June 23, 2011

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, 

7 comments:

  1. love, Love, LOVE banana bread! I don't make it often and don't have a particular recipe, so this is good 'go to' recipe to have on hand...your bread looks divine! {love that blue bowl, too!}

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would have started out with that medium bowl too. It's so pretty! This recipe is the best one I've seen for banana bread. I love that there's only 1/4 cup of oil. With less fat in the batter, I can put on more butter! Yum! I WILL be making it and I'll let you know how it turns out.

    Thanks for sharing your secret recipe.
    (I like this "Victoria's Secret" better than the one in the mall!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sounds delicious! The applesauce is a nice addition. With our weather being hot lately the bananas ripen faster than we can eat them so I will be making your bread this weekend. Love that aqua bowl! Thanks for sharing your recipe. It's always fun to try something new and I love to cook and bake.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember this yummy goodness! Thanks for sharing and keep the recipes coming!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. sounds wonderful! i love your white mixer :) have a great weekend, can't wait to see what you're up to!! xo susan

    ReplyDelete

Hello Friends! I love to read your comments. Please share your sweet thoughts here...