Vickie Can Cook!

Haha!  I do cook, really I do!  Today, I made a  big cauldron of chicken vegetable soup AND used up some bananas that were ripening too quickly - made them into banana/nut bread.  I rarely show you a recipe and what I'm cooking. I'm usually half-way through before thinking, "Duh, Vickie, you could have blogged about that."  Well, today I remembered.

Easy - soup is easy.  Slow-cooked 4 chicken breasts with onion, garlic, celery, bay leaves, salt and pepper - your basic chicken stock.  After the chicken was done, I added carrots, potatoes, some leftover broccoli, some green peas, and simmered until the veggies were done.  Season to taste.  Wish I'd have had some mushrooms...  Oh well, it turned out great - that's what we had for supper tonight!   I had that going for most of the afternoon...

I always have some bananas that I wind up putting in the compost because we just don't eat them up.  I crave them when they're not here, but when we have several I don't eat them as much. Plus, I don't like them when they start getting dots on them.  Somewhere between barely green to yellow - that's when I like 'em!  I had some leftover pecans in the freezer, too, so...   (by the way, they are called puh-KONs, in case anyone wants to know, not PEE-cans or pee-CANS... just sayin' )...

Ok, Banana Nut Bread.  I've tried lots of different recipes for this - it's everybody's favorite and I'm sure you've got your own favorite recipe.  Mine comes from Dr. Payne's wife.  Dr. Payne was mine and Tony's pediatrician when we were kids.  Then, he was also MY kids' pediatrician until they were all over 18.  I'm so glad he didn't retire until they were all grown!  He really knew all our family history!  I've had this recipe for probably about 30 years.

BANANA NUT BREAD

             3/4 c margarine (or butter)                                       2 c. sifted flour

             1  1/2 c. sugar                                                          1 t. baking soda

             1  1/2 c. mashed bananas (usually 3 large)             3/4 t. salt

             2 eggs beaten                                                          1/2 c. buttermilk

             1 1/2 t. vanilla                                                             (or cheater buttermilk)

                                                                                             1 c. chopped pecans

                                                                                                             (or walnuts)

Cream margarine and sugar thoroughly. Blend in bananas, eggs and vanilla.  Sift flour, soda and salt together.  Add to banana mixture alternating with buttermilk.  Add nuts and stir well.  Bake in a greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pan at 325 degrees for 1 hr 15 minutes.

Now, following are some pictures showing my progress.  NOTE:  I usually split up my dough into 3-4 small tins.  Today I used 3 small tins and it almost ran over the edges!  Also, towards the end of the cooking time, I place a piece of foil loosely over the tins to keep the edges from getting too done.

Above - some ingredients - the sugar, butter, eggs and dry ingredients were already mixed - see?  I almost forgot to blog about this today!  Thank goodness I caught myself before it was too late!

Above, just used cooking spray (didn't need flour) and I always cook things on another pan just in case something spills over!

Above - have already added the eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla.  I'm adding the dry ingredients now...

Above, now for the pecans!  Some of those go missing before they make it into the batter...

Ready to pop in the oven!

Be sure and eat some batter before it goes in the oven - it's really good.  Better yet, let's just not cook it at all - let's just eat the batter!  I've eaten raw eggs all my life and it hasn't hurt me yet!

These little boogers nearly overflowed the small tins, and the edges are kinda crispy - my favorite part!

Ok, after they've cooled a bit and pulled away from the tin, I up-end them and let them finish cooling.

One I'll keep out for us to snack on, and the other two will go into the freezer to be enjoyed another day, OR to give to someone who just needs cheering up a little bit!

There ya go!  Hope you enjoyed it.  I usually make a bunch of small loaves during the holidays, but it didn't happen this year.  I guess better late than never!

PS - I just visited my friend, Tara, at her blog New Day, New Season. Please go over and give her a cyber hug and some love - her daddy has been sick for a long time, and now he could go either way.  She's really hurtin' but she's strong.  She and her family need your prayers. Thank you so much.