Victoria's secret recipes...

Hello friends!

 For those that have been wondering when I will reveal my summer line, I haven't forgotten just have some things changing here and I am trying to get it all in order before I can share.  Sorry it has been such a wait, but I hope you all will think it was worth it! ;)


One of the changes that I am excited to tell you about, I am starting to share recipes here. Not just any recipes, but my secret recipes. :)  Those that know me well can tell you, as much as I love to create in my home, I love to be in the kitchen and cooking too!  It brings me great joy to share things I bake, cook or make in my kitchen with those I know and even those I don't.  I love to feed people and  I always add a little love into everything I make. ;)


Some of my recipes are ones that have been passed down, given to me by friends/family, my own creations, recipe books I treasure and of course my favorite recipes I have come by over the years.


Today, I am going to share a recipe that I have had for over the last 18 years.  I am not even sure where I found it, I just know I wrote it down and it is one of my favorite's! 


So, for my first Victoria's secret recipe I will be sharing...my very yummy banana bread.  It is so moist and good, one of the best banana breads I have ever tasted! It's the perfect recipe for when you have lots of ripened bananas and you don't want to throw them out...

Here are the ingredients you will need...

• 2 ½ cups of sugar
• ¾ cup of applesauce
• ¼ cup of canola oil 
• 6 ripe bananas
• * ½ cup of buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 4 eggs separated
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla
• 3 cups of all-purpose flour 
• 2 cups of chopped walnuts (optional)
• *I don't always have buttermilk on hand, so I am substituting the buttermilk with a 1/2 cup of  milk mixed with 1/2 tablespoon of white vinegar; let sit 5 minutes before using

In a large mixing bowl add your bananas...

Mash them together...

Now add the sugar...

Then mix your applesauce and oil in a liquid measuring cup, next...

* You can use 1 cup of canola oil, but I use the applesauce and 1/4 cup of oil to cut down on the fat. I use applesauce in place of oil on a lot of my baking...you can't tell the difference and I think it's more moist! 

Separate the eggs.  Yolks in one bowl and egg whites in the mixer... 

Now add your egg yolks to the batter and with a mixing spoon stir it all together by hand...

Whip the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form... 

Wait to add the egg whites till the end. 

*Tip when using baking soda in a recipe, pour some into a 

bowl then scoop with your measuring spoons and level.  

 Add 2 teaspoon's of baking soda to the buttermilk,

 use a large liquid measuring cup as it will rise when the soda is added.  

Alternate between your buttermilk/soda mixture and flour as you mix...

Once mixed add your vanilla...

*Note use a large mixing bowl, unlike me who started off with a medium bowl. ;)

And chopped nuts if you like...

Once stirred now it's time to add those fluffy egg whites...

Fold in gently...

Now it's ready for the bread pans.  Fill *greased and parchment lined pans  3/4 ways full.  This will make 2 large loafs, or you can do like I did (I am not sure what happened to my other large loaf pan?)  and use a smaller loaf pan.  I still had enough to do some big muffins. :)

*I use parchment paper on the bottom of the pans and a spray oil like PAM for the sides to keep from sticking.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven in the middle for about 30 minutes or until center comes clean when you insert a toothpick.  The top should be nicely browned and risen.  I brush with melted butter over the top when it first comes out of the oven and then cool on wire racks.  Once cooled invert onto a cutting board and slice.  So moist, with a crusty outside...it is so yummy!! If you don't have a large family to feed like I do, you can always share with a friend or even freeze a loaf for later. :)

Enjoy with a little pat of butter and a cold glass of milk! 

I hope you try this at home, please share with me if you do.  Would love to know if you like it.  I will be trying to post recipes here more often.  I am hoping to share the change I have going on here in the next several days.  Back to work I go! ;)

Hugs to you all,