Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

• This recipe is from Nie Nie.  I make it all the time.
• 
  
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips (if desired)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees;. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

Soft and Chewy Caramel Popcorn

This caramel popcorn is my new obsession! It took me a few tries to get it down right, but now that I can make it as well as my friend who introduced it to me, I'm probably going to put on a few pounds. This makes a ton so be prepared to share it, or spend the next 3 days eating caramel popcorn (that's what I do!).

1 cube butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup
2 2/3 cup brown sugar
4-5 bags microwave popcorn (I like to use plain, or light butter) popped with kernals removed

Put popped popcorn in a LARGE bowl and set aside
Combine all other ingredients in a large pot and melt together. Once melted bring to a full boil, stirring constantly and let boil for about 1 minute. You should see the texture and color change a little bit. Turn off heat a pour over popcorn. Mix well, scraping the bottom of the bowl to evenly coat your popcorn. Store in tupperware, or in ziplock bags. YUMMY!

I'll never buy grocery store hummus again!

I can't remember where I got this recipe, but it's delicious! Eat up your hummus with pita chips, pita bread, cucumbers, carrots, crackers, whatever your little heart desires. It's delicious and totally fat free! yum yum!

I'll-Never-Buy-Grocery-Store-Hummus-Again Hummus



1 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained, reserving liquid

3-4 T tahini (a sesame seed paste)

3-4 T lemon juice

1 t salt

1 T olive oil

2-3 garlic cloves



Place all ingredients in the food processor. Blend until smooth. If too thick, add some of the chickpea "juice," 1-2 T at a time, until desired consistency is reached. Since tahini, lemon juice and garlic are strong flavors, work with them to see what your favorite combination is for your hummus.