Shauna Strong's Banana Bread

Shauna Strong's Banana Bread

2/3 cup oil
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk (can add 1/2 T. vinegar to fresh milk)
3 bananas mashed
2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup nuts

Cream sugar and oil.  Add eggs, buttermilk, and bananas and mix well.  Add dry ingredients and stir until mixed.  Do not overmix.  Add  nuts, chocolate chips at the end if desired.  Makes approx. 2 loaves.  Bake 300 degrees for 1 hour.

Ranch Dip

2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup(s) light sour cream
1/3 cup(s) light mayonnaise
2 Tbsp water
1/3 cup(s) chives, fresh, chopped or green onions, chopped
2 Tbsp parsley, Italian (flat leaf), chopped
1/8 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
1 tsp white wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice and/or water to taste

Mince garlic and sprinkle with salt. Add sour cream, mayo and water and stir until smooth. Stir in chives (or green onions), parsley and pepper until blended; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to mix flavors. Thin out with lemon juice or vinegar, if desired. 2 T. equals 1 serving. Makes 8 servings.

Green Smoothie Update

1 orange (or two mandarins or clementines)
1 1/2 cups spinach
1 cup frozen fruit (any kind-blueberries are kind of over-powering though)
1/2 banana
1/2 cup water (or more as needed)
1/3 pkg. powdered orange crystal light drink bottle mix (or other..Hi-C or whatever)
ice if necessary
1/8 lemon including rind (only with Super Blender)

Blend and enjoy. I have found that the orange really makes it in my book. Water needed varies according to how much juice is in orange and how much frozen fruit/ice you use.

Baked Tortilla Chips

corn tortillas
coarse salt works best but can use table salt
cooking spray (like Pam)

Set oven racks at middle and upper middle position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 large cookie sheets with Pam. Cut tortillas into fourths using a pizza cutter. Spread them on cookie sheets in a single layer. Spray with Pam and sprinkle coarse salt on them. Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown. Remove pans from oven, flip chips over and bake again for 8-12 minutes. Do not overcook.

Green Smoothie

These are full of vitamins and minerals and are so delicious (if you can get past the color!! you will enjoy it-I promise! You can't even taste the spinach....AT ALL!!) Spinach has calcium, protein, lots of vitamin A, iron, vitamin C, antioxidants,etc. etc.

6 oz. pomegranate juice or any juice (cranberry is great too)
6 oz. water
1 cup frozen fruit (Costco has a frozen mango, etc. combo that is good)
2 cups spinach leaves (fresh leaves)
1/8 lemon, including peel (optional)
ice if needed

Don't use the lemon unless you have a really good blender (like a BlendTec or Vitamix). It won't chop it up fine enough. Blend well and drink up!

You can tweak this to find a combination that you love. I tried one today where I used green grapes in place of juice, just spinach and mixed fruit with 1/8 lemon and a little water. It was one of the best ones yet. Kelly Smith says she just mixes frozen spinach with water and then adds in strawberries.