Star of the Week

Adding a banana to your daily diet has an array of benefits in your body. Bananas are rich in fiber, antioxidants and several nutrients. A medium-sized banana contains about 105 calories.

Banana Muffins with Yogurt and Cinnamon Granola Topping 

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-healthy-start-to-day.html

Power House Muffins
http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/05/why-didnt-i-think-of-that-and-power.html

Healthy Banana Creamscile Smoothie

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/06/mornings-two-best-friends-smoothie-and.html

Banana Bread

Recipe adapted from "Vanilla Bean Baking Book" by Sarah Kieffer. Recipe makes one large loaf or two medium size loaves. 
Cooking Tip: When cooking or baking with yogurt instead of sour cream, there are a few other things to keep in mind beyond the simple one-to-one substitution ratio: Go for whole-milk Greek yogurt: The yogurt closest in texture and flavor to regular sour cream is whole-milk Greek yogurt.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour( I used half white and half whole wheat) 
• 1 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 TB. Saigon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed about 3 medium sized bananas 
• 1/2 cup sour cream or whole milk Greek yogurt
• 1 TB. vanilla
•  1/2 cup butter ( 1 stick) at room temperature  
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs at room temperature

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one large loaf pan or 2 medium sized pans.
• In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda,  cinnamon, salt and nuts. Set aside.
• In another bowl mix sour cream or yogurt, vanilla and mashed bananas. 
• Beat butter on medium speed until creamy adding in sugars. Beat mixture until light and fluffy, adding in eggs. Mix until well combined. 
• Reduce speed to low and add in flour mixture and mix until ingredients are almost incorporated.
• Add in banana mixture and mix with a wooden spoon just until combined.  Avoid over mixing.   
• Bake about 35 minutes until top is dark brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 
• Cool 6 minutes an pan and invert on to a wire rack.

Care to indulge?
Splurge with Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Icing (Penuche Frosting) 

http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2015/05/nostalgic-desserts.html

Smoothies with a star ingredient- bananas