Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup sugar, 1 cup  (2 med) mashed bananas, 1/2 cup margarine/softened butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 eggs
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (*walnuts), 1 tsp soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups Pilsbury's Best All Purpose or unbleached flour
  • *I mix 1/2 cups chocolate chips in recipe & sprinkle flaked unsweetened coconut on top before putting in the oven!

Steps: 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease (not oil) bottom only of 9X5 or 8X4 inch loaf pan.
3. In large bowl, blend first six ingredients (first bullet point listed above) 
4. Stir in remaining items just until ingredients are moistened. 
5. Pour batter in prepared pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick clean (I take out before 50 minutes for gooey consistency). A
7. Cool for five minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely and enjoy. 
* Special thanks to Kandie (Bloch) Wilks for sharing this recipe that comes from the kitchen of the Bloch family! 
​
And while you're impatiently waiting for the bread to cool from the oven,
​here is my banana bread spiel. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 6 c Rice Krispy Cereal
  • 1 package Cadbury Mini Chocolate Eggs
  • 4 c of mini marshmallows
  • 3 tbsp bbutter 
  • 1/2c Flaked Coconut (optional)

Nests

1. In large pot, melt butter on low heat, and then add in marshmallows.
​2. Stir until completely melted, and then remove from heat.
​3. Add Rice Krispies cereal, and stir till well coated with butter and mallows. 
*If you are a coconut lover, add 1/2-1 cup of shredded sweetened coconut into mix
4. Place mix into muffin pan to shape nests 

Eggs

1. Once cooled, take nests out of muffin pan, and add in Cadbury eggs. I used the shimmer mini eggs, but you can also use M&M's ,jelly beans, or marshmallows as the eggs.
​2. Obviously, take a picture for Insta, or it didn't happen. 
​3. Enjoy! Great for little Easter goodies to celebrate that He is risen!

carrot zucchini chocolate chip walnut bread

gluten-free
Ingredients:
-3 cups of zucchini (2 medium) BUT if you run out, just chop up carrots to add to the mix! (as long as its 3 cups total, you're good!)
-1 cup oil
-3 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla extract
-3 cups gluten free all purpose baking flour (I use the Trader Joe's Almond flour!)
-2 tsp flax seed (vs. 2 tsp Xanthum gum)
-2 tsp baking soda
-1/4 tsp baking powder
-1 tsp salt
-1 tbsp ground cinnamon
-1/4 tsp ground cloves
-1 cup chopped walnuts
-1 cup chocolate chips (original recipe uses raisins, but you know me better now ; I include chocolate in everything! However, still yummy with raisins. Just do either/or because I feel like chocolate chips and raisins together might be a little much...but you do you :)
Original recipe isa zucchini bread from Bob's Red Mill; however, I ran out of zucchini so I added a twist by using a mix of carrots and zucchini. Recipe also called for Xanthum gum to help the gluten free flour rise, but I didn't want to buy an expensive ingredient when I only make gluten-free recipes so that my friends can enjoy it, too. Therefore I substituted the Xanthum for 2 tsp flax seed.
Steps: 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl, combine chopped up veggies, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, flax seeds, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
4. Combine bowls together, and mix well.
5. Add chopped walnuts and chocolate chips (or raisins); mix well
6. Spread batter on a pan. 
7. Bake between 30-60 min (dependent on oven and type of pan); use toothpick test to check the readiness)
8. Enjoy and share! (esp. with gluten free people!)

spicy mexican cobb salad

A Trader Joe's run may be necessary for this recipe!
Craving a delicious and healthy salad this summer? I try to eat salads every day so I get super sick of eating the same salad every day. I was experimenting in my kitchen one day with some of the Trader Joe's items I bought, and would like to introduce you to my new favorite: Spicy Mexican Cobb Salad!


​Ingredients:
-Arugula (but really any green works!) This will serve as the bed of your salad.
-TJ's roasted corn 
-diced tomatoes
-sliced mushrooms
-sliced carrots
-Cheese (I used TJ's dairy free almond cheese)
-TJ's Everything But the Elote Seasoning (this makes it have a kick, so if you don't like spicy, season your meat with something else)
-Chicken Breast (or your choice of meat)
-TJ's Jalapeño Sauce *has a kick to it (or your choice of dressing; ranch is always a good choice!)
​-Trader Joe's Everything but Elote Corn Chips
1. I I coat the chicken breast in the Everything but the Elote seasoning, and then put it right in my air fryer at 375 for 10-15 min and flip it halfway. 

2. While that is cooking, get a pan out and stick the frozen corn on the pan to defrost. Slice up mushrooms and dice up tomatoes on cutting board, and then add to hot pan. 

3. Pour arugula (or choice of green) into a bowl. Dice up carrots and top on arugula along with your favorite cheese. Then, add ingredients from pan into the salad. 

4. Once the chicken is ready, cut up into pieces and add to bowl. 

5. Add dressing. Voila! If you want a kick and crunch, add the Trader Joe's Everything but Elote corn chips to finish! Enjoy!

"before noon" summertime drink

Ever want a drink, and it's not even noon yet? Especially in the summertime when you just want to go outside, read a book, and enjoy the sun, this drink is essential! Super light, and enough to share with a friend if you're feeling generous
Ingredients: 
-half a lime
-Mini Moscato (I got the "Sutter Home" that sells any traditional grocery store (ex. Kroger, Winco, Albertson's) because in comes in a pack of four!)
-sparkling water (My favorite is the Good & Gather brand from Target which is affordable, and includes a variety of flavors. I used Peach Mango for this one. Topo Chico or La Croix are also great options!)

Steps: 
* It's all about the "mini's" and the "halves." After all, you don't want to be wasted before noon.
1. Pour half of the mini Sutter Home moscato in your cup and the other half in your friend's.
2. Pour half of the sparkling water in your cup, and half in your friend's.
3. Add ice to each cup, and squeeze half a lime into both drinks. it's all about sharing! Stir, and enjoy the sun with your friend!
*If you want it sweeter, try adding Agave or some honey in the mix!