Banana Bread

This is probably the thing I bake the most, and it's also the most amazing banana bread recipe in the world. This was originally yaya's and our mom made it all the time growing up.

*note--if you don't have buttermilk, use half a tablespoon of either vinegar or lemon juice and combine it with 1/2 of milk.

Ingredients
3/4 c butter
1-1/2 c sugar
1-1/2 c mashed banana (approx 3)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 c buttermilk
3/4 c chopped walnuts

Directions:
-Cream butter and sugar
-Blend in bananas, eggs and vanilla
-Sift flour, salt and baking soda
-Add to banana mixture - in thirds - alternating with buttermilk and mixing thoroughly after each addition
-Add nuts and mix
-Pour into greased and floured 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan
-Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes

Basic Brownies

This was my first time making brownies from scratch by myself. I adapted the recipe from a cooks illustrated recipe and didn't read too closely because I used an 8 x 8 pan instead of the 9 x 13 pan the recipe calls for. This might explain why I baked the brownies for an extra 30 minutes and they are still too gooey. I imagine, had I followed the recipe correctly these would have been perfect. they have the right amount of chocolate and the corner piece of my batch are just the right consistency :) They also made great Brownie sundaes, which is one of my favorite foods of all time.

Basic Brownies
adapted from cooks illustrated

6 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 1/4 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 stick (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter

Pre heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 9 x 13 inch (not 8 x 8!!) pan with tin foil and grease foil with cooking spray or crisco. Melt chocolate and butter together either in the microwave or in a double boiler. If using the microwave make sure to check on it every 15 seconds so as not to burn the chocolate. Meanwhile, whisk together flower, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Once chocolate is melted, transfer to a larger bowl and slowly whisk in sugar. Add eggs one at a time and make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add in vanilla extract. Slowly incorporate flour mixture into bowl. Pour batter into greased pan and place into pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes. Brownies are done when a toothpick comes out mostly clean, with only a few crumbs.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

This is another recipe stolen from goodthingscatered:-) I'm not the biggest fan of rhubarb but this pie is pretty good. I made this for both Mother's Day celebrations and it was a big hit (except with Maura who called it "strawberry arugula pie")

Ingredients:
1 recipe basic pie dough
2 c. diced fresh rhubarb stalks
3 c. diced fresh hulled strawberries
1 c. sugar, divided
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp fresh orange zest
1/4 c. cornstarch
very small pinch of salt
1 beaten egg

Directions:
-In large bowl, combine rhubarb, strawberries, and 1/2 c. sugar.
-Toss to combine well and set into colander over sink or bowl and let drain for 1 hour (this step is very important or you get a soupy mess of a pie once it cooks.)
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare pie plate.
-Roll out 1/2 recipe of dough and line bottom of pie plate.
-In large clean bowl, combine strawberry and rhubarb that have been drained with remaining sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, pinch of salt and cornstarch.
-Toss to combine well and add to pie shell, smoothing out evenly.
-Roll out remaining pie dough and lattice top the pie filling.
-Brush lattice with beaten egg and place pie into oven.
-Let cook for 20 minutes, then place a piece of tinfoil loosely over the top.
-Continue cooking until filling is cooked through and bubbling, about 50 more minutes.
-Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack.

recipe adapted from goodthingscatered.blogspot.com