Banana Granola Bars

     

I had a few over ripe bananas and wanted to make something other than the usual banana bread or muffins. I found this recipe that has proved to be a winner with my family. These bars are packed with banana, dried fruit, quinoa, oats and chia seeds. You can use peanut butter or almond butter and use either honey or maple syrup. I have always used maple syrup and peanut butter combination.  Once the bars are completely cooked I sprinkle dark chocolate chips over the bars and cook for another minute and then spread evenly over the bars for a little added sweetness. This last step is totally optional but I think necessary. I allow bars to cool in the pan and then once cooled place the pan in the fridge to completely set up. Then lift parchment lining out of pan and cut bars to your desired size. I wrap each bar individually with plastic wrap and store in the fridge.

Cast Iron Pan Pizza

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love pizza. I have been making homemade pizza for 38 years, yes 38 years and longer if you consider the Kraft boxed kits I made in my childhood.  I have had many disasters along the way, still all edible haha. I found this recipe in Cooks Illustrated cooking magazine after I broke my foot last year and happily spent a lot of time with my nose in cook books. Once I got back up on my feet I thought I would give it a try. Happy to report it is delicious and one of the easiest, most home-cook friendly pizzas you can make at home. One minute of dough kneading, no rolling or stretching. And because it is baked in a pan, there is no tricky transferring of the pizza dough to a hot pizza stone. No big mess in your oven when you over shoot and pizza toppings and cheese splatter all oven, not to mention the smoke filling your oven and kitchen.  It is now my favourite homemade pizza and equals any restaurant style pizza and much cheaper. The dough is made and given time to rest in fridge to allow for gluten development. I will make this dough leading up to the weekend so we can enjoy on whatever day on the weekend that works for us. I have two cast iron pans. I will double recipe and make 4 pizzas when we have company. Slide the pizza out of pan and load up the next with toppings and bake. No need to rest and rise in pan as it raised and rested in the cake pan. Trust me, you will love this pizza.

Beef Dip Sandwich

I love beef dip but more times than not the jus or dip is often bland and tasteless. This recipe I adapted from the Pioneer Woman has a very flavourful jus. After the roast is fully cooked and removed from the pan, onions and garlic are added and cooked on the stove top in the pan drippings. Then a packet of french onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and beef broth are added to the pan. The mixture simmers on the stove top for about an hour. The liquid is strained and the onions are saved to serve over the beef in the sandwich. The end result is a very tasty dip that knocks his recipe out of the park.