Banana Coconut loaf

This loaf is so good. It is one of my favorites. My husband was skepticle when he saw me making it. He doesn't like the cherries. But once he tasted it, he couldn't resist. The loaf was gone in a day.

This is one of my moms old recipes. She would make a few loafs and freeze them. It was always a treat to pull one out of the freezer and watch it disappear.

In a mixing bowl beat until frothy:
2 eggs

Add and beat well:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup melted butter



Stir in:
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 med bananas)
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup cut up maraschino cherries



In another bowl, measure and stir until blended:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup med. grind coconut
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Pour over batter, stir until combined.



Spoon into greased loaf pan

Bake at 350 F for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Let stand for 10 minutes

Remove from pan.

If you want to freeze it, wrap it and put in the freezer.

Enjoy!

I love it with a little butter on it.

Southwestern Turkey Chilli

I don't eat alot of red meat, so I love to find recipes that call for Turkey instead of ground beef (or I just substitute it anyways). This is a good hearty meal that you don't have to feel guily about eating. It was really good and filling.




In a large frying pan heat 2 tsp of oil (or just use Pam)
Scramble fry:
1 cup chopped onion
1 Garlic Clove, minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
1lb Extra lean ground Turkey

Fry until onion is softened and turkey is starting to brown



Add:
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 dried crushed chilies

Heat and stir for 1 minute

Add:

19oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups low sodium vegtable coctail juice

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 tbsp Ketchup

Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently uncovered, for 5 minutes.

This Chili can be served many different ways. You can serve Sloppy-Joe style on a bun. Or you can make a taco salad with shredded lettuce. Or eat it as a chili, in a bowl with fat-free sour cream.

Company's Coming- Healthy in a Hurry

Vinyl Letter Blocks

I know it has been a month since my last post, but I was busy having a baby. I will try to keep up though.

I am so happy to hear that lots of you have tried the things on my blog. Makes me feel good. Please leave comments about what you thought of the things you have tried.

I got this idea from a craft night that I went to back in Lethbridge. I didn't finish them at the time (I didn't even start), but almost a year later decided I had better get them done. I think they look so cute.




Start by selecting the word you would like on your blocks. Get Vinyl letters for your blocks. The letters must fit on a piece of a 2X4 so keep them between 2.5-3 inches in width. The height can range from 4-6 inches.

Once you have selected your word and have your letters, you can use your letters to measure the height of your wood pieces. Using a 2x4 cut your wood chunks in varrying heights.


I chose to stain my wood. The original craft idea that I saw didn't, but I didn't think that the raw would would match with my house. So I got some dark stain and just put on one coat of stain. I only stained the back and sides (and about 1/2 inch of the front) since I knew that I would be glueing scrapbook paper to the front.

Depending on your size of block, measure you scrapbook paper for each block. Measure the wood, then cut the paper.

You can chose any color or type of scrapbook paper. I actually used cardstock.

Using embellishment glue (I got it at Michaels) and glue your paper to the front of your wood block. Then apply thr Vinyl Letters.

The blocks can be left with just the letters or you can jazz them up a little with some cute accessories. Ribbon, buttons, flowers, embrodery thread, etc can be used.

Here are my finished projects. Couldn't be more happy with them. I actually intended to give 1 or 2 away as gifts, but I liked them all so much I couldn't bear to part with any of them.