Holiday Pull Apart Brunch Casserole

 Casseroles are a delicious and affordable way to get meals on the table in a timely fashion.  They are awesome because they can be made ahead and modified easily to fit any palate.  Generally speaking, breakfast casseroles are popular and filling, especially for brunch or even dinners, by adding a simple green or fruit salad for accompaniment.  It's always nice when we can present our meals with a little flair to peak the interest of our sometimes unimpressed brood, often familiar with dishes that can be correlated to the day of the week.  I once dated a guy whose mom was on one such schedule.  If ever I was unsure of the day of the week, I simply noted what she was serving for dinner, i.e. Fast Food Friday or Hotdogs, baked beans and mac/cheese Wednesday, you get the drift.  She was a mother of two, wife and full time at a busy office, so understandably devised a routine, passe to her household, but admirable to me.  

They were well versed in the almost robotic menu, so they never seemed excited for dinner.  The following recipe is to help divert one such outcome, using tater tots as the border, sides and crust.  They have been partially thawed and some are crumbled into the bottom, while others are stacked to create crust.  The finished border may be plucked off and dipped in your favorite sauce or ketchup, while the rest serves as the vessel to hold the delicious and savory ingredients, married through staples like sharp cheddar, green onion and local, fresh eggs.  I used a 2 lb. bag of tater tots, partially thawed,  for this recipe.  

Serves Plenty.

Bussin' Bussin' Banana Bread

 

Ready for a banana bread recipe that is out of this world delicious, then look no more!   This is loaded with some fantastic and good for you ingredients that fill you with all the right stuff and just in time for picnicking, backpacking, camping, cooking out, tailgating, entertaining, relaxing, visiting, gifting, snacking, easy breakfasts or just because!  

I used Cocavo Oil w/ Turmeric and Lemon Zest, full of antioxidants, with the addition of essential vitamins,minerals and healthy fats, along with some roasted Walnut oil to complement the walnut pieces scattered throughout, bringing in some antioxidant richness, fiber, plant sourced Omega 3's, blood pressure and blood sugar lowering properties, plus cancer and heart disease defense, anti-inflammatory properties, enhancing gut health and so much more. 

  Organic Oat flour is also used in my recipe.  Oat flour is filled with fiber, both soluble and insoluble and helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular episodes and coronary heart disease.  There's lots more substantial and relevant ingredients, but I won't bore you with the details, let's get to it, you will be replacing your old go-to Banana Bread recipe in no time, with a bread of this new age of delicious and inspired ingredients, because this one is BUSSIN' BUSSIN'! 

Recipe:

1 1/2 c. unbleached AP flour, spooned into measuring cup

1 c. Organic Oat flour

2 tbsp. Organic Coconut Spice Granola, Red Mill

1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. double acting baking powder

1 1/2 c. very ripe bananas, frozen, then thawed and mashed

1 cup Walnut halves, roughly broken into smaller pieces

2 c. pure cane and brown sugar blend

2 tsp. Pumpkin Spice blend

1 tsp. Kosher salt or to taste

1 c. evaporated milk 

2 tbsp. heavy cream 

2/3 c. Cocavo Oil w/ Turmeric and Lemon Zest

2 tbsp. Roasted Walnut Oil

3 large eggs, slightly beaten

2 tsp. Caramel flavoring

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Combine wet ingredients in a larger bowl.

Gradually add dry mix into wet ingredients, stirring just until each round is moist. 

After mixing, let batter rest for 15 minutes.

Use a rubber spatula to scrape down sides and bottom of bowl, making sure it's well incorporated.

Divide evenly among nonstick sprayed pans, filling about 1/2 inch from the top.

Bake until golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 35 minutes for individual sized loaf pans, closer to 1 hour for regular sized loaf pans, depending on oven.

For an even more wholesome Bussin' Banana Bread, substitute Oat Milk for the evaporated milk, use an egg substitute and 3/4 c. maple syrup in place of the sugar blend.

Bussin' Bussin' Banana Bread; great any time of day, travels well and is great for gifting!

Happy Juneteenth Everyone!

Ladybug Toast

Disclaimer: No ladybugs were harmed during the making of this snack, but it crushed my hunger and gave me a much needed brain and energy boost while working on some layouts and editing the other day!  The 11th hour had come, but there was still much to do, and I'd already pretty much exhausted my coffee crutch and my pain levels were taking my edge away, slapping my productivity right in the face-POW! 

I didn't want  to throw in the towel, I needed to meet my self imposed deadline, since I'd begun the piece days ago.   I came up with a quick fix from on hand ingredients and a box of gifted "Mini Doraditas", a type of puff pastry-like cracker put out by Bimbo, right here in the USA.  The slightly sweet, almost buttery cracker was the perfect vehicle on which to marry the tart and tangy, too sweet dried cranberries I had and some good ole fashioned creamy peanut butter.  This snack hit all the desirable spots on the palate and provided me with enough spunk to finish my article on Masala Dabbas.  Creamy, crunchy, sweet, tart, tangy, nutty and buttery, plus lots of vitamins and minerals the body loves.  Get your  neurons clicking and ticking in a pinch with Ladybug Toast! The kids will love them too!