yogurt. Whatever brand you like most is fine. Mix until everything is blended and coated in yogurt. Cover and return to fridge until completely chilled (about another 20-30 minutes). Serves: ~4.

St. Patrick's Day delicious recipes

I'll be the first to admit that when St. Patrick's day rolls around I get a little carried away. I don't just mean green everywhere; I go all out with food and beverage and over-indulge in corned beef, cabbage, and Irish whiskey. Over the years I've collected and refined recipes for this holiday and I wanted to share these with you!





Baileys Irish Cream Copycat Recipe

This recipe is delicious and a lot cheaper than buying the real stuff!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Light cream (you can easily sub whole milk but it won't be as creamy)
• 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 2/3 cups Irish Whiskey (preferably Jameson)
• 1 teaspoon Instant coffee crystals
• 2 tablespoons Chocolate syrup
• 1 teaspoon Real Vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon Almond extract

Directions:

Just throw all ingredients in blender set on high speed for 30 seconds. Serve right away over ice or store in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Be sure to shake the bottle well before serving.

Makes ~4 cups.

The liqueur will keep for at least 2 months if kept cool.


Irish Soda Bread


Delicious toasted and buttered with fresh Irish butter. Perfect with any breakfast or with a hot cup of tea.

Ingredients:

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons butter, chilled, cut into cubes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch-diameter cake pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in large bowl to blend. Add butter. Using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Make well in center of flour mixture. Add buttermilk. Gradually stir dry ingredients into milk to blend. Mix in raisins.

Using floured hands, shape dough into ball. Transfer to prepared pan and flatten slightly (dough will not come to edges of pan). Sprinkle dough with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake bread until brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool bread in pan 10 minutes. Transfer to rack to finish cooling or serve warm with butter.

Irish Potatoes (Candy)

Not really "Irish" but it is a traditional treat made and served in Pennsylvania for St. Patty's Day. I discovered these little treats while living in Philadelphia and now I need them every St. Patrick's Day!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

Makes ~4 dozen '2 bite' sized potatoes.


Shepherd's Pie w/ Guinness BBQ sauce


I've made dozens of Shepherd's pies and this recipe is one of my favorites. The meat is slightly sweet, smokey and full of flavor. I use a combination of meats including ground pork, turkey, and lamb. I also highly suggest trying with beef or veal!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 pound ground lean turkey
  
• 1/3 pound ground lamb
• 1/3 pound ground pork
  
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup Bulls Eye's Guinness BBQ sauce
  
• 1 zucchini, chopped to bite-sized pieces
• 1/3 cup corn (fresh or frozen is fine)
• 1/3 cup peas (fresh or frozen is fine)
• 1 carrot, chopped
  
• 5-1/2 cups mashed potatoes (prepare as you like or using butter, garlic, and buttermilk; I leave skins on for more flavor and texture)
• 1/2 cup Extra-sharp white cheddar cheese (optional)
  
• salt and pepper, to taste
• Additional butter, melted

Directions:

• In a large skillet, cook all meats over medium heat until no longer pink; stir in bbq sauce and cook for another 2 minutes then set aside. In another skillet, cook onion, zucchini, carrot, peas, corn, garlic and oregano until onions are slightly translucent and veggies soft.
  
• Meanwhile, prepare mashed potatoes. Spread half of the potato mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Layer with beef mixture, veggie mixture and remaining potato mixture.
• Sprinkle cheese over top of pie.
  
• Bake at 375° for 20 minutes. Brush the pie with melted butter (if you decide not to use cheese) and bake for 10 additional minutes. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Well, I hope you all try these recipes! Let me know what your favorite St. Patrick's day food and drink recipes!

Introooooo

Future posts of delicious food findings, recipes, sweet treats and more are soon to come! Although this will primarily be desserts and drinks I won't be holding back the savory, the creative, or anything that includes bacon! Nor will I keep myself from criticizing or ranting over food I find to be less than favorable. With that said, let's bring on the noms! :D