Banana Cake

Use this recipe for a moist, delicious banana cake or banana bread.  This will make one bundt cake or 4 mini loaves of banana bread. 

1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons), room temperature
1 1/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 well ripened bananas (preferably with black spotted peel), roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped dates OR chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 cup yogurt (or sour cream)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350F.   Grease a bundt cake pan with oil or butter, then dust the pan with flour.  Set aside. (Alternately, prepare 4 mini loaf pans, muffin pan or cake pan.) 

Beat together the butter and sugar, until well combined.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.  Stir in the bananas, dates and walnuts, and yogurt.

In another bowl stir together until well combined the flour, baking soda and salt. 

Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until well combined.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes.  Remove from oven, slightly cool then remove from pan and place on a cooling rack.

Twisted Garlic Breadsticks

I love the cool weather fall brings...it brings to mind my favorite soups simmering on the stove and fresh bread baking in the oven.  (Things I try to avoid in a hot summer kitchen.)  In celebration of the season...

1 cup warm water
3 teaspoons yeast
3 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon softened butter
1 clove garlic, minced
Parmesan cheese (optional)

Mix together the water, yeast and sugar.  When the yeast starts to bubble add the oil and salt. Stir well then add flour.  Knead on a floured board for 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.  Allow to rise in a warm place (i.e. oven with the oven light on) until it doubles in size.  Roll out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch in thickness.  Spread the butter over the rectangle and sprinkle with garlic and Parmesan cheese.  Make 10 cuts across the rectangle, horizontally.  Take one strip, put the ends together and twist it.  Lay on a greased baking sheet.  Repeat.  (You should have 10 breadsticks.)  Cover and allow to rise for about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Bake for about 15 minutes, until bottom of breadstick is golden brown.  When it is done, remove from oven and, optionally, rub the top with butter.

French Baguettes

Variation of All Recipes.com French Baguette recipe.  Makes 2 12-inch loaves.

1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour

Combine warm water, yeast and sugar.  Let stand 5 minutes.  

Stir in salt and add flour little by little until dough is firm enough to knead.  Knead for 5-10 minutes, adding flour as necessary - goal is for a soft dough.  Cover, leave in a warm place and let rise until doubled. (1 hour)

Lightly grease a cookie sheet.  Punch down the dough, divide into two portions.  Roll the dough into an oblong, then roll until a log shape.  Pinch the ends together to seal it.  Make a slits diagonally across the loaf with a knife.  Repeat with the second portion of dough.  Cover the loaves and allow to rise for about a half hour. Preheat oven to 375.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until loaves are golden brown.