One Banana, Two Banana

Hi everyone! I think I have collected some good tidbits for you this week and I am anxious to share them.

It inevitably happens that I buy a bunch of bananas and eat at least one a day and one or two get too ripe before I can get to them. Does anyone else have this issue?

You can make a multitude of things from overripe bananas. The most common is, I believe, banana bread (which I adore!). You can also make pancakes, muffins, smoothies, ice cream, french toast, waffles…………well, you get the idea. Some of the more unusual that I have seen include banana upside down cake, chocolate baked banana which you top with ice cream and who wouldn’t love that?!

The one I am going to share with you today is banana cookies. They came out perfectly. My grand daughter and daughter loved them! Sorry to my daughter’s fiancee who was supposed to get some but they were eaten before he got home from work!

Soft Banana Cookies

(www.lovefoodies.com)

1  1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup butter softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup banana mashed

2 eggs beaten

2  1/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon combined

Combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl and set aside. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well to combine. Stir in the bananas. Slowly mix in dry ingredients and put in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. After dough has chilled using a small scoop or a teaspoon drop dough on a prepared cookie sheet. Sprinkle cookies with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet and then on a cookie rack.

*I used Chinese Five Spice instead of cinnamon in the cookies and for the topping. It was delicious. Chinese Five Spice is a combination of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and various combinations of the five spice have other things such as fennel or licorice. I used parchment paper to prepare the cookie sheets. I set my timer for 6 minutes and checked the cookies and they were done already.

Tips

1. Warmer weather is coming and for me that brings on iced tea and iced coffee. This year I bought a cold brew coffee pot. It works well and I like the set up of it. There is just one thing – it is rather on the small side and I’m a thirsty girl! If you would like to make your own without a special pot here is the recipe.

Cold Brew Coffee

Steep 1 1/2 cups of coarsely ground coffee beans in 6 cups of water at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. Pour the steeped coffee through a fine strainer lined with a coffee filter and then chill.

  

2. Have you ever wanted gardening advice. Master Gardeners is there to help. You can visit the American Horticultural Society website.  ahsgardening.org. Once there click on the heading at the top that says “Gardening Resources”. After that you click on the Master Gardeners’ link on the left. You then select your state. Click on the link to your state’s Master Gardeners website. For me it is Cornell Cooperative Extension.  There is a wealth of information and resources there for you to use. It is like having a master gardener friend.

3. My Mom always used leftover coffee to add an extra layer of flavor to gravy and it also gave it a richer darker flavor. I use that trick all the time. Recently, I saw an idea to  save your leftover coffee in ice cube trays for use with iced coffee or to add to recipes. I am definitely doing this!

4. I stumbled upon a great resource. You are able to find out what preventative health services are available for women without extra cost to you  at carewomendeserve.org

5. Did you know that you can freeze overripe bananas until you are ready to make your next smoothie or to bake a delicious treat? That is great news if you’re busy and don’t want to waste them! Pop them in a ziplock bag and into the freezer. Just thaw them when you’re ready.

6. Always look for promo codes or coupons online either before you shop and print them out at home or on your smartphone when you are in the store! Recently, I was in Kohl’s with my son. He was looking for a dress shirt and a tie. While he shopped I looked up Kohl’s coupons on my phone. He was able to save 15% off his total purchase! That certainly made him happy.

7. Another “always do” item is to check your credit card statements thoroughly. I have been missing deals that are printed on some of the statements for substantial savings on various goods and services. Some examples are 25% off of Papa John’s Pizza and 25 – 30% off of AMC, Cinemark and Regal movie e-tickets. Never let a deal slip away!

One of the really great things about doing this blog is the sharing aspect. In my last post I shared my daughter’s ice cream cake recipe. She thoughtfully gave it to me with pictures! My niece sent me something that I will share in my next post. I just love this!! Remember to share your tips and tricks in the comments. It’s a community!!!

See you next time!