Bannana Oatmeal Bread

The recipe:

Preheat oven to 375

- 2.5 cups white wheat flour

- 3/4 cup quick cook oatmeal

- 1 Cup brown sugar

- 1/2 cup regular sugar

- 1 tbsp baking powder

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

- 3 overripe bananas

- 4 eggs

- 1/2 cup oil

- 1/2 cup raisins

The recipe was concocted this weekend as a way to deal with the bananas that were going to rot. The idea was to make a breakfast treat that would be high in fiber. This bread is dense. I had hesitated to put it in one loaf pan because I did not know how high it would rise. I now feel comfortable suggesting it be all cooked in one pan (for 50 minutes) or in muffin tins (for probably no more than 30 minutes). The pan I used was glass and it needed to be well greased.

Mush up the 'naners with the eggs and all the oil. I used one of those pastry thingies -- but a fork would probably work too (or a potato masher).

Dump it all in a mixer and let it go.

The object is not to leave it lumpy -- the stuff needs to be mixed well (make sure there are no dry clumps).

The end product was quite good -- but it is very dense. Cool it in the pan for about ten minutes, then turn it out on a rack.

I'll probably have to tweak this recipe a bit. If anyone else decides to make it, let me know how it turns out, or ways it could be improved. Since most Americans don't get enough fiber in their diet, I am always looking for tasty ways to bake with wheat flour. In this case I used white wheat. If any one uses regular whole wheat, please let me know how it works.

Lets hear your best recipes or stories on this Great American Sandwich

Shrimp Creole. Like I Have It In New Orleans

Melt some butter in a large heavy iron skillet and add some bell peper, onions, and celery. Saute the supper for about 5 minutes until limp. Then go ahead an add some flour, only about 2-3 teaspoons of all purpose flour. stir the mixture until it gets nice and brown then you add the following.
2 cups of chopped tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, a bit of tyme leaves, ½ teaspoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of hot tabasco , now don’t leave this out, it’s the best part.
2 pounds of peeled large or the way I love it, Jumbo shrimp and the last is a cup of white cooked rice.
Stip the sucker until it begins to thicken cover and cook for about 30 minutes.

Just before you serve it, spoon the shrimp over a mound of white rice that you’ve put in the plates. This should serve about 4-5 hungry people.

The Great Wall Of Food In China

Chinese Mutton
Chilli Fish Soup

It looks like one huge bowl of chilli right? The fish slices were all below.The fish tasted fantastic. Very fragrant, but not overly spicy. Nonetheless this was enough for 4 people

Chinese Fried Meatballs

This is the toufu (beancurd) dish. Hong Shao Dou Fu This is REALLY good.

And oh yes, The Great Wall

Favorite Christmas Day Tradition....

A favorite tradition that our family loves to do every Christmas is Chocolate Fondue. Unfortunately, we do not own an actual fondue pot...so no long forks. This one is on Amazon.com...My next Christmas present I suppose. Hint* Here is our favorite recipe.

Chocolate Caramel Fondue
3 chunks of unsweetened baking chocolate
1 can of condensed milk
1 jar of caramel sauce
marshmallows, dried apricots, strawberries, apples, bananas, oranges, pretzels, graham crackers, pound cake, sugar cookies... (Anything that goes well with chocolate!!)

Combine in a saucepan on low heat until the chocolate is melted. ENJOY!! No double dipping allowed!!

Melanie

Naughty and Nice Drinks For Your Waistline

Calorie Culprits to Avoid:

Eggnog
This yuletide favorite is heavy with calories and fat -- containing eggs, sugar, brandy or rum.Six fluid ounces of eggnog without alcohol has 257 calories and 14 grams of fat (more than a Snickers bar). Add some distilled spirits and your holiday drink has more than 300 calories.

Hot Toddies
A glass of this drink will warm you up and loosen your spirit, but the calorie count will leave you cold.A hot toddy with 2 ounces of liquor (brandy) is about 200 calories, and that's without the whipped cream.Creamy liquors like Baileys, Kahlua, amaretto and schnapps are particularly dangerous, averaging about 100 calories an ounce.

Martinis
A fruity martini is a fattening fright. Lemon drops, appletinis or cosmopolitans -- their sweet taste is bad news for the hips."Most martinis have 2 to 5 ounces of liquor, and the sugary syrups they're made with can add up to more than 800 calories in one drink,"

Margaritas
What could be more festive than a margarita -- frozen or on the rocks?A regular margarita bright with flavor -- and sugars -- has about 400 calories. Couple it with a heavy Mexican meal and you have a recipe for diet disaster.

Mixed Drinks
What's your potion of choice? The fancier the drink, the faster calories add up.Remember, one and a half ounces of 80-proof spirits is 65 calories. Add six ounces of calorie-laden soda or a variety of syrups and you're well over the calorie count for a "light" drink.

Lighter Choices: Champagne
Ringing in the new year with a traditional toast of this bubbly beverage won't wreak havoc on your waistline. At 100 calories a flute, you can drink to your weight-loss resolution without feeling guilty.

Wine Spritzer
Ease into the holiday spirit with this light beverage. Wine spritzers are half wine and half club soda. With three ounces of wine and three ounces of club soda, wine spritzers top out at about 60 calories and zero grams of fat. But oh so boring!

Red Wine
Recent studies show the benefits of drinking a glass of red wine for your health. Opt for red and you'll get a healthy dose of disease-fighting flavonols and age-defying reservatrol too.A glass of wine typically weighs in at 100 calories. I approve.

Beer
Light or regular, a bottle of beer is a much better option than most cocktails. The drink has a bad reputation associated with the "beer belly." But the calories in beer versus a martini might shock the most diligent dieter.Regular beer has 150 calories to the bottle, while light has about 100. But not my cup of tea.

Vodka (or Gin) with or without Soda
Sparkly mixers -- like gin and tonic or a vodka cooler -- can keep you light and merry at the same times. Most mixers with 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits and diet tonic or club soda have less than 100 calories and no fat. Top this refreshing drink with a wedge of lime or fruit and we are in business.

How to Make the Perfect Cosmopolitan

1 oz vodka should be a top-shelf vodka. (very important)

1/2 oz Cointreau do not use triple sec, no matter what anyone else will tell you.

1/2 oz Rose's lime juice

1/2 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and remember just a drop of cranberry juice, we don't want this drink to be too sweet, shake vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

To your Good Health