Living with the Webers - Snack

Banana Bread or Muffins

Sarah — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 01:35:37 +0000

Delicious and moist banana bread or muffins that are perfect for breakfast. Makes one loaf or a dozen muffins. This is also a great base recipe for other muffins. Just leave out or replace the bananas with other fruit. Some variations are listed at the end of the recipe.

3 ripe bananas (with brown spots is extra good!)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup milk or soy milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sugar (recommended to use less if the bananas are very ripe)
1 3/4 cups flour (I like it best with spelt flour, but a mix of whole wheat and white is good too)
1 tsp vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar)
Chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or other desired additions (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. It sometimes is useful to add all or part of the liquid ingredients to get the bananas fully mashed up.

Mix all ingredients together except for the vinegar. Once everything is well combined, add the vinegar and just briefly mix. The batter should bubble up from the vinegar reacting with the baking soda.

Pour batter into muffin tins or loaf pan. Bake. The muffins take about 15-20 minutes and the loaf about 40-50 minutes. Remove from your oven when a toothpick comes out clean.

Some variations I like:
Blueberry: Replace bananas with 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries.

Apple Spice: Replace bananas with 2 grated apples. Add 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Spice: Replace bananas with 1 cup pumpkin purée (can also use butternut squash). Add 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice.

Carrot, Raisin and Nut: Replace bananas with 1 cup grated carrot. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of both raisins and chopped walnuts.

Zucchini and Nut: Replace bananas with 1 cup grated zucchini. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

Almond Poppy Seed: Leave out bananas. Add approx 1 tsp almond extract (to taste) and 1/4 cup poppy seeds.

Recommended With

Chai

Chai Latte

Nantucket Granola a la Pia

Christoph — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:11:48 +0000

A variation of a delicious granola Pia found in a magazine years ago, which in turn is based on the traditional way granola is made on the island of Nantucket.

Serves:

4 cups of rolled oats (not quick cooking)
1 1/3 cups flaked or shredded coconut, preferably unsweetened
1 cup sliced almonds or shredded walnuts
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
1/2 cup cold water
1 tbsp vanilla sugar
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 400ºF
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, leaving out the dried fruit (important, you don't want to bake those juicy bits!).
Pour oil and water over the dry ingredients. Stir until well coated.
Spread the mixture over the bottom of a large baking sheet with sides or a roasting pan.
Bake, stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown. Usually about 30 to 45 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool.
Stir in dried fruit.
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks.

You can substitute any dried fruit you have at hand for variety. It helps if one of the varieties has some tartness, like the cranberries.

Popcorn with seasoned nutritional yeast

si1ver2 — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:09:33 +0000

An alternative to cheese powders, nutritional yeast as the name states is not only yummy and has taste qualities similar to cheese but is also very healthy.

Serves:

Popcorn:
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
4-5 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning:
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons salt
Extra Seasoning:
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Pop that Corn
If you have a popcorn maker, pop the popcorn in there then add the olive oil one tablespoon at a time, mixing it thoroughly.
If you do not have a popcorn maker put one teaspoon of the olive oil in a heavy bottomed pot along with the popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and allow to sit until the kernels start to pop. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.

Seasoning
In a small bowl mix together the seasoning ingredients along with all or some of the extra seasonings listed. Using a container with sifting holes sprinkle the seasoning over the popcorn pausing here and there to mix the popcorn. Make sure to take test tidbits as you do this and add the seasoning to your desired taste.