Bananas Foster French Toast

Just popping in to share what I made for the kiddos this morning. I usually type up a recipe to share with you all but this one is a bit time consuming. I have been making french toast since the age of 10 and I never measure anything whenever I make this dish... I could seriously make this with my eyes closed. So, I looked on line and found a similar recipe for you all in case you are interested in giving this a try. Here's a pic of my dish and the recipe will follow. Enjoy!

http://www.pinottopampers.com/2012/06/02/going-bananas-trying-to-make-french-toast/

Chicken Parmesan... It's what's for dinner at our home tonight!
There are soooooo many recipes for this family favorite dish but I thought I'd share what I do to prepare this yummy meal for my family. Feel free to put your own spin on this dish by adding or taking away any ingredients you'd like. You can serve this along with a side salad and garlic bread, over pasta or have pasta on the side OR all by itself :-). Enjoy!

Quick & Simple Chicken Parmesan

• 4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (sliced in halves to make 8)
• 2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs (store brought or make your own)
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk (optional)
• 1 24 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce (or make your own)
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of Shredded Cheese Blend
• Olive or Vegetable Oil for frying
• Salt/Pepper/Italian Seasoning/Dried Parsley/Garlic Powder/Onion Powder (I put a pinch of these seasonings into my homemade bread crumbs)

Instructions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Boil your pasta and drain.
3. In the bottom of your baking dish spread a thin layer of sauce & cooked pasta and set aside.
4. Place the chicken in a zip-lock bag or between wax paper. Pound it out until even. (this is not necessary but I do it, sometimes). Season Chicken with a little salt and pepper.
5. Mix the egg and milk in a shallow bowl. (if cooking without milk, just scramble 2 eggs in a bowl)
6. Add the bread crumbs to a bowl (add seasonings listed above if making homemade bread crumbs).
7. Cover bottom of frying pan with oil and heat until hot.
8.  Dip the chicken in the egg then the bread crumbs. Fry on both sides until brown. (You do not need to cook them all the way through)
9. Place the chicken onto a plate with paper towels to drain the grease.
10. Place the chicken into the baking pan on top of the cooked pasta and sauce.
11. Pour half of the sauce over each piece of chicken.
12. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
13. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and add the cheese, sprinkle on parsley flakes. Bake uncovered for about 15 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
14. Serve with remaining sauce, a side salad and garlic bread… ENJOY!

Quick & Easy Moist Banana Nut Bread

Here it is... my super simple moist Banana Nut Bread Recipe. No need for a mixer for this one... You can make this with or without nuts, too.... Enjoy!

*I made one with and one without nuts*

 Moist Banana Nut Bread

Ripe bananas, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and flour.

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 1 hour
• Yield: Makes one loaf.

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter (approx 5 1/2 tbsp)
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp of cinnamon
• Chopped Walnuts (optional)

Method

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda, cinnamon, salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, mix. Stir in a handful of chopped walnuts. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Add another handful of chopped nuts on top. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

*Serve warm with plain cream cheese... or drizzle homemade glaze over your bread and enjoy!*