Nanner, nanner, banana bread

My mother loved to make banana bread and I loved to eat it. She preferred pecans. but I loved walnuts in it. 

Yet, once the doc told me that I was prediabetic and would need to ease up on the sweets, I knew my days of enjoying this treat would come to an end if I didn't make some changes. Here's my compromise. 

I halved the amount of butter and sugar, and doubled the number of bananas. It worked! 

Lori's Banana Bread 

Ingredients 

1/4 cup butter 

1/4 cup sugar 

2 eggs 

6 bananas (thawed if frozen; mashed if fresh) 

1/3 cup milk, mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar 

2 cups flour 

1 teaspoon salt 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1 cup walnuts (or pecans, or other nuts) 

Instructions 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream butter and sugar in a stand mixer. Add the eggs and bananas while the mixer is going, one at a time until blended, then the milk. 

Remove 2 tablespoons of the flour and mix with the nuts until they are well coated. 

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda together; add slowly to the mixture while the mixer is still going until all is blended. 

Turn off the mixer and fold in the nuts. Pour into a well-oiled loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Turn out on a cooling rack. Serve warm or cold.

A more healthful Bite

I love the little oatcakes that are commonly called Aussie Bites, but the sugar and butter calories are pretty daunting for those of us watching our weight, or our sugar and fat intake. 

So here's my attempt to make some with no cholesterol (although it does have saturated fat) and far less sugar. 

I made them in a mini-muffin tin that has 24 indentions; the batter makes 4 dozen, and it keeps well for several days in the refrigerator.

Lori K’s Aussie Bites

Makes about 4 dozen

Ingredients

½ cup coconut oil

½ cup honey

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups rolled oats, uncooked

1½ cups flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup raisins

¾ cup sliced almonds or chopped nuts

Instructions

Mix the first four ingredients until smooth. Add the rest a little at a time until everything is well mixed. Press into mini-muffin cups (24) and bake until golden, 13-15 minutes.

The "Mav-vita" is born

Ever since Jim's cousin Sarah and her husband Ray introduced us to Mavs at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Southern California, it's been our go-to party drink. A shot of good tequila, a wedge of orange sprinkled with cinnamon, it's heady and refreshing in a single gulp.

But what if you feel like sipping a Mav? Well, you then need a Mav-vita.

Squeeze two oranges (navel or Cara-cara) into a glass with some ice. Add a dash of cinnamon sugar. Pour in a jigger of good tequila. Stir until chilled and serve.